Ohio's 740 area code is seeing many Social Security fraud alerts and fake Amazon purchase calls. Scammers claim your account was hacked to trick you into giving them access to your funds.
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 740 area code and wonder if it's a scam? You're not alone. Scammers frequently spoof Ohio (Newark, Lancaster, Marion) phone numbers to trick you into answering. Here are the most common area code 740 scams based on user comments:
Residents in Ohio are receiving alarming robocalls claiming your Social Security Number has been used for fraudulent activity. The message threatens you with "legal proceedings" or even an arrest warrant if you don't immediately call them back to resolve the issue.
The Social Security Administration will never call you to threaten arrest, demand payment, or warn of legal action. They communicate official business primarily through U.S. mail, not threatening phone calls.
"I am having an arrest warrant in my name unless I press one to talk to a social security person about fraudulent activity on my social security account."
This scam involves a robocall or voicemail claiming a large, fraudulent purchase has been made on your account. Victims report fake charges of "$299.99" or even "$1099 for an Iphone 12 Pro" and are told to call a specific 740 number or press a key to cancel the order.
Amazon does not call customers to confirm purchases or ask you to call a separate number to cancel an order. All official communication about your orders happens through your secure account on their website or app.
"a Robo call on my voicemail. saying there was a potentially fraudulent charge on my account for an Iphone 12 Pro in the amount of $1099 going to Memphis TN. I'm in WA. They said to call Amazon Customer Service at this phone number 740-520-2641."
Scammers are calling 740-area residents pretending to be from a "Walk In Urgent Care" and demanding payment for a bill you don't owe. They may use old personal information, like a previous employer, to sound legitimate and pressure you to pay for a visit that never happened.
Legitimate medical billing departments will always be able to mail you an official, itemized bill. They do not rely on high-pressure phone calls to demand immediate payment for a debt you're unaware of.
"They left a voicemail saying I owed money from a urgency care visit from a location I’ve never even heard of. Said I went in 2019 and listed my previous employer as the company who I got insurance through. I never got insurance benefits from that job. Total scam."
These are intimidating calls claiming a "complaint was filed against you" or that you must appear before a "magistrate judge or a grand jury." The scammers often use a threatening tone and provide a fake case or docket number to scare you into calling them back to "resolve" the non-existent legal matter.
Real process servers and court officials do not warn you with a robocall. Official legal notices like a summons are delivered in person or by certified mail, not through a threatening phone call.
"Got a call saying there is a case against me. I called the Franklin County clerks office to verify if it was true and turned out it was a false claim"
Callers are falsely claiming to be from "the Medicare Office" or a group like "Allied Partners" to discuss your coverage. The goal is often to get your personal information or to ship you medical equipment like "back, knee and shoulder braces" that you never requested, then bill Medicare for them.
Medicare will not call you to sell products or services. A representative will only call if you have specifically requested one to do so, and they will never ask for financial information over the phone.
"Called to advise they were shipping the back, knee and shoulder braces. Told him I already had the braces and he hung up on me!!!"
This aggressive scam involves a caller pretending to be from AEP electric, threatening that your power will be shut off "tomorrow." To create panic, they claim it's not for non-payment but because a "program is being disconnected," and demand an immediate service fee to keep your lights on.
Utility companies like AEP are required to provide multiple written warnings over a long period before disconnecting service. They do not call with last-minute threats demanding a surprise "service fee."
"He said our electric would be turned off tomorrow. I said that's odd since the bill is always paid in full and on time. He stated it wasn't for non payment but because the program is being disconnected unless we pay a service fee."
Ohioans are frequently targeted by robocalls with a recorded message stating your "car warranty is expired." These calls are designed to sell you an expensive and often worthless vehicle service contract. If you try to ask them to stop calling, they will usually hang up and call back later from a different number.
These calls are not from your vehicle's manufacturer or dealership. They are from third-party telemarketers trying to sell you a service contract. Engaging with them only confirms your number is active, leading to more calls.
"Call is a recording stating your car warranty is expired. If you are lucky enough to get a live person, when you ask to have your number removed they will hang up. This number calls me several times a day."
This scam uses a text message to create a false sense of urgency. A text from someone named "Trisha Davis" will claim a letter was sent last month and "today was your last day." This is a tactic to make you panic and immediately call the 740 number provided in the message.
Legitimate agencies do not conduct urgent, official business through vague text messages from a personal-sounding name. This is a social engineering trick to bypass your skepticism and get you on the phone.
"Hi my name is Trisha Davis and we had sent you a letter last month stating that today was your last day. Could you give me a quick call at 740-241-5277 now?"
Frequently Asked Questions about Area Code 201 Scams and Spam Calls
No, area code 740 is not a scam. It's a legitimate telephone area code serving millions of legitimate residents and businesses in Ohio, United States. Area code 740 is a general purpose code that has been in service since December 6, 1997.
Most common 740 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 Ohio, or have a 740 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 Ohio area codes where scam and spam calls are regularly reported: