Pennsylvania's 610 area code is full of IRS impersonators and fake legal threats. Callers pretend to be law enforcement to scare you with arrest warrants unless you pay them immediately.
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 610 area code and wonder if it's a scam? You're not alone. Scammers frequently spoof Pennsylvania (Allentown, Reading, Bethlehem) phone numbers to trick you into answering. Here are the most common area code 610 scams based on user comments:
Scammers are leaving alarming robocall voicemails claiming to be from the Social Security Administration or the IRS. They threaten you with "four serious allegations," state your SSN has been suspended due to fraud, and warn that a warrant will be issued for your arrest if you don't call them back immediately.
The Social Security Administration and IRS will never call you to threaten arrest or demand immediate payment. These agencies initiate contact through official U.S. Mail, not with aggressive, high-pressure phone calls.
"Left a voice mail that I was going to be arrested or my ssn would be suspended if I didn’t call back right away. When I called back they answered and said they were the social security administration. Then hung up after 3 seconds of me talking."
Scammers are calling from local 610 numbers, leaving vague but frightening messages about "several complaints" or a "pending case" filed against you. They threaten to "dispatch someone to your residence and your work" or contact your employer to scare you into calling back and paying a non-existent debt.
Real process servers do not call ahead to warn you; they simply show up unannounced. These calls are illegal scare tactics designed to make you pay a phantom debt. Legitimate debt collectors must provide validation of the debt in writing.
"Said he was going to dispatch someone to my residence and my work. Gave me docket number. My heart is pounding out of my chest"
Residents are being bombarded with relentless robocalls about an expiring auto warranty. These calls often mention a "final notice" and may refer to a vehicle you haven't owned in years. They are aggressive third-party sellers, not your car's manufacturer.
These calls are from high-pressure telemarketers selling expensive and often worthless extended service contracts. They are not affiliated with your dealership or car brand.
"This company calls me on a daily basis harassing me with phone calls trying to get me to sign up for auto warranty I told them several times not to call me anymore to take me off their calling list and they refused to listen they constantly harass me..."
A persistent scam is targeting local businesses with repeated calls asking about an "upcoming office move." Callers, sometimes identifying as "Wendover Corp" or "Business Connection Group," try to gather information like employee counts and owners' names, and often become rude when challenged.
This is a lead-generation tactic. The callers are phishing for information to sell to other businesses like movers, commercial realtors, and furniture suppliers. They have no prior knowledge of your company's plans.
"Several calls a week by a woman wanting to verify that our offices are moving. When I say we are not, she then asked if we planned a move in the future. When I said we are not, she then asked if we were remodeling or moving office furniture around. She finally ran out of questions and hung up."
Homeowners are receiving unsolicited calls and voicemails from individuals, often named "Tom" or "Gisele," offering to buy their property for cash. They claim they "just bought a house nearby" and are in a hurry to make a deal, creating false urgency.
These are often predatory investors trying to get you to sell your home for significantly less than its market value. Legitimate real estate transactions are not initiated through unsolicited, anonymous robocalls.
"Hi this is Gisele we just bought a property in your area and we look up your cell line and we're wondering if you would consider a cash offer please give us a call back..."
This scam starts with a text message from someone claiming to be "Jenna" or "Jennifer." The message suggests she knows you and wants to "meet up" while she's in town for a "break." If you reply that she has the wrong number, she continues the conversation, eventually trying to lure you to an adult cam website.
This is not a real person who texted you by accident. It is an automated bot running a script with the sole purpose of tricking you into signing up for a paid adult website or clicking a malicious link.
"Chick seemingly texts you by mistake while looking for a tinder hookup. Says her name is jenna and since she cant get ahold of her date your the new chump. Scam sends you to cam site"
Scammers are posing as support staff from major companies like Apple, Amazon, and PayPal. You might get a robocall about a fraudulent purchase of a "$1499 Apple MacBook on your Amazon account" or a warning that your "Apple iCloud account has been compromised" and to call back immediately.
Real companies like Apple and Amazon will never call you to ask for your password, financial information, or remote access to your device. All official communication about fraud is handled via email or secure notifications within their official apps.
"Said it was apple support for my Icloud account but I don't have an Icloud..SCAM"
Frequently Asked Questions about Area Code 201 Scams and Spam Calls
No, area code 610 is not a scam. It's a legitimate telephone area code serving millions of legitimate residents and businesses in Pennsylvania, United States. Area code 610 is a general purpose code that has been in service since January 8, 1994.
Most common 610 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 Pennsylvania, or have a 610 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 Pennsylvania area codes where scam and spam calls are regularly reported: