South Dakota's 605 area code is seeing a rise in fake lawsuit threats and internet provider impersonation calls. Fraudsters try to frighten you with arrest warrants or fake service problems to get your money.
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 605 area code and wonder if it's a scam? You're not alone. Scammers frequently spoof South Dakota (Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Aberdeen) phone numbers to trick you into answering. Here are the most common area code 605 scams based on user comments:
Residents across South Dakota are receiving aggressive robocalls claiming legal action is being taken against them. These callers threaten to show up at your home or workplace, mention pending claims, and create a false sense of urgency to scare you into calling back a different number and paying a phony debt or fine.
Real process servers and law enforcement officials do not call you in advance to warn you about being served or arrested. They simply show up. These calls are designed purely to frighten you into making a hasty payment.
"Told me I had to pending claims against me, if I did not call back they would come to my residence and place of work. At the end of call I was told I had been notified and good luck."
Scammers are calling local businesses claiming to be from AT&T, CenturyLink, or Frontier. They falsely state that copper lines are being retired and that you must immediately approve a "mandatory" switch to digital service to avoid a fee, often citing a specific charge like "$199 per line." When questioned, they become argumentative and may hang up.
Major utility companies like AT&T and CenturyLink notify customers of legitimate network changes through official mail and bill inserts, not through high-pressure, unsolicited phone calls that threaten immediate fees.
"Said he was from AT&T and to avoid the $199 per line charge we needed to act today. When pressed about being an actual AT&T employee, he hung up."
This is a text message scam targeting job seekers. Scammers send a text claiming to be "Agneta Bevan" or "Alana Bason," stating they found your number on Indeed and are offering a part-time personal assistant or errand runner position for $500 per week. They ask you to email an outlook.com address for more details, which is the first step in a scam to steal your personal information or money.
Legitimate recruiters contact candidates through professional channels like official company email or LinkedIn, not through random texts from personal numbers. This scam often leads to identity theft or requests for you to handle fraudulent funds.
"I am Agneta Bevan, I got your # from Indeed. I need a Part-Time Personal Assistant/Errand Runner. Pay is $500/week. Email me for details: [email protected]"
This is a particularly invasive scam where criminals somehow gain access to your phone account and set up call forwarding, often without your knowledge. Victims report that their incoming calls and voicemails were being secretly forwarded to a scammer's number. Many only discovered the issue when friends or family said their voicemail greeting was strange or their calls weren't going through.
Call forwarding is a feature you must enable yourself or that a hacker enables after compromising your account. Your phone provider can see if this feature is active and disable it for you. This is a serious privacy breach that needs to be addressed with your carrier.
"My private cell phone number was being forwarded to this number unbeknownst to me. Was missing calls sporadically from friends/family. Verizon discovered and removed forwarding."
These are frequent, persistent robocalls about your car's extended warranty. The calls often come from spoofed 605 numbers to appear local. The automated messages urge you to speak with an agent about your "expiring coverage," even if you don't own the vehicle they mention or have never had such a warranty.
Your official car dealership or manufacturer will contact you via mail for legitimate warranty information. These high-pressure telemarketing calls are from unrelated third parties selling expensive and often useless service contracts.
"Having owned a car dealership for 43 years, this is a SCAM!!"
Scammers are calling and leaving voicemails claiming to be from the Social Security Administration or IRS. They use fear tactics, stating your Social Security Number (SSN) has been used in fraudulent activities and will be blocked, or that you owe back taxes and will be arrested if you don't pay immediately. These are bluffs to steal your money and identity.
The Social Security Administration and IRS will never call you to threaten you or demand immediate payment. They initiate contact through official U.S. mail. Your SSN cannot be suspended or blocked over the phone.
"There is an enforcement action executed by the US higher authorities stating that your SSN is going to be blocked... This is the final attempt to reach you back."
Frequently Asked Questions about Area Code 201 Scams and Spam Calls
No, area code 605 is not a scam. It's a legitimate telephone area code serving millions of legitimate residents and businesses in South Dakota, United States. Area code 605 is a general purpose code that has been in service since January 1, 1947.
Most common 605 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 South Dakota, or have a 605 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.