The emotional grandparent scam and aggressive debt collection calls are common in the 862 area code. Scammers pretend a family member is in jail or claim you owe money to trick you into paying.
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 862 area code and wonder if it's a scam? You're not alone. Scammers frequently spoof New Jersey (Newark, Paterson, Clifton) phone numbers to trick you into answering. Here are the most common area code 862 scams based on user comments:
This cruel scam targets New Jersey residents, often seniors, with a frantic call claiming a grandchild has been in a serious car accident and is now in jail or the hospital. The caller demands thousands of dollars for bail, citing specific amounts like $6,000 or $9,000, to create panic and pressure you into sending money immediately.
Police departments and hospitals do not call relatives to demand immediate bail money or bill payments over the phone. These are official processes handled in person or through legitimate mail correspondence, not through panicked, high-pressure phone calls.
"My father got a call saying his grandson was in the hospital and had a bad accident and needed money."
Scammers from the 862 area code are calling residents posing as investigators from a "Garnishment Department" or a law firm. They threaten you with being sued over a fake or long-expired debt, often for companies like "City Bank," and use your personal information like your birthday and the last four digits of your Social Security number to sound legitimate and scare you into paying.
Legitimate debt collectors must provide a written validation notice within five days of first contacting you. They cannot legally threaten you with jail time for an unpaid civil debt or refuse to provide proof in writing.
"...a different women stating that she is the supervisor and that my Info hit their desk this morning and if I dont pay I was gonna be taking to court. When I began questioning her she got rude and threatening to terminate the call."
A highly specific scam involves a caller named "David Meyers" from the "Megger Million Golden Harvest Sweepstakes" telling you that you've won $8.5 million, a new 2025 Mercedes Benz, and other prizes. To collect your winnings, you are instructed to purchase a "$499 Green Dot Money Scratch Card" to pay for a "claimer's card."
Legitimate lotteries and sweepstakes do not ask winners to pay fees, taxes, or shipping costs to claim a prize. Taxes are paid directly to the government after you have received your winnings, never to the contest organizers upfront.
"got a call... saying his name was David Meyers... and that I won 8.5 million dollars, a new 2025 mercedes benz... I just have to purchase my claimer's card for $499.00 its a Green Dot Money Scratch Card."
Scammers are sending text messages and making calls pretending to be from banks like Bank of America or Citizens Bank. They'll claim your debit card has been locked or that a fraudulent transaction was detected, urging you to click a suspicious link or call a number to verify your information, which they then steal.
Your bank will never send a text message asking you to click a link and enter your full account number, password, or other sensitive login credentials to unlock your account. They handle security alerts through their official app or by asking you to call them directly.
"Pretending to be Bank of America and saying debit card has been blocked for fraud. Redirects you to call 562-666-3484 which is probably someone trying to get all your bank info."
Persistent callers are targeting local New Jersey businesses, immediately asking to be transferred to the "IT Manager." They often use generic or fake company names like "Kimodi co" or "Comodo Security," refuse to leave a message, and will call back relentlessly, sometimes multiple times a day, even after being told to stop.
Legitimate business vendors and partners will identify themselves and their company, state the purpose of their call, and respect your company's call screening policies. They do not rely on high-pressure, repetitive calling to get through.
"They call every day about three times a day. Told them that IT is no longer on site and to remove this number. Been going on for a year now. When I see the number, I just hang up on them."
Callers, sometimes using the name "Noah," contact residents about a "student loan forgiveness program." They create false urgency by claiming you will be dropped from the program if you don't call back by the end of the day. These calls often target people who don't even have student loans.
The U.S. Department of Education does not make unsolicited calls with urgent threats. All official communication about student loan forgiveness happens through official channels you initiate or via mail, not through aggressive robocalls.
"Noah calling in regards of a student loan forgiveness program. Saying that if I don't return the call by the end of the day, I will be out of the program. I'm not a student/never had a student loan."
Callers are soliciting donations by claiming to represent organizations like the "Policemen's Benevolent Association" or the "NJ State Police." These calls use emotional appeals to get you to donate over the phone, but the caller ID often shows a generic number, and the telemarketers may be unable to answer basic questions about their organization.
While many police associations are legitimate, they typically do not use high-pressure phone tactics for fundraising. Many of these calls are from for-profit telemarketers who keep a significant percentage of your donation.
"The man said that he was calling on behalf of the Police Benevolent Society... I asked him why the call was only coming up as Newark, NJ, why it wasn't identifying the group he was calling from. He couldn't answer."
Frequently Asked Questions about Area Code 201 Scams and Spam Calls
No, area code 862 is not a scam. It's a legitimate telephone area code serving millions of legitimate residents and businesses in New Jersey, United States. Area code 862 is a general purpose code that has been in service since December 29, 2001.
Most common 862 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 New Jersey, or have a 862 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 New Jersey area codes where scam and spam calls are regularly reported: