Kansas's 785 area code is being used for Publishers Clearing House prize scams and Social Security fraud. Scammers say you won a prize but must pay a fee first to claim the money.
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 785 area code and wonder if it's a scam? You're not alone. Scammers frequently spoof Kansas (Topeka, Lawrence, Manhattan) phone numbers to trick you into answering. Here are the most common area code 785 scams based on user comments:
Residents in the 785 area code are receiving automated calls claiming they are a "second place winner" in the Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes. The message instructs you to call a specific number, sometimes even an international one, to provide information and claim your supposed prize.
The real Publishers Clearing House does not call major prize winners; they famously show up at your door with a big check. They never require you to pay taxes or fees upfront to receive a prize.
"Congratulations week stand a special welcome to you at the publishers clearing House sweepstakes and lotteries on behalf of our team we would like to bring to your noticed that you were selected as a second place winner here please give us a call for further information at 785-284-5914..."
This aggressive robocall claims a "legal enforcement action" has been filed against your Social Security number due to "fraudulent activities," sometimes mentioning a specific state like Texas. The message threatens you with appearance before a "magistrate, judge or grand jury" and says it's your final warning to call back.
The Social Security Administration primarily contacts people through U.S. mail. They will never call to threaten your benefits or demand immediate payment or personal information to avoid arrest.
"Ignoring this will be an intentional second attempt to avoid initial appearance before magistrate, judge or grand jury for a federal criminal offense. This is our final attempt to reach you."
Scammers are calling Kansans pretending to be from a "Judicial Service" or a fake legal group like "RSG Legal Group." They claim they have legal documents to serve you or an "order of location" and may even call your family members to create a sense of panic and legitimacy.
Legitimate process servers do not call ahead to warn you they are coming; their job is to serve you in person without prior notice. This tactic is used to scare you into paying a fake debt.
"My daughter in law received a call from this number. They told her they were looking for me and had some sort of legal order to serve. When I called the number they left it just rang and rang."
Callers falsely claim to be from your TV provider, such as Xfinity or Cox, stating your cable box software is outdated and needs an "update." They will offer to lower your monthly bill but first require you to pay a one-time fee of around $200-$250, threatening to disconnect your service or pick up your equipment if you refuse.
Cable companies push software updates to your equipment automatically and for free. They will never call and ask you for a large one-time payment to lower your bill or perform a routine update.
"He said there would be a charge of 249.00 for the update. She said she didn’t authorize a charge. He said they would be sending a truck to her house to pick up all of the boxes, etc. if she didn’t pay. She then realized something was not right and hung up."
This scam arrives as a text message, not a call. It claims a parcel with a specific "tracing code" is waiting for you and you must "check the shipment address" by clicking a link. The link leads to a suspicious, non-official website like "corndisagree.com" designed to steal your personal information.
Official delivery services like USPS, UPS, and FedEx will never send you a text with a link to a strange domain. Always track packages by going directly to the carrier's official website.
"Package Tracking: Hi, your parcel with tracing number NEYY0MDT is waiting for you to check the shipping address: corndisagree.com/lY8kcDN"
A caller, often claiming to be from a "medical emergency facility" or calling about your home, immediately asks "Can you hear me okay?" Their only goal is to get you to say the word "Yes." They hang up right after you respond.
Scammers record your "Yes" and can use it as a voice signature to authorize fraudulent charges on your credit card or utility bills. A legitimate caller will state the purpose of their call first.
"States they are calling from a medical emergency facility. Proceeds to say 'im calling from a recorded line, can you hear me okay?' Once Yes is replied they hang up."
Frequently Asked Questions about Area Code 201 Scams and Spam Calls
No, area code 785 is not a scam. It's a legitimate telephone area code serving millions of legitimate residents and businesses in Kansas, United States. Area code 785 is a general purpose code that has been in service since July 20, 1997.
Most common 785 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 Kansas, or have a 785 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 Kansas area codes where scam and spam calls are regularly reported: