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Top 10 area code 800 phone numbers reported to the FTC in the last 30 days:
| Phone Number | Complaints | Last Reported |
|---|---|---|
| (800) 942-3767 | ||
| (800) 935-6199 | ||
| (800) 513-5181 | ||
| (800) 493-4647 | ||
| (800) 528-4800 | ||
| (800) 824-9289 | ||
| (800) 733-2767 | ||
| (800) 290-3072 | ||
| (800) 567-1083 | ||
| (800) 852-0411 |
The 800 area code is heavily used for scary Social Security threats and utility shut-off scams. Fraudsters call claiming your benefits are suspended or your power is about to be cut unless you pay immediately.
Threatens arrest and asset seizure via fake drug trafficking or money laundering charges to extort data.
"Pretended to be from SSA, said they recovered a car rented with my info with blood on the seat. Said it was connected to drug trafficking, threatened to freeze my bank accounts."
Threatens immediate 30-minute power shutoff unless paid via Zelle, MoneyPak, or cash cards.
"Said they were calling from ComEd but in actuality they were from Spark... Said because I had great payment habits they were going to give me a 30% discount... Proceeded to attempt to get me to give them/verify all kinds of information."
Uses robotic Mandarin messages or fake $1,498 Indonesian charges to steal PINs and debit card numbers.
"Pretended to be Citibank Fraud Department. Said I had a charge of $1498 from Indonesia. When I asked them to cancel the card they wanted to transfer me to 'identity security'... Caller slammed down the phone after I wouldn't give anymore info."
Phishes for credit card details using fake order alerts for expensive electronics like iPhones or MacBooks.
"The voice said I had an iPhone 12 purchased on my Amazon account. If false press 1... Did not come from Amazon, nothing on my account."
Cold-calls offering fake student loan forgiveness using specific reference numbers to charge upfront fees.
"Hi my name is Hannah Brown... your student loan file came across my desk and it looks like there may have been some pretty significant changes to your federal student loans... have your reference number ready when you call that number is 876433."
Sends fake $299-$499 auto-renewal invoices to trick victims into installing remote access malware.
"Your Norton 360 has been auto renewed for a period of 3Years. The deduction of $249.99 will reflect in your bank statement in next Two Days... Please call our Help Desk Number."
Phone numbers with the 800 area code prefix are non-geographic numbers. This means they are not tied to a specific metropolitan area, region, or state in the traditional sense. Instead, 800 numbers serve as toll-free numbers within the North American Numbering Plan (NANP), encompassing the United States and Canada. While toll-free numbers can be physically located anywhere in the world by the receiving party, some specific 800-NXX prefixes are reserved for individual NANP countries or areas, including:
The North American Numbering Plan designates multiple area codes for toll-free telephone numbers that work together to serve the same function. In addition to 800, these include prefixes such as 833 , 844 , 855 , 866 , 877 , and 888 . The 800 area code was the first automated toll-free telephone number, introduced as Inbound Wide Area Telephone Service (InWATS) in 1966 for U.S. intrastate calls and 1967 for interstate calls. After operating for over thirty years, the 7.8 million possible numbers within the 800 prefix began to deplete, leading to the introduction of these additional toll-free area codes to meet demand.
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