The 540 area code is plagued by fake process server threats and aggressive vehicle warranty robocalls. Callers claim you are being sued or that your car insurance is expiring to get your credit card number.
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 540 area code and wonder if it's a scam? You're not alone. Scammers frequently spoof Virginia (Roanoke, Harrisonburg, Blacksburg) phone numbers to trick you into answering. Here are the most common area code 540 scams based on user comments:
Scammers from local 540 numbers will leave urgent voicemails claiming to be a "mitigation specialist" or "process server" like "David Dorsey" or "John Reese." They threaten that a legal complaint or arrest warrant has been filed against you and that your wages are being verified, pressuring you or your attorney to call back a separate toll-free number immediately to avoid being served or arrested.
Real process servers do not call ahead to warn you; their job is to serve you with legal documents in person without prior notice. Government agencies and legitimate law firms will not threaten you via robocall or leave vague messages with relatives.
"My name is James I'm calling from the process service office regarding phone number 2024–126146 I am contacting you to discuss a mother has been forwarded to my office for consideration of legal action including the filing of law and complaint... if they do not receive response they may be forced to proceed without your participation."
You'll get frequent robocalls, often from a spoofed local Virginia number, about an expiring car warranty. Callers may know your name and the make and model of your vehicle, claiming to be from "Dealer Services" or the "Warranty Center." They create false urgency, stating the law requires you to renew and will aggressively push for your credit card information.
There is no law requiring you to purchase an extended vehicle warranty. These are third-party sellers, not your car's manufacturer or dealership, and they often sell overpriced or worthless service contracts.
"Received another Warranty renewal call, they knew my name, address and vehicle I drive. Claimed to be with Chrysler and said the law required I renew this coverage and started badgering me for my credit card information. I hung up after that and tried to call the number back... it plays a little music of sorts for a few seconds and then just goes silent."
This scam involves a call, sometimes from a person like "Officer Brown," claiming to be from the Social Security Administration. They will state that your Social Security Number (SSN) has been compromised, used in fraudulent activity, or will be "forever closed out." The goal is to create panic and trick you into providing your personal information or paying a fake fine to avoid arrest.
The Social Security Administration primarily communicates through U.S. Mail. They will never call to threaten you, demand payment, or tell you that your SSN has been suspended.
"Just got a call from these people telling me in an automated call that they have an arrest warrant for me for Social Security fraud LOL. How stupid do they think I am! Like somebody’s going to call me to tell me they’re coming to arrest me."
Scammers send texts or make robocalls claiming to be from Amazon customer service. They'll state there has been a suspicious charge on your account, often for hundreds of dollars (e.g., $360 or $763), and instruct you to "press one to speak with our fraud department" to cancel the order. Their goal is to get your Amazon login, credit card details, or other personal information.
Amazon will not call you about suspicious activity and ask you to provide information over the phone. All official communication and order details are located securely within your account on their official website or app.
"Got a text from 646-993-5816 saying to call back 540-212-6366 because they are going to charge me a $763 fine for using a dummy card while purchasing on my Amazon account. Do not call these people."
Residents in the 540 area are receiving persistent calls and texts from individuals claiming to be local home buyers, often using names like "TJ," "Tim Evans," or "Justin." They know your name and home address and will ask if you are interested in a cash offer for your property. When questioned, they admit to getting your information from "public databases" that they "skiptraced."
While some of these calls are from aggressive real estate wholesalers, many are phishing attempts to gather more personal information. Legitimate real estate agents will not typically cold-call you with a vague cash offer without any context.
"Said their name is TJ and that they are a local home buyer and wanted to know if I was interested in selling my home. They called me by my first name and had my home address. I asked how they obtained all of my information and I received this reply, 'Public databases, I pulled a list and skiptraced it.'"
This scam involves a robocall claiming to be from Microsoft or Apple. The recording warns that your computer's security has been compromised, your "Apple cloud has been breached," or that your computer is collecting malware and is going to be "wiped out." You are urged to call a specific number immediately to resolve the issue, where a fake technician will try to gain remote access to your device or get you to pay for useless services.
Microsoft, Apple, and other tech companies do not monitor your computer for security issues and will not initiate unsolicited phone calls to provide tech support. All communication about your account security will happen through official notifications on your device or account portal.
"SAID MY COMPUTER WAS GOING TO BE WIPED OUT. THEY WANTED ME TO TURN IT ON. MY BEST FRIEND FELL FOR THIS SCAM LAST WEEK AND ALMOST LOST 725.00 HE HAD TO CANCEL HIS DEBIT CARD AND FILE A CLAIM TO GET HIS MONEY BACK."
Many local businesses, especially busy medical practices and ERs in the 540 area, are being targeted by relentless, repeated calls from numbers like 540-253-3417. These calls either transmit a fax machine tone or are just dead air. They call back-to-back, sometimes dozens of times a day and even at 4 a.m., clogging up essential phone lines and disrupting business operations.
This is a form of telephone harassment, often caused by a malfunctioning or malicious auto-dialer (robodialer). The purpose is often unclear, but it severely disrupts communication for critical services. It is not a legitimate attempt at communication.
"Work in a busy medical practice. This number calls repeatedly and it sounds like a fax. It's annoying and clogging up our lines."
Frequently Asked Questions about Area Code 201 Scams and Spam Calls
No, area code 540 is not a scam. It's a legitimate telephone area code serving millions of legitimate residents and businesses in Virginia, United States. Area code 540 is a general purpose code that has been in service since July 15, 1995.
Most common 540 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 Virginia, or have a 540 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 Virginia area codes where scam and spam calls are regularly reported: