Georgia's 912 area code is flooded with government impersonation calls and fake legal threats. Scammers pretend to be federal agents to steal your personal information or demand payment.
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 912 area code and wonder if it's a scam? You're not alone. Scammers frequently spoof Georgia (Savannah, Hinesville, Statesboro) phone numbers to trick you into answering. Here are the most common area code 912 scams based on user comments:
Scammers from the 912 area are aggressively posing as government agents. They claim to be from the "legal department of United States Treasury," like "Officer Lisa Williams," threatening you with a federal criminal offense for tax evasion or telling you your Social Security Number has been used in criminal activity and is now frozen.
The real IRS, Social Security Administration, and U.S. Treasury will not call you and threaten arrest. They initiate contact through official U.S. mail, not with intimidating and urgent robocalls.
"Hi, this is Officer Lisa Williams, and I am calling you from the legal department of United States Treasury. The purpose of this call is regarding an enforcement action, which has been executed by the US Treasury Department for tax evasion and tax fraud ignoring. This information would be considered an intentional attempt to avoid initial appearance before the Magistrate Judge..."
These callers create panic by claiming a "complaint" has been filed against you and that they have a "fax order" to serve you legal documents at your home or work. They often use vague but official-sounding language and provide a fake claim number, like "DMZ230910," to pressure you into calling back immediately.
Real process servers do not call ahead to warn you; they simply show up. Legitimate collectors must provide written proof of a debt if you request it and cannot threaten you with legal action they don't intend to take.
"My voicemail picked up and an automated message stated that they received a fax order regarding a complaint that was filed and they have the retainer to serve (you) with documents to appear at either your residence or your place of employment. ... You have officially been notified."
Residents in southeastern Georgia are being bombarded with calls about their "expired car warranty." These scammers call multiple times a day from a variety of 912 numbers, making them difficult to block, and they have no real information about your vehicle's actual warranty status.
These calls are not from your car's manufacturer or dealer. They are from third-party telemarketers who often have no information about your actual vehicle or its warranty coverage.
"They call me 2-4 times a day asking about my expired car warranty and if I would like to purchase their extended warranty. I have asked them to stop calling and even blocked the number, but they just end up calling me under other phone numbers."
This scam uses fear to trick you. You'll get a robocall or email claiming to be from a major company like Amazon, Apple, PayPal, or Best Buy. They might say your account was hacked from Ohio, that you have a bogus order for Bitcoin or a "Web 3 Patch," or that the Geek Squad is owed $99.95, all in an effort to make you call a number to "cancel" and give them your personal information.
Amazon, Apple, and PayPal do not notify you of security issues via robocall. They will send security alerts through their official apps or to your registered email, directing you to their secure website, not a random 912 number.
"Call said they were calling from Amazon and that my account had been logged in from another state and computer in Ohio, which is not where I live. The message said to press one to be connected to Amazon Security."
Callers are targeting people with claims about their "outstanding federal student loan debt" and the "Federal Student Loan Forgiveness Program." They use names like "David Reynolds" from the "Student Loan Center" or "Charlotte" from the "Student Services Department" to sound credible, even calling people who have already paid off their loans or never had them.
The Department of Education does not call, text, or email you to offer loan forgiveness. All legitimate federal loan forgiveness programs are managed through the official StudentAid.gov website, free of charge.
"I got a call from this phone number from a woman named Charlotte with the Student Services Department saying that they needed to speak with me about my outstanding federal student loan debt and the Federal Student Loan Forgiveness Program. I finished paying off my student loans almost a year ago."
This is a high-pressure scam where someone claiming to be from "Georgia Power Electric" calls to say your power is scheduled for disconnection in 30 to 45 minutes due to an unpaid balance. They create a sense of panic to rush you into making a payment over the phone before you have time to think.
Utility companies like Georgia Power send multiple written notices by mail before disconnecting service. They will not call and threaten to shut you off within the hour.
"scam alert ! Recorded message stating Georgia Power Electric was cutting off power in 30 minutes over unpaid bill Then directs you to call another number for details . Georgia Power has no Knowledge of such calls or the number provided ."
Scammers are calling residents claiming they have won millions of dollars and a Porsche from Publishers Clearing House or Mega Millions. Callers use names like "Howie Gouger" or "Mr. Jan Washington" and will give you fake badge numbers, package numbers, and PINs to make the prize seem real, all as a setup to ask you for money for taxes or fees.
Real lotteries and sweepstakes do not require you to pay taxes or fees upfront to claim a prize. By law, those fees are deducted from your winnings; you never have to send money to receive them.
"I got a call from Howie Gouger that I won a Porsche & millions in the Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes. ... Howie had me writing down all sorts of numbers…badge number, package number, winning ticket number, check code & PIN number. Funny"
Frequently Asked Questions about Area Code 201 Scams and Spam Calls
No, area code 912 is not a scam. It's a legitimate telephone area code serving millions of legitimate residents and businesses in Georgia, United States. Area code 912 is a general purpose code that has been in service since January 1, 1954.
Most common 912 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 Georgia, or have a 912 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 Georgia area codes where scam and spam calls are regularly reported: