East Texas residents with 903 numbers are being targeted by Social Security fraud and fake lawsuit threats. These callers claim you face legal action unless you pay a bogus fine immediately.
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 903 area code and wonder if it's a scam? You're not alone. Scammers frequently spoof Texas (Tyler, Longview, Sherman) phone numbers to trick you into answering. Here are the most common area code 903 scams based on user comments:
Residents in East Texas are receiving automated calls claiming a "legal enforcement action" has been filed against their Social Security Number for "fraudulent activities" like money laundering or drug trafficking. The recording threatens to block your SSN and begin legal proceedings if you don't press 1 or call back immediately.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) will never call you to threaten arrest or legal action. The SSA's primary method of contact is through official U.S. mail, not threatening robocalls.
"From our department is to inform you that there's a legal enforcement action filed on your social security number for fraudulent activity so before this matter goes to the state court house and before you get arrested if you need any information or have any question kindly call us back..."
Scammers are calling 903 residents pretending to be officials from a law firm or a local county office, like "Smith County" or "Wood County." They aggressively threaten you with a "civil complaint" or lawsuit and try to create panic by contacting your family members and even your HR department at work.
Legitimate process servers and court officials do not call to warn you before they serve you legal papers—they just show up. Threatening to tell your employer about a debt is an illegal and coercive collection tactic.
"I received a call today from this number saying that my case was going to be filed in the Smith,County Court house, if I didn’t contact them in time. Calls himself John White and threatened to call my employer and notify them and come to my job..."
This aggressive robocall scam claims you have committed tax fraud or have "4 serious allegations" or "5 serious IRS charges" against you. The message creates intense panic by warning that if you fail to call back within two hours, "federal agents" will be dispatched to your home for your immediate arrest.
The IRS's first contact with you about unpaid taxes is always through the U.S. mail, not a surprise phone call threatening immediate arrest. You will always be given a chance to question or appeal what you owe through official channels.
"Was left a voicemail saying I have tax problems from the last few years and that if I don’t call back within two hours, federal marshals will be dispatched to my home immediately to come arrest me."
You may receive frequent robocalls about an expiring warranty for a vehicle you own or used to own. Callers from the "Vehicle Services Department" or "automotive department" often know your car's make and model, which makes the pitch seem more believable, but it is a ploy to sell you an unnecessary service contract.
These calls are not from your car's manufacturer or dealership. They are from unrelated third-party companies using public records and high-pressure sales tactics to sell expensive and often worthless service plans.
"Block This Number. As mentioned above this number has been ringing my phone relentlessly multiple times per day. I decided to answer... I was greeted with the girls name from the 'Vehicle Services Department' wanting me to buy an extended warranty from them."
Scammers are using robocalls to impersonate Amazon's fraud department, falsely alerting you to a suspicious purchase on your account. They will often mention a specific item, like an "Apple MacBook Pro" for "$1499," and instruct you to press 1 to cancel the order, which connects you directly to a scammer.
Amazon will never call you to verify a purchase or ask for payment information over the phone. All official communication about your orders is handled securely within your account on their website or app.
"I received a scam call asking me to authorize a purchase of a MacBook on my Amazon account. I did not purchase a MacBook"
In this scam, a caller claims you have won a major Publisher's Clearing House (PCH) prize, such as "$7000.00 weekly for life." The ultimate goal is to convince you to pay a fake fee for taxes or processing in order to "claim" your non-existent winnings.
Publisher's Clearing House famously notifies its major prize winners in person with their "Prize Patrol," they do not call them on the phone. Furthermore, you never have to pay money to receive a legitimate prize; real winnings are free.
"Caller told me I won PCH grand prize. $7000.00 weekly for life. Left number on my voice mail. I did not return the call. Figured it was bogus."
Frequently Asked Questions about Area Code 201 Scams and Spam Calls
No, area code 903 is not a scam. It's a legitimate telephone area code serving millions of legitimate residents and businesses in Texas, United States. Area code 903 is a general purpose code that has been in service since November 4, 1990.
Most common 903 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 Texas, or have a 903 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 Texas area codes where scam and spam calls are regularly reported: