Chicago's 773 area code is a hotspot for fake government arrest warrants and bogus lawsuit threats. Criminals pose as police or the IRS to demand payment to keep you out of jail.
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 773 area code and wonder if it's a scam? You're not alone. Scammers frequently spoof Illinois (Chicago) phone numbers to trick you into answering. Here are the most common area code 773 scams based on user comments:
Chicago residents are receiving automated calls claiming to be from the IRS or Social Security Administration. The robocall threatens you with immediate arrest for a "federal criminal offense" or claims your Social Security Number has been compromised. They pressure you to press 1 to speak with an "officer" or "agent" to avoid appearing before a "magistrate judge."
Government agencies like the IRS and SSA will never call you to threaten arrest or demand immediate payment. They initiate contact through official U.S. mail, not with aggressive robocalls.
"message says avoiding this call will result in appearance before the magistrate judge or exempt jury for a federal criminal offense."
This scam involves a call, sometimes from a live person with a friendly voice, claiming a summons or civil lawsuit has been filed against you. They threaten to serve papers at your home or place of employment, sometimes saying a supervisor will need to sign as a witness. The goal is to embarrass and scare you into calling back a different number to pay a fake debt.
Real process servers do not call ahead to warn you; their job is to surprise you. A phone call warning is a clear sign of a debt collection or extortion scam, not a legitimate legal process.
"Male said he had a summons to serve me within 48 hours. If at work would need 2 forms of ID and a supervisor to sign as witness, probably for embarrassment factor."
Scammers are spoofing phone numbers to appear as if they are calling from Fifth Third Bank, with some caller IDs even showing a misspelled "Fifth Thrd Bank." They will ask you to "verify" your identity by providing personal information like your address and date of birth to discuss an "urgent matter" with your account. The callers are often rude and evasive when questioned.
Your bank already has your personal information. They will never call you and ask you to provide sensitive data like your date of birth or full address to verify who you are.
"Fifth Third confirmed that this was a scam. They were trying to get information out of me to 'verify' my account and would not tell me the 'urgent' matter they had with my account until I gave them my information."
This is a long-running scam where a robocall claims to be from Microsoft. The message states there is a problem with your computer or that your Microsoft Windows license is compromised. They warn that someone may be trying to steal your information and urge you to call them back immediately to prevent your computer from becoming "useless."
Microsoft will never proactively call you about a virus or security issue on your personal computer. These calls are always fraudulent attempts to gain access to your device or sell you useless software.
"Answering machine recorded the last part of a robocall telling me to return the call, as MS Windows was going to destroy my credentials. Oh yikes! :)"
Residents are receiving robocalls and voicemails from entities like "Cash Advance USA" falsely claiming they have been pre-approved for a loan up to $15,000. The messages often promise "no upfront fees," but if you call back, operators will eventually demand banking information or the last four digits of your Social Security number before hanging up or becoming aggressive.
Legitimate lenders do not operate via unsolicited robocalls. Furthermore, they require a formal application process and will never pressure you for sensitive information over an initial phone call.
"This call is from cash advance USA you have been approved for a loan up to $15000.00 no upfront fees no security deposit or processing charges so call us back on our Direct Line..."
This is a persistent telemarketing campaign involving robocalls about an expiring or expired car warranty. The calls are relentless, sometimes occurring multiple times a day from slightly different numbers. Even if you don't own a car or the car they mention was sold years ago, the calls continue. The goal is to sell you an expensive and often worthless extended service contract.
These calls are not from your car manufacturer or dealer. They are from third-party telemarketers using public records to target you with high-pressure sales tactics for questionable service plans.
"They keep calling about extending my warranty. I don't have a car."
Frequently Asked Questions about Area Code 201 Scams and Spam Calls
No, area code 773 is not a scam. It's a legitimate telephone area code serving millions of legitimate residents and businesses in Illinois, United States. Area code 773 is a general purpose code that has been in service since October 12, 1996.
Most common 773 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 Illinois, or have a 773 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 Illinois area codes where scam and spam calls are regularly reported: