Fake Chase bank calls and Medicare scams are flooding the 847 area code. Fraudsters try to steal your banking login or health insurance information by pretending to help you.
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 847 area code and wonder if it's a scam? You're not alone. Scammers frequently spoof Illinois (Elgin, Waukegan, Arlington Heights) phone numbers to trick you into answering. Here are the most common area code 847 scams based on user comments:
Residents in the 847 area are receiving a high volume of calls where scammers spoof the caller ID to say "Chase" or "JP MORGAN CHASE". These callers often mention a late payment or ask for your Social Security number to "verify" your account. Users report that when they answer, the line may disconnect, or an automated voice will say "Please Hold" before connecting to a person who sounds more like a salesperson than a bank representative.
While Chase may call you about your account, they will never initiate a call and immediately demand your full Social Security number for verification. If your account has an issue, you can always hang up and call the bank's official, publicly listed customer service number to confirm.
"The Chase fraud department and customer service department says this is a scam #! Im seeing issues here for this since 2019. After 2 years why hasnt this been taken care of?"
Scammers are aggressively targeting Illinois residents with robocalls about Medicare and Social Security. Callers named "Alex," "Kristie," or "Meredith" will claim to be on a "recorded" or "secure line" to discuss improving your benefits, offering a "Medicare Plus card," or a "medicare cashback" program. Another variant falsely claims your Social Security number has been suspended due to fraudulent activity.
Government agencies like the Social Security Administration and Medicare will not call you out of the blue to threaten you or offer special "cashback" deals. They primarily communicate through official U.S. mail, not with unsolicited, high-pressure robocalls.
"Got call from this number with taped and recorded line supposedly was a return call on my application for social security disability. I have not applied and hung up when I realized I could not have a conversation"
These scams use fear and intimidation, claiming you have a "pending mediation matter" or "pending court orders" against you. A robocall may leave a vague but threatening message about a "complaint filed in your county" and provide a fake case number. Callers, sometimes identifying as "Haley Smith with Lake County Processing Unit," threaten to garnish your wages or show up at your place of employment.
Real process servers do not call ahead to warn you; they simply show up to deliver legal documents. Legitimate debt collectors are required by law to provide you with a written validation notice and cannot legally threaten you with immediate arrest or wage garnishment without a court order.
"Said they were going to contact my HR or payroll department to garnish my wages. I don’t know who they are"
This tricky scam starts with a friendly sounding caller, often identifying as "Grace" or "Sarah" on a recorded line. They immediately ask a simple question like, "Can you hear me okay?" Their goal is to get you to say "yes," which they record. This voice recording can then be used to fraudulently authorize charges or sign you up for services you never wanted.
Legitimate companies do not need to trick you into saying "yes" to conduct business. This tactic is used exclusively by scammers to create a fraudulent voice signature for unauthorized transactions.
"The girl said a first name and said she was on a recorded line from a homeowners association calling about safety in our home then asked if I could hear her..I hung up as they want you to say yes."
One of the most persistent spam calls in the 847 area is the "extended car warranty" robocall. An automated message, sometimes from a caller named "Alison," will claim your car's warranty is expiring and that this is their final attempt to reach you. They create a false sense of urgency to pressure you into pressing a button to speak with a "warranty specialist."
These calls are not from your car's manufacturer or dealership. They are from third-party companies using deceptive tactics. Your actual manufacturer will communicate with you via mail about official warranty information.
"Hello, this is Alison, calling to follow up on your car warranty. Pre-recorded message. Just hang up...."
Scammers are calling residents pretending to be from major companies like Apple or Amazon, reporting a security breach or a fraudulent charge. One common script involves an automated message claiming your iCloud account has been breached and you must press 1 for support. Another claims a large purchase, such as for $929.00, was charged to your Amazon account and you must call back immediately to cancel it.
Apple and Amazon will never call you to report a security breach or a fraudulent purchase. These notifications are handled through official emails or alerts within your account dashboard. They will certainly never demand payment via gift cards to "fix" a security issue.
"Posing as Apple Support. Said his name was John. Claimed my iCloud account had been hacked. John became upset when I told him I knew what he was up to. Began babbling and cursing me in his native dialect."
Frequently Asked Questions about Area Code 201 Scams and Spam Calls
No, area code 847 is not a scam. It's a legitimate telephone area code serving millions of legitimate residents and businesses in Illinois, United States. Area code 847 is a general purpose code that has been in service since January 20, 1996.
Most common 847 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 847 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: