Boston's 617 area code is often spoofed for fake arrest threats and phony debt collection calls. Fraudsters claim you owe money or have a warrant out for your arrest 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 617 area code and wonder if it's a scam? You're not alone. Scammers frequently spoof Massachusetts (Boston, Cambridge, Quincy) phone numbers to trick you into answering. Here are the most common area code 617 scams based on user comments:
Residents in the Boston area are receiving aggressive robocalls threatening immediate legal action. A robotic female voice often claims there are "four serious allegations" against you and that you will be "taken under custody by the local cops" if you don't call back to discuss the "case." They use high-pressure tactics to create panic and trick you into responding.
Legitimate law enforcement agencies, like local police or the IRS, do not initiate contact by phone to threaten you with immediate arrest. You would be contacted via official, written correspondence, and process servers do not call ahead to warn you of a lawsuit.
"Expired after that you will be taken under custody by the local cops as there are four serious allegations pressed on your name at this moment we would request you to get back to us so that we can discuss about this case before taking any legal action against you."
Scammers are calling from what sounds like a call center, using extremely rude and aggressive tactics to collect on fake or very old debts. Callers often identify themselves as "Jackie" or "Lisa" from the office of "Attorney Mike Kelly," threatening to levy your bank account, put a lien on your house, or have you arrested over debts from more than a decade ago. They may have your social security number and will yell and talk over you to intimidate you into paying.
Real debt collectors must follow the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). This law prohibits them from using abusive language, threatening arrest, or refusing to provide you with written information about the debt they claim you owe.
"A lady called me stating I owed an $800 debt from a credit card from 2011 and that the creditor was going to take me to court. When I questioned who the creditor was she rambled several retailers. She got ruded and kept saying that they didnt pull my info out of a hat... She hung up on me."
A widespread scam involves a recorded message from "Pete from National Disability" regarding an application for Social Security disability benefits you never made. In other versions, callers claim your Social Security Number (SSN) has been suspended for fraudulent activities. The goal is to get you to call back and provide your SSN and other sensitive personal information.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) will never call you to threaten to suspend your number or demand payment. The SSA primarily communicates through postal mail and will not ask for sensitive information over the phone unless you initiated the call yourself.
"Pete from National Disability called regarding my application for monthly social security disability benefits. The callback# he left was 617-996-8876. I have not applied for these benefits - this appears to be a scam."
Scammers are calling Massachusetts residents pretending to be from "your health plan," BCBS, or even MassHealth. They often know your full name, and their very first question is to ask for your Social Security Number to "verify" or "check the correctness of your records." This is a phishing attempt to steal your identity.
Your real health insurance company already has your personal information on file. They will not call you out of the blue and ask you to provide your full Social Security Number for verification.
"Call from so called Mass Health. They tell your name and tell that call to ask about Mass health benefits. But first question they asked as if they want to check the correctness your records was : What is your Social Security Number."
Scammers are impersonating local utility companies like National Grid and Eversource. They leave urgent automated messages claiming your service will be disconnected in the next 30 minutes unless you speak to a supervisor immediately. Another version involves relentless calls about needing to replace your gas meter. Their goal is to create panic and get you to provide payment information over the phone.
Utility companies will send multiple written notices by mail before disconnecting service. They do not call and threaten to shut you off within the hour, nor will they demand payment via gift cards or wire transfers.
"Recorded man’s voice telling me that he was calling from Eversource and that my service would be disconnected in the next 30 minutes if if didn’t speak to a supervisor immediately."
Callers are spoofing Comcast's name on caller ID to offer fake promotions on internet packages. They create false urgency by claiming the special deal will "expire in 15 minutes" if you don't sign up right away. This is a trick to get you to reveal personal and financial information on the spot.
While Comcast does make promotional calls, they will not pressure you with an offer that expires in 15 minutes. High-pressure sales tactics are a classic sign of a scam.
"Got called today and they claimed to be with Comcast. Caller ID says Global Telsrcng. They claim they want offer a new internet package and it will expire in 15 minutes if I don't signup. I hung up."
Frequently Asked Questions about Area Code 201 Scams and Spam Calls
No, area code 617 is not a scam. It's a legitimate telephone area code serving millions of legitimate residents and businesses in Massachusetts, United States. Area code 617 is a general purpose code that has been in service since January 1, 1947.
Most common 617 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 Massachusetts, or have a 617 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 Massachusetts area codes where scam and spam calls are regularly reported: