The 978 area code is heavily targeted by health insurance scams and car warranty robocalls. Callers try to steal Medicare numbers or trick you into buying useless auto service contracts.
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 978 area code and wonder if it's a scam? You're not alone. Scammers frequently spoof Massachusetts (Lowell, Lawrence, Haverhill) phone numbers to trick you into answering. Here are the most common area code 978 scams based on user comments:
Scammers are relentlessly calling 978 area code residents pretending to be from major insurance companies like Anthem Blue Cross, United Healthcare, Wellcare, and even AARP. These robocalls, which often know your name, will claim you have an "important health reminder" or need to "verify" information, then ask for personal details like your date of birth. They use spoofed caller IDs to look legitimate and may ask you to say "Yes" to record your voice for fraudulent purposes.
Your real health insurance provider already has your personal information. They will not call you out of the blue and ask for your date of birth or other sensitive data to verify who you are; that process only happens when you call them directly.
"I should have known better, but, being stupid, answered 'yes' .... DON'T SAY 'YES'! THIS IS NOT ANTHEM/BCBS!!!! This call may be recorded for quality assurance. We're calling for _____ ______. Yes or no? Is this ______?"
Residents are being bombarded with calls about expiring car warranties, often for vehicles they haven't owned in years. A robocall, sometimes from "Steve from dealer processing," gives you a "last courtesy call" to renew coverage. If you engage, you may be transferred to a pushy agent, like one named "Mario," who uses high-pressure tactics about costly repairs, such as a fictional "$2600 computer" in your car, to sell you a worthless policy.
Legitimate car manufacturers or dealerships communicate about warranties primarily through official mail, not through aggressive, unsolicited robocalls. These callers have no real information about your vehicle or its warranty status.
"he then became annoyed at the fact that I told him I had a bro-in-law who was a mechanic... he then told me that I have 6 computers in my car and one of them is $2600.00 and do I really want to pay that... I again told him no, im all set and he flippantly said 'welp, best of luck to you - an hung up.'"
This aggressive scam uses fear to trick you. You'll receive a robocall claiming to be from a government agency like the IRS or Social Security Administration, threatening you with arrest, legal action, or having your accounts frozen. In another version, a caller named "Monica Jones" leaves a message about a "complaint notice" and threatens to contact your HR or payroll department if you don't call back. These are all empty threats designed to scare you into paying them money.
Real government agencies like the IRS and SSA will never call to threaten you with arrest or demand immediate payment. They initiate contact through official U.S. Mail. Furthermore, real process servers do not call ahead to warn you; they simply show up.
"I received a voicemail from this phone number. I know t was a scam, they said that they were the irs and if I didn't respond in 30 minutes, I would be arrested! Lol"
Scammers are calling residents with false promises of student loan forgiveness or reduction, even contacting people who have never had a student loan. Callers, sometimes using names like "Karen Evans," will try to get your Social Security number and bank information under the guise of processing your "forgiveness." They are aggressive and will call relentlessly from multiple numbers.
Official student loan servicers and the Department of Education will not call you with unsolicited offers or ask for sensitive information over the phone. All legitimate forgiveness programs have a formal application process through official government websites.
"Someone from this number keeps calling and harassing me talking about student loan forgiveness. They’ve asked for my ssn as well as bank info, this is not a safe number. DO NOT ANSWER THEIR CALLS"
This is a tricky tactic used in various scams where the caller's immediate goal is to get a recording of your voice saying "Yes." They often open the call by asking "Can you hear me okay?" or a similar question. If you say "yes," they can use that voice recording to fraudulently authorize charges on your phone bill or credit card. Callers may pose as anyone from a local electrician to a travel agent before hanging up.
There is no legitimate reason for an unsolicited caller to need to record your affirmative response at the start of a call. This is a well-known tactic used exclusively by scammers to capture your voice signature for fraudulent activities.
"These jerks said it was recorded and asked if I could hear them. I said yes then remembered this is what scammers do. Can't call them back or message them as they are using a fake relay/"
This cruel scam preys on your love for family. A scammer will call pretending to be your grandson or other relative, often sounding distraught or sobbing. They'll tell you an elaborate story about being in a car accident or in jail in Massachusetts and needing thousands of dollars for bail immediately. They may even put a second person on the line, a fake lawyer named "Anthony Davis," to make the story seem more credible.
Law enforcement and legal professionals do not conduct bail transactions over the phone using gift cards or wire transfers. This is a classic scam script designed to create panic and bypass logical thinking.
"Caller stated that he was my grandson and said he was in a car accident in Massachusetts and asked for $5000"
This scam tries to panic you into calling back. You'll get a text or automated call claiming a large, fraudulent purchase has been made on your Amazon or PayPal account, often for an item like a Dell computer. The message provides a phone number to call immediately to cancel the order. If you call, the scammer on the other end will try to get your account login or credit card information to "refund" the fake charge.
Companies like Amazon and PayPal will never send you a text or robocall asking you to call a number to dispute a charge. All official communication and transaction history will be located securely within your account on their official website or app.
"received a message which indicated that it came from PayPal with a the purchase of a Dell computer. I checked PayPal, no such entry. The phone number listed to call regarding PayPal was 9782227823."
Frequently Asked Questions about Area Code 201 Scams and Spam Calls
No, area code 978 is not a scam. It's a legitimate telephone area code serving millions of legitimate residents and businesses in Massachusetts, United States. Area code 978 is a general purpose code that has been in service since September 1, 1997.
Most common 978 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 Massachusetts, or have a 978 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 Massachusetts area codes where scam and spam calls are regularly reported: