The 781 area code is seeing fake debt collector demands and Social Security compromise scams. Callers threaten legal action for debts you do not owe or claim your ID was stolen.
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 781 area code and wonder if it's a scam? You're not alone. Scammers frequently spoof Massachusetts (Boston, Lynn, Waltham) phone numbers to trick you into answering. Here are the most common area code 781 scams based on user comments:
Residents in the 781 area code are being flooded with calls from entities posing as debt collectors, often using names like "CCS Offices" or "Account Services." These callers know your name and aggressively pressure you to "verify" your mailing address or the last four digits of your Social Security number before they will disclose the nature of the alleged debt.
Legitimate debt collectors must identify themselves and, upon request, send you a written validation notice detailing the debt. They cannot legally refuse to provide information and demand yours first.
"I got a call from this number on my cell and they asked for me to provide my mailing address and I asked what was this in regards to, they said until I verify my mailing address they could not release any info as to why they were calling... he then hung up."
This aggressive scam involves a robocall or live person claiming your Social Security number has been compromised or used in a crime. They threaten you with arrest or legal action and instruct you to "press one to talk to an officer" to resolve the issue, with the goal of stealing your personal information.
The Social Security Administration will never call you to threaten you with arrest or legal action. They communicate official business through registered mail, not through threatening phone calls.
"Telling me my social security number was compromised and a hold out on it until I called to verify it with one of their agent's!! Total scam!! They didn't have my name or number! They wanted me to provide that to them!! Scam!!!"
Scammers are relentlessly calling 781 numbers claiming to be from "Apple Support." A robocall message warns that your iCloud account has been breached or shows "suspicious activity" and urges you to press 1 or call a specific number to speak with a security attendant. This is a phishing attempt to gain access to your accounts or financial information.
Apple does not make unsolicited phone calls to inform you about security problems. They will never ask for your password, verification codes, or remote access to your device in a phone call you did not initiate.
"I do not own any Apple products, but they say there is 'suspicious activity on my i-cloud account.' Have received 7 calls since noon today leaving messages. I do not answer the call."
These are frequent robocalls or calls from live agents claiming your vehicle's warranty has expired or is about to expire. They often use high-pressure tactics and hang up on you if you ask questions about their company or how they got your number. The goal is to sell you an overpriced and often useless service contract.
While extended warranties are real products, legitimate companies do not rely on illegal, high-frequency robocalls to find customers. These calls are often fishing expeditions and are not affiliated with your car's manufacturer.
"Caller ID says from Winchester, it's a scam, trying to tell you that your car warranty has expired but they can extend it for you. When you connect to a person and tell them anything they don't want to hear, they will just hang up on you."
A bizarre and highly disruptive issue is affecting many local businesses. Multiple numbers, often from the 781-996-XXXX range, are relentlessly calling business lines attempting to send a fax. This results in dozens of calls per day that tie up phone lines with a loud beeping sound, disrupting legitimate business operations.
This is not a legitimate business practice. It is typically caused by a misconfigured auto-dialer or a "fax blasting" spam service that is illegally targeting phone numbers instead of dedicated fax lines. No legitimate company would operate this way.
"This number keeps calling our place of business and it is attempting to connect with our fax machine. Luckily, it can't, but the phone is ringing about 5 times per 10 minutes...VERY ANNOYING!"
Scammers are using robocalls to impersonate local water companies or other services, creating a false sense of emergency. They will leave a recorded message about a "water main break" or a "severe weather alert" and ask you to press a number for more information. This is a trick to get you on the line with a live scammer who will then try to phish for personal or financial details.
While some towns use alert systems, they rarely ask you to press a button to connect to an operator during a mass notification. Scammers use the panic of a local emergency to bypass your skepticism and get you to act without thinking.
"Recorded message claims to be from the local water company. Message states there is a water main break in the area, and asks the customer to press '2' for more information. Very likely a SCAM to get customer's credit card information."
Frequently Asked Questions about Area Code 201 Scams and Spam Calls
No, area code 781 is not a scam. It's a legitimate telephone area code serving millions of legitimate residents and businesses in Massachusetts, United States. Area code 781 is a general purpose code that has been in service since September 1, 1997.
Most common 781 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 781 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: