Memphis area residents with 901 numbers often face fake legal threats and Social Security impersonators. Callers try to scare you with arrest warrants to demand immediate payment.
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Getting calls from 901 area code and wonder if it's a scam? You're not alone. Scammers frequently spoof Tennessee (Memphis, Bartlett, Collierville) phone numbers to trick you into answering. Here are the most common area code 901 scams based on user comments:
This is a particularly aggressive scam hitting the Memphis area. Callers pretend to be compliance officers, from the Shelby County Civil Court, or process servers. They threaten you with legal action, claim a complaint has been filed against you, or that an arrest warrant is imminent. They often use scare tactics and contact your family members, like a person named "John Green" who claimed to be a "TN state compliance officer" to harass victims and their relatives.
Real process servers and law enforcement officers do not call you in advance to warn you they are coming. They simply show up. These calls are designed to scare you into paying a fake debt or giving up personal information.
"A person named 'John Green' who says he is a TN state compliance officer keeps calling and harrassing me to about a case and needing to serve me. There is NO case for me... And now he is harrassing my sister and other family member."
Scammers are calling 901 residents claiming to be from the Social Security Administration. They use robocalls and live callers to falsely claim your Social Security Number (SSN) has been "deactivated" or used in criminal activity. They then threaten you with arrest if you don't call them back and provide your SSN or other sensitive information.
The Social Security Administration will never call you to threaten you or tell you that your SSN has been suspended. Government agencies primarily communicate through official mail, not with threatening phone calls.
"I got a call from this #. They left a voice message telling me to call them back with my ss# or I would be arrested. I'm about to call them backvand dare them to call me again."
A very specific scam is targeting our area where callers identifying as "Carol" or "Lucille" from "the tax group" leave urgent voicemails. They claim to be a supervisor who has reviewed your "case" and warn that you are "getting closer to collections." This is a high-pressure tactic designed to make you panic and call back to pay a non-existent tax debt.
The IRS initiates most contact through U.S. mail, not through phone calls from a vaguely named "tax group." They will never demand immediate payment over the phone using a specific payment method or threaten you with collections via voicemail.
"This is Carol from the supervisor over at the tax group. I recently had a chance to take another look at your case and really you need to give me a call today. If this isn't resolved you're getting closer to collections..."
Memphis residents are being flooded with relentless robocalls about extending their vehicle's factory warranty. Callers, often using names like "Stacy," will state they are giving you a "final heads up" or a "courtesy call." These calls are not from your car's manufacturer and are often extremely persistent, with some agents becoming verbally abusive if you refuse their service or ask to be removed from their list.
These are not legitimate calls from your car's manufacturer. They are third-party companies using aggressive, and often illegal, telemarketing tactics to sell expensive and often unnecessary service contracts.
"Trying to sell auto warranty, told them to remove us from list. They kept on pressing i said do you not understand remove me from your list. The woman proceeded to call me a bitch."
Many 901 residents report receiving a high volume of unsolicited calls and texts from people wanting to buy their property. Callers use names like "James," "Brittany," "Alex," or "Jackson" and often claim they are a "local investor" or were "driving by your property." They promise a quick, all-cash offer, but this is a tactic to get you to sell your home for far less than it's worth.
These callers are typically wholesalers or predatory investors who get your information from public records. Their goal is to pressure you into a quick sale far below market value so they can resell it for a large profit.
"Hey this is James. I know this call is clear out of the blue. Im calling out property I believe you the owner of. I was just trying to call you to make you a cash offer for your home if you'd be interested in selling..."
Scammers are calling to demand payment for very old or completely fabricated debts. They might mention a "pay day loan from 2011" or a "Capital One credit card from 2009" that you never had. They use high-pressure tactics, threatening lawsuits or wage garnishment if you don't pay immediately, often offering a "settlement" to create a false sense of urgency.
Legitimate debt collectors are required by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) to provide you with written proof of a debt. Scammers refuse to do this because they have no proof and rely on intimidation to get your money.
"Called and said I owe money from an old Capital One credit card from 2009. I've never had a Capital One and once I realized this was an attempted scam I offered to come to their office to pay in person and was hung up on."
Frequently Asked Questions about Area Code 201 Scams and Spam Calls
No, area code 901 is not a scam. It's a legitimate telephone area code serving millions of legitimate residents and businesses in Tennessee, United States. Area code 901 is a general purpose code that has been in service since January 1, 1947.
Most common 901 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 Tennessee, or have a 901 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 Tennessee area codes where scam and spam calls are regularly reported: