The 973 area code is a telephone area code serving the northernmost part of New Jersey. Look up any phone number starting with 973 area code. Results may include:
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The 973 area code is flooded with car warranty robocalls and IRS arrest threats. Scammers aggressively dial these numbers to sell fake services or demand tax payments.
A robocall from "Auto Warranty Services" or the "automotive department" claims your car's warranty has expired and tries to sell you a fraudulent extended warranty. A recorded voice tells you not to hang up, they call about vehicles you no longer own, the caller refuses to give their full company name, and they call multiple times a day from slightly different numbers. They use your personal and vehicle information to sign you up for worthless warranty plans that cost hundreds of dollars but cover nothing. These are third-party scammers not authorized to sell manufacturer warranties.
"Calls once, twice a day, every day - calling to extend my vehicle warranty, same message: puts me on hold tells me 'I'm the next person, continue holding press #5 or request a call back blah blah blah.' My vehicle is 22 y/o! Fat lotta luck anyone is going to warranty anything on it."
A robocall or live caller claims to be from the Social Security Administration or IRS, stating there are "4 serious allegations pressed on your name" or that your Social Security Number is being suspended due to "money laundering and selling cocaine." They claim your Social Security Number will be "frozen" or "suspended," threaten you with arrest if you hang up the phone, demand payment via gift cards or wire transfer to avoid legal action, and call from local 973 numbers instead of federal agency lines. They use your Social Security number and personal information to steal your identity and open accounts in your name. The Social Security Administration and IRS initiate contact through U.S. Mail, not with threatening phone calls.
"I received a call from 9732971285 stating my social security number is going to be frozen and a sheriff will be at my house at 430 pm if I don't take care of this judgement over the phone. I said great I work for the social security office and my daddy is the sheriff I started singing you are a scammer after the third round of singing he said F you bitch and hung up"
A caller pretends to be your grandchild or nephew, often sounding hysterical or crying, claiming to have been in a car accident or arrested for "wreckless endangerment" and needing you to wire "bail money" immediately. The "grandchild" claims to have stitches or an injury to explain why their voice sounds different, they insist you not tell other family members, they ask you to wire money via Western Union or provide gift card numbers, and the caller ID may be spoofed to look official like "US Courts." They use the money you send to fund their criminal operation while your real grandchild is perfectly safe. Law enforcement and court officials will never ask you to wire bail money or pay with gift cards over the phone.
"this person called, hysterically crying, claiming to be a member of my family who had gotten arrested for 'wreckless endangerment' for using a cell phone while driving and causing and accident and then nearly convinced my parents by calling from other numbers to wire 'bail money'"
Scammers impersonate PSE&G, New Jersey's largest utility provider, claiming your account is past due and they are on their way to shut off your service immediately, or wanting to come into your home to "change your electric meter." They threaten to shut off your power within the hour if you don't pay, demand payment via prepaid debit card, gift card, or mobile payment app, caller ID says PSE&G but the number is not their official customer service line, and they want to send someone to your home to inspect or change equipment you did not request. They use your payment information to steal money from your accounts and gain entry to your home to steal valuables. PSE&G sends multiple written notices before shutting off service and employees carry photo ID.
"PRETENDING TO BE PSE&G. THEY WANT TO COME INTO YOUR HOME AND CHANGE YOUR ELECRIC METER. DO NOT LET THEM IN! I CALLED PSE&G, THEY SAID THAT THIS IN NOT REAL. i CALLED POLICE AND FILED A COMPLAINT."
Callers pose as debt collectors or a legal firm claiming a "civil complaint" or "suit" has been filed against you for a debt that doesn't exist or is past the statute of limitations. They threaten to contact your place of employment, refuse to provide written validation of the debt, mention debts from many years ago that have already been resolved, and leave robocall messages from "Mrs. Smith" at "Pioneer Credit Recovery" about "two pending matters." They use your personal information to steal your identity and any payments you make go straight into their pockets. Legitimate debt collectors must provide written validation notice within five days of first contact.
"New number, same scam message that 'I received an order for you, and now there are two pending matters.' I've been getting variations of the same message for about 2 years now, always threatening to send me papers, or a fax order...These people belong in jail."
A robocall from "Mary Beth" or live agent impersonates Horizon NJ Health or a generic "Medicare advisor," asking you to "verify" sensitive information like your date of birth, address, or Medicare ID number. A robocall asks you to confirm personal data like your date of birth, the caller claims to be from "Horizon NJ Health" but calls from numbers not listed on their official website, they try to sell you unnecessary medical tests or devices, and they mention inquiries about SSI benefits or disability claims you never made. They use your Medicare information for identity theft and fraudulent billing to rack up thousands in fake medical charges. Your health insurance provider already has your personal information and will not call you out of the blue asking you to verify it.
"'Mary Beth' (recorded) claimed to be from Horizon NJ Health. They asked for my medical and personal information. THIS COMPANY IS PREYING UPON MEDICAID RECIPIENTS who are often in circumstances where they need to comply with requests to keep their care. They would be easy to scam."
Callers claim to be real estate agents or investors who know your name and address and ask if you would accept a "cash offer" for your property. The call begins with "Is this the owner of [Your Address]?", they claim to be working with "a group of investors" looking to buy in your town, calls or texts come at odd hours like late at night or on weekends, and if you call the number back it goes to generic voicemail or is disconnected. They use your confirmed ownership information to target you for other real estate scams or sell your contact details to other scammers. Many are fishing for information and are not serious buyers.
"Yes - a woman said she was working with a group of investors looking to buy properties in my town and asked if I would accept a cash offer for my property."
Area Code 973 phone numbers reported as unwanted calls to the FTC in the last 30 days.
(973) 621-0060
6 reports ·
(973) 457-8731
5 reports ·
(973) 943-4979
3 reports ·
(973) 566-5196
3 reports ·
(973) 798-3396
3 reports ·
(973) 715-6297
3 reports ·
(973) 524-7578
2 reports ·
(973) 833-1060
2 reports ·
(973) 241-0146
2 reports ·
(973) 922-7783
2 reports ·
No, 973 is a completely safe area code designated for northern New Jersey, including Newark and Paterson. Scam operators hijack this dense urban prefix because residents are far less suspicious of incoming calls that appear to originate from their own county.
Northern New Jersey dense population centers are relentlessly hammered by sophisticated utility and healthcare impersonators. A prevalent scam features imposters threatening immediate PSE&G meter removals for fake overdue balances, while a recorded agent named "Mary Beth" falsely claims to represent Horizon NJ Health to illegally harvest Medicaid numbers.
Phone numbers with the 973 area code prefix originate from the northernmost part of the U.S. state of New Jersey.
Area code 973 operates within an overlay complex with area code 862 . Area code 973 was introduced on June 1, 1997. Due to rapid numbering pool exhaustion, area code 862 was rolled out as an overlay in the same geographic region, making ten-digit dialing mandatory on December 1, 2001.
Area code 973 is a general purpose code which was placed in service on June 1, 1997.
| Rate Center | Number of Prefixes |
|---|---|
| NEWARK | 138 |
| MORRISTOWN | 81 |
| PASSAIC | 45 |
| CALDWELL | 41 |
| PATERSON | 38 |
| ORANGE | 32 |
| BLOOMFIELD | 26 |
| MADISON | 25 |
| WHIPPANY | 25 |
| LIVINGSTON | 22 |
| MT VIEW | 20 |
| BOONTON | 18 |
| DOVER | 15 |
| MILLBURN | 15 |
| Other | 185 |
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