Area code 425 is seeing a rise in fake debt collection and Social Security scams. Scammers harass you about unpaid bills that do not exist to scare you into paying.
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 425 area code and wonder if it's a scam? You're not alone. Scammers frequently spoof Washington (Bellevue, Everett, Renton) phone numbers to trick you into answering. Here are the most common area code 425 scams based on user comments:
Residents in the 425 area code are receiving a high volume of robocalls threatening legal action. Callers, sometimes identifying as "Rebecca Moore," claim a "formal complaint" or "case" is being filed against you and that failure to respond will result in action being taken at your home or place of employment. They often provide a fake case number and pressure you to act immediately.
Legitimate process servers and law enforcement officials do not call you in advance to warn you about being served papers or arrested. They show up unannounced. These calls are designed to scare you into paying a non-existent debt.
"I got called by them about 2 months ago and on recording it says that I will be arrested by federal officers for 4 serious charges against me. I called back and a man answered and i said you called me before and you are a scam and he started swearing at me. I said if you're not a thief why are you swearing at me? he answered suck my dick, suck my dick, over and over."
Scammers are spoofing local 425 numbers and pretending to be from the Social Security Administration. They leave voicemails claiming there is fraudulent activity on your SSN, that your number has been suspended, or that an arrest warrant has been issued in your name. Callers may use fake official-sounding names like "Officer Catherine Richardson" or "Vickie, a Hearing Administrator" to sound credible.
The Social Security Administration does not suspend SSNs and will never call you to threaten arrest or demand immediate payment. They primarily communicate via U.S. Mail, not with threatening phone calls.
"Voicemail message stated name is Officer Catherine Richardson from SSA. The call was a final notification against my case with the (something) and an arrest warrant had been issued for my name."
Callers with heavy accents claim to be from Microsoft support, stating your computer's IP address has been compromised or your Windows license has errors. They may have your name and try to build trust by giving you a fake "Microsoft ID." Their goal is to gain remote access to your computer, often encouraging you to buy gift cards to "fix" the non-existent problem.
Microsoft does not monitor your computer for errors and will not call you out of the blue. Error logs on your computer are normal and do not indicate you've been hacked. Any request for payment via gift card is a guaranteed scam.
"This scammer Called my 90 yr old dad pretending to help with computer issues and then Encouraged my dad to go to target to buy gift cards! We called police and target! Target prevented my dad from making the purchase."
This is a hyper-local scam targeting Washington residents. Callers impersonate Puget Sound Energy (PSE), claiming your power is scheduled to be shut off within the hour due to a past-due bill. They create a false sense of urgency to trick you into providing credit card information or other forms of immediate payment over the phone.
Puget Sound Energy provides multiple written notices by mail long before any service disconnection. They will never demand immediate payment over the phone using threats of an imminent shutoff.
"Got the same call. They were going to shut off my power. They had my address. When I told them this is a scam... He transferred me to a 'supervisor'. When the 'supervisor' answered, it was the same voice of the person who called. I asked where his office was located… he hung up."
Homeowners are being bombarded with calls and texts from individuals, sometimes claiming to be from "Century 21" or using names like "Nick" or "Cathy," asking to buy your property. These agents are extremely persistent, calling repeatedly even after being asked to stop, and often have your name and address from public records. They frequently try to make unsolicited "all cash offers."
While some of these calls may be from legitimate real estate agents, their aggressive and harassing tactics violate telemarketing rules. Unsolicited cash offers are often far below market value and are used to pressure homeowners into a quick, unfavorable sale.
"This is an agent out of Washington from Century 21 and she and a co-worker continuously call myself and then call my husband minutes later asking us about our house that we sold almost two months ago... I went off and told her to stop harassing us and that I'm reporting her."
This scam starts with a simple question. A caller, often using a friendly name like "Monica," "Naomi," or "Hannah," will immediately ask "Can you hear me okay?" Their only goal is to get you to say the word "Yes." They record your affirmative response and can use it later to authorize fraudulent charges or sign you up for services you never agreed to.
This is purely a phishing tactic to capture a voice signature. A legitimate caller will state their name, company, and the reason for their call before asking if you can hear them.
"They start the conversation by 'Hi this is...., can you hear me ok...so naturally reply with a 'yes'...dangerous!"
Local businesses are being harassed by callers from companies like "Velocity Payments" or "Centrix Contact Services" trying to sell credit card processing services. These telemarketers are known for their extremely aggressive and abusive behavior. They repeatedly ask for the business owner, refuse to take no for an answer, and will often resort to profanity and insults before hanging up, only to call back again later.
Professional B2B service providers do not use harassment and profanity as a sales tactic. This behavior is a massive red flag indicating a disreputable, high-pressure, and likely predatory operation.
"This number has been calling my business two to three times a day asking for the owner and trying to solicit merchant services. We've asked numerous times for them to stop calling and this last time the individual called back and screamed, 'suck my dick, bitch!' and hung up."
You receive a robocall claiming to be from "Amazon Customer Care Service" about a suspicious, large purchase. The message often mentions a specific charge amount, like $729 or $1,499, and a shipping location in another state, such as Dayton, Ohio. The goal is to make you panic and press 1 to speak with a "fraud department agent," who will then try to steal your account or financial information.
Amazon will never call you about suspicious activity and ask for payment or personal information. Official notifications about your account or orders will appear within your secure Amazon account portal and via email.
"Voicemail message claiming to be they Amazon Customer Care Service supposedly regarding my account and a disputed $729 payment out of Dayton, Ohio."
Frequently Asked Questions about Area Code 201 Scams and Spam Calls
No, area code 425 is not a scam. It's a legitimate telephone area code serving millions of legitimate residents and businesses in Washington, United States. Area code 425 is a general purpose code that has been in service since April 27, 1997.
Most common 425 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 425 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: