The 360 area code is commonly used for fake IRS arrest threats and Social Security suspension scams. Fraudsters claim you have unpaid taxes or a compromised identity to pressure you into immediate payment.
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 360 area code and wonder if it's a scam? You're not alone. Scammers frequently spoof Washington (Vancouver, Bellingham, Marysville) phone numbers to trick you into answering. Here are the most common area code 360 scams based on user comments:
Residents in Washington are receiving automated robocalls claiming to be from the IRS or another law enforcement agency. The recording threatens that a lawsuit has been filed against you or that there are "4 allegations" against you, and that local cops will take you into custody within 24 hours if you don't call back immediately.
The real IRS's first point of contact is always through official U.S. Mail. They will never call to demand immediate payment, threaten you with arrest by local police, or leave aggressive robocall voicemails.
"I was left a message... if I do not call back 360-205-2066 within 24 hours, the local cops will take me into custody. Message stated I have 4 allegations against me."
This scam involves a robocall stating that your Social Security Number (SSN) has been linked to "fraudulent activity" and will be suspended. Callers, often with strong foreign accents, will threaten legal action or the seizure of your assets if you do not call back immediately to resolve the issue.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) will never call you to threaten suspending your number or your benefits. Scammers use this threat to create panic and trick you into giving up personal information.
"Voicemail left indicated that my SSN would be suspended in 45 minutes if I didn’t call the company headquarters back. Gentleman had a strong Indian accent and did not say what company he was calling from."
A widespread robocall campaign is targeting Washington residents, claiming your Apple iCloud account has been breached. The recording urges you to stop using your Apple devices and to call a "toll-free" number, which is actually a local 360 area code number like 360-203-0997, to speak with a support advisor.
Apple does not make unsolicited phone calls about security breaches. Official communication comes via email from an apple.com address or through notifications on your device. Furthermore, the 360 area code is local to Washington state, not a toll-free prefix.
"I keep getting call that say they are from Apple and my account has been breached. They want me to call a 'toll free' number which is 360/203-0997. I don't have an Apple account and 360 is not a toll free number."
Callers and texters are aggressively contacting homeowners in the 360 area code about selling their property. They often know your name and address, and when told you are not interested, some become bullying and refuse to identify the real estate company they work for.
Licensed, professional real estate agents will always identify themselves and their brokerage upfront. They do not use high-pressure, bullying tactics and will respect your decision if you are not interested in selling.
"She refused to say what company she works for and started bullying my wife trying to pressure her into using their services. When my wife laughed at her unprofessional line of questioning... the woman put a man on the phone. He spoke to wife in the same tone."
This scam uses intimidating voicemails to trick you into calling back. A recorded message claims a "formal complaint" or "civil judgement" has been filed against you and that they will serve papers at your home or workplace if you don't respond, often flagging you as "evasive and noncompliant."
Official process servers do not call ahead to warn you they are coming; their job is to deliver legal documents in person without prior notice. The warning call is a scare tactic designed to make you panic and pay a non-existent debt.
"Threatening message stating that they were trying to serve me papers, legal action being taken against me. This is fraud! If someone is trying to serve you papers they are not calling ahead of time to warn you they are coming."
Scammers call pretending to be from companies like Geek Squad, Microsoft, or "Windows," claiming a computer service subscription is about to auto-renew for a fee like $299. Their goal is to get you to grant them remote access to your computer to "process a cancellation form," which allows them to steal your information.
Legitimate tech companies like Microsoft and Geek Squad do not make unsolicited calls about expiring subscriptions or computer viruses. This is a well-known tactic to gain control of your computer and steal banking information.
"A guy told me he is calling from Geek Squad and I bought services worth $299 last year. If I don't cancel it it would be auto-renewed automatically. He wanted to to run teamviewer to share my screen with him so He can send me cancellation form What a scam."
Frequently Asked Questions about Area Code 201 Scams and Spam Calls
No, area code 360 is not a scam. It's a legitimate telephone area code serving millions of legitimate residents and businesses in Washington, United States. Area code 360 is a general purpose code that has been in service since January 15, 1995.
Most common 360 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 Washington, or have a 360 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 Washington area codes where scam and spam calls are regularly reported: