Indiana's 219 area code is known for aggressive police fund harassment and fake prize giveaways. Scammers pressure you to donate or pay a fee to claim winnings that do not exist.
Look up any suspicious number using our scam and spam phone number lookup database. It includes over 29 million Do Not Call and robocall complaints reported to the Federal Trade Commission.
Getting calls from 219 area code and wonder if it's a scam? You're not alone. Scammers frequently spoof Indiana (Hammond, Gary, Portage) phone numbers to trick you into answering. Here are the most common area code 219 scams based on user comments:
A man, sometimes identifying as "Dan" and claiming to be a retired police officer, is relentlessly harassing Northern Indiana businesses for donations. Callers are extremely rude, lie about approvals for check pickups, and use a Caller ID that sometimes spoofs the "Whiting Police Dept" to appear legitimate.
Legitimate charitable fundraisers, especially those affiliated with law enforcement, do not use harassment, degradation, and high-pressure tactics. They will provide official documentation and will not become abusive when you decline to donate.
"My boss has donated to this guy for around 10 years but enough is enough. This guy is the rudest, nastiest person I've ever encountered. He will lie and say he has talked to my boss and my boss left a check, when my boss hadn't even talked to him. If he doesn't get his way, he will be extremely rude."
Callers named "Thomas" or "Hollii" from a vague "claims department" inform you that your name was selected in a $25,000 cash giveaway. They claim you entered a contest within the last 18 months and must call back to claim your prize, which is actually a lure for a 90-minute timeshare presentation.
Real sweepstakes and lotteries do not require you to sit through a lengthy, high-pressure sales pitch to claim your prize. This is a bait-and-switch tactic designed to sell you a timeshare or vacation package.
"Message was left by a real person by the name of Thomas stating he was calling from the claims department (no company name provided) regarding an entry that was submitted within the last 18 months in hopes of winning their $25K cash giveaway and my name was selected."
A robocall claims to be from the Social Security Administration, warning that your Social Security Number (SSN) has been compromised or suspended. The recording threatens that legal action is being taken against you and demands you "press 1" to speak with an agent to avoid further consequences.
The Social Security Administration will never call you to threaten legal action or tell you that your SSN has been suspended. They communicate through official mail, not with threatening robocalls.
"02 Dec 2019 received a cell phone call from (219) 654-1958, left a recorded message stating they were from SSA and that legal action was being taken against me, and that if I should press '1' on my phone to speak to an agent to prevent this legal action from going forth."
Scammers call claiming to be from Medicare or a related health service, often targeting seniors. They offer "free" medical equipment like a back brace or a cancer screening test, creating urgency by suggesting you could lose your Medicare coverage if you don't act now.
Medicare representatives will not call you to sell you products. Medical equipment like back braces must be prescribed by your doctor; they are not given away through unsolicited phone calls.
"GOT A CALL AND SAID THEY WERE FROM MEDICARE AND WANTED TO KNOW WHERE TO SEND MY BACK BRACE. I HAVENT BEEN TO ANY DOCTOR FOR ANY BACK BRACE!!! FRAUD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DONT GIVE THEM ANY INFO."
You receive a call or voicemail about a pending "legal matter" or a "complaint" filed against you. The caller is intentionally vague, mentioning things like "loan fraud," and pressures you to call back immediately or they will contact your HR department. This is an intimidation tactic to scare you into paying a non-existent debt.
Real debt collectors and legal officials must provide you with a written validation notice and will not primarily use vague phone threats. Threatening to contact your HR department for a non-existent issue is a common scare tactic used by scammers.
"Caller asks me to contact a different phone number and wants my personal information and claims they have a 'complaint' against me and will contact my HR dept. Complete SCAM!"
Many residents report receiving calls where there is dead air for 15-20 seconds before a hang-up, or the phone rings just once. This is often an automated system, or "autobot," working to verify that your phone number is active and belongs to a real person who answers unknown calls.
These calls are not from a person trying to reach you. They are from automated dialers building lists of active phone numbers to sell to other telemarketers and scammers. Answering the call, even for a second, flags your number as "live."
"This number has called me everyday for the last week. When I answer the phone it is dead air for about 15-20 seconds and then they hang up."
Frequently Asked Questions about Area Code 201 Scams and Spam Calls
No, area code 219 is not a scam. It's a legitimate telephone area code serving millions of legitimate residents and businesses in Indiana, United States. Area code 219 is a general purpose code that has been in service since January 1, 1948.
Most common 219 scam types are:
You're likely experiencing "Neighbor Spoofing." Scammers fake their caller ID to display local or familiar numbers. If you live in or near Indiana, or have a 219 phone number yourself, scammers know you're more likely to answer what appears to be a local call.
Calling back to unknown spam number may incur premium charges or at least confirm your phone number is active and lead to more spam and scam calls.
There are three main ways to reduce spam calls:
It's definitely possible to block all specific area code phone numbers. However, we do not recommend this option because it would also prevent friends, family, doctors, and legitimate businesses from reaching you.
Other Indiana area codes where scam and spam calls are regularly reported: