The 949 area code sees many scams involving student loan forgiveness and fake business credit offers. Fraudsters promise to erase debt or provide loans in exchange for upfront fees.
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 949 area code and wonder if it's a scam? You're not alone. Scammers frequently spoof California (Irvine, Mission Viejo, Newport Beach) phone numbers to trick you into answering. Here are the most common area code 949 scams based on user comments:
Scammers are relentlessly targeting 949 residents with robocalls about student loan forgiveness. Callers identifying as "John," "James Parker," or "Brad Walker" from a vague "processing department" will leave voicemails about "significant changes" to your federal loans or a forgiveness application you never filed. They try to trick you into giving them your FSA ID by claiming it's a verification code, or scam you into paying fees for programs that are free through the government.
The U.S. Department of Education will not contact you through unsolicited robocalls with "exciting news." Official communication happens through U.S. Mail or your secure account on StudentAid.gov. Private companies cannot offer you exclusive federal forgiveness programs.
"Scammed me out of 600 bucks. Only found out they were fake by calling dept of education and them telling me I never made a single payment. He sounded so professional, I usually don't fall for scams. But I did this time."
Local businesses are being targeted by voicemails from callers named "Jennifer," "Heather," or "Sean" offering pre-approved business lines of credit for up to "$250,000" or "$500,000." To sound credible, they often reference a phony "Dunn and Bradstreet score of 76" and create false urgency by claiming the "offer does expire soon." Their goal is to get your company's financial information.
Legitimate lenders do not make initial contact with robocalls offering massive, unsolicited lines of credit. Real financial institutions have strict, formal application and underwriting processes and will not reference a generic credit score in a voicemail.
"Hey it's Jennifer and um I'm just following up I forgot that $250,000 business line of credit preapproved for you so I just wanted to connect for a few minutes and um understand what your plans are...give me a call I can be reached at 949-518-0407 um or give me a call back on the number that showed up on your phone..."
This aggressive scam uses fear to extort money. Callers leave voicemails threatening legal action over a supposed "formal complaint." They warn of "pending actions that may be filed against you," wage garnishment, or a lien on your bank account. To heighten the scare, they may mention your Social Security number and even call your workplace, using fake official-sounding names like "Laura Allto."
Real process servers do not call ahead to warn you about being served legal papers; they just show up. Legitimate debt collectors are required by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) to provide you with a validation letter in writing before they can proceed.
"A lady by the name of Laura Allto keeps calling me from an 'UNKNOWN' number but in the message gives 949-229-1864 saying there is a case against me... The most disturbing thing is she gives the last 4 numbers of my social saying I need to have my attorney call them and good luck."
Scammers are impersonating Medicare representatives to trick seniors. Callers, often with a heavy accent, offer a "free" back or shoulder brace that they claim your doctor ordered. Alarmingly, these criminals sometimes have access to your private information, including your Medicare Number, Social Security Code, and specific medical conditions like a recent heart attack, to make their scam seem legitimate.
Medicare does not make unsolicited calls to beneficiaries to sell them equipment. If you need a brace or any other medical device, your doctor must order it for you directly through a legitimate, certified medical supplier. Any "free" offer over the phone is a scam to bill Medicare fraudulently.
"Man with heavy accent called to sell me a back and shoulder brace. HE SAID HE WAS WITH MEDICARE. He had my Medicare Number, Social Security Code, and was familiar with my medical problems in my back and shoulder... I am very upset that anyone would release my personal information."
These callers pretend to be from the IRS or a tax relief agency, falsely claiming you owe back taxes or have tax liens. A very common version in our area is a persistent robocall from "Barbara from Fresh Start Info." She calls multiple times a day from different numbers, leaving the same voicemail about a "tax debt" program that can supposedly eliminate what you owe.
The IRS will never call to demand immediate payment using a specific payment method like a gift card, nor will they call about taxes owed without first having mailed you multiple official bills. Any threats of immediate arrest or claims of a special program from a robocall are hallmarks of a scam.
"I started receiving calls over the past 3 days. I have received over 30 calls from someone with the name Barbara from Fresh Start since 8am this morning. I have called the Fresh Start number...and asked them to STOP calling my number and have been told they will stop but the calls continue."
This is a persistent robocall scam where a recorded message from "Amanda," "Katie," or another agent warns that your vehicle's warranty is expired or about to expire. To make the call seem more credible, they sometimes know the make and model of a car you own or have previously owned. Their ultimate goal is to pressure you into buying an overpriced and often useless extended service contract.
Your vehicle's manufacturer will communicate with you via official U.S. Mail about your warranty status. They do not use high-pressure, illegal robocalls to sell you an extended warranty. These calls are almost always from unrelated third-party sellers using deceptive tactics.
"Called and had my name and make and model of vehicle I drive... when I tried to ask him how they got my info then they immediately hung on me as soon as I started speaking. When I called 949-298-2565 the number he called me from I received a message saying that this number is unreachable..."
Frequently Asked Questions about Area Code 201 Scams and Spam Calls
No, area code 949 is not a scam. It's a legitimate telephone area code serving millions of legitimate residents and businesses in California, United States. Area code 949 is a general purpose code that has been in service since April 18, 1998.
Most common 949 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 California, or have a 949 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 California area codes where scam and spam calls are regularly reported: