Indiana's 260 area code is seeing frequent Social Security arrest threats and Medicare scams. Fraudsters target seniors and other residents to steal health information or money under the guise of legal trouble.
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 260 area code and wonder if it's a scam? You're not alone. Scammers frequently spoof Indiana (Fort Wayne, Huntington, New Haven) phone numbers to trick you into answering. Here are the most common area code 260 scams based on user comments:
This aggressive scam uses robocalls to leave automated voicemails claiming there has been fraudulent activity on your Social Security Number. Callers in the Fort Wayne area are being told their SSN has been suspended and that a warrant will be issued for their arrest if they do not respond immediately.
The Social Security Administration will not call you to threaten you with arrest or demand payment. The SSA primarily communicates through the U.S. Mail, not with threatening robocalls.
"Received an automated call about fraudulent activities connected to my social security number and stated a warrant would be out for my arrest."
Scammers targeting Indiana seniors are calling and claiming to be a "senior care medicare worker" or from a company like "Chronic Pain Sufferers." They often know your name and will persistently try to get your Medicare number, sometimes becoming verbally abusive and calling you names like "moron" if you refuse.
Official Medicare representatives will never call you out of the blue to ask for your personal information. These callers are trying to steal your identity or commit billing fraud.
"call at 2pm saying he was a senior care medicare worker checking up on me (had my name). This was not a robo call, told him I was not interested and not to call again."
These callers create a sense of panic by pretending to be from a law firm, such as the "Lexington Law Firm," or claiming they need to "serve papers." They harass not only you but also your family members, telling them it's a "final attempt" to reach you before a decision is made against you.
Real process servers do not call ahead to warn you; they just show up. Legitimate debt collectors are required by federal law to provide you with a written validation notice of the debt.
"Harassing, calling my family members saying they are trying to reach me to serve papers. Ugh"
You may receive a call or text message claiming to be from Amazon or Walmart about a shipment or purchase you did not make. The goal is to trick you into either pressing 1 to speak with a fake representative or, in a more dangerous version, downloading remote access software like "anydesk" so they can take control of your computer or phone.
Amazon and other major retailers will never call you to ask for you to download third-party software to resolve an account issue. All legitimate account activity will be visible when you log in to your official account on their website or app.
"They say they are Amazon. They are not they are scamming people saying to download anydesk so they can get into your phone or computer. DO NOT RESPOND!"
Residents in the 260 area code report frequent, repeated calls from entities like "Dealer Services" about your car's extended warranty. They will ask for your car's mileage and may not even know if you still own the vehicle, creating a false sense of urgency that your coverage is about to lapse.
These calls are not from your car manufacturer or dealer. They are high-pressure sales calls from unrelated third-party companies using publicly available information to try and sell you an expensive and often unnecessary service plan.
"They said it was related to my car warranty and we're asking about the mileage. Would not give me the name of their business."
This scam involves receiving a text message from someone posing as a local real estate investor, using a common name like "Ellen" or "Tim." They often know your name and address and will ask if you own a specific property and if you would consider selling it, as a way to start a conversation and gather more information.
While some investors do contact homeowners, these mass-text campaigns are often data-mining operations or attempts to get you into an unfavorable "wholesale" contract. A legitimate professional will typically use more formal means of contact.
"Sent texts consisting of 'Hey Thomas, it's Ellen. Do you still own 3466 Orchard Trail Dr by chance?'"
Frequently Asked Questions about Area Code 201 Scams and Spam Calls
No, area code 260 is not a scam. It's a legitimate telephone area code serving millions of legitimate residents and businesses in Indiana, United States. Area code 260 is a general purpose code that has been in service since January 15, 2002.
Most common 260 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 260 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: