Area code 771 is seeing a mix of political surveys and IRS tax collection scams. Fraudsters pretend to be the IRS demanding back taxes or fish for personal info via surveys.
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 771 area code and wonder if it's a scam? You're not alone. Scammers frequently spoof District of Columbia (Washington) phone numbers to trick you into answering. Here are the most common area code 771 scams based on user comments:
A high volume of calls are coming from a group claiming to be a "Research Company" conducting political surveys. They use a consistent script, stating they are not selling anything and are only trying to gather opinions, likely as a way to verify active phone numbers or gather data under false pretenses.
Legitimate research firms typically identify themselves by name and are transparent about their objectives. The sheer volume and identical nature of these calls suggest they are part of a large-scale robocalling or data-mining operation, not genuine political research.
"We are a Research Company that conducts in Political Surveys. We are not selling anything; We are only trying to get people's opinions which are very important to us."
This aggressive scam involves a caller impersonating the IRS to threaten you about unpaid taxes. Their only goal is to create panic and pressure you into sending money immediately to resolve a fake tax issue.
The real IRS initiates most contact through U.S. Mail and will never call to demand immediate payment, ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone, or threaten you with arrest.
"IRS tax collection scam!"
Scammers are using robocalls pretending to be from Comcast Xfinity, warning that your promotional discount is about to expire. The message instructs you to call a specific number they provide, which is a trick to get you on the phone with a scammer to steal your account or payment info.
Utility providers like Comcast will not use unsolicited robocalls to have you call back an unfamiliar number regarding your account. Official communications about your bill or promotions happen through the mail, their official app, or their secure website.
"I got a call from +1(771) 717-3763 saying they were comcast xfinity and my discount was about to expire and to call them back... It was a robocall and left a voice mail."
In this scam, callers falsely claim you have an outstanding debt or an unpaid bill. They provide no specific details and hope their authoritative tone will be enough to convince you to pay for a debt that doesn't exist.
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) requires real debt collectors to provide you with written proof of a debt. Any caller who refuses or pressures you for immediate payment over the phone is almost certainly a scammer.
"Got a call. They were saying bill not paid. I have no outstanding debt and hung up"
These spam calls use a generic Caller ID label like "Account Services" to trick you into answering. Once you pick up, they may launch into a variety of scams, often related to lowering credit card interest rates or other fake financial offers.
Legitimate financial companies will always identify themselves clearly on the phone and on your Caller ID. The term "Account Services" is intentionally generic to fool people into thinking the call is from their actual bank or credit card company.
"Got a call from 771-224-8590 labeled as 'Account Services'."
This is a simple but sneaky tactic where the caller's only goal is to get you to confirm your name. As soon as you respond, they hang up, having successfully verified that your phone number is active and belongs to a real person they can target for future scams.
There is no legitimate business reason to call someone just to confirm their name and then immediately hang up. This is a common technique used by telemarketers and scammers to build and validate call lists for future spam campaigns.
"Call to confirm your name and then they hang up"
Frequently Asked Questions about Area Code 201 Scams and Spam Calls
No, area code 771 is not a scam. It's a legitimate telephone area code serving millions of legitimate residents and businesses in District Of Columbia, United States. Area code 771 is a general purpose code that has been in service since November 9, 2021.
Most common 771 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 District Of Columbia, or have a 771 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 District Of Columbia area codes where scam and spam calls are regularly reported: