The 323 area code is frequently used for Social Security arrest warrant scams and fake civil complaints. Callers pretend to be law enforcement or court officials to intimidate you into paying to avoid jail.
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.
Robocallers claiming to be from the Social Security Administration tell residents in the Los Angeles area that a "legal enforcement action" has been filed against their Social Security number for fraudulent activity. The robocall claims your Social Security number has been suspended and threatens you will be arrested if you don't call them back immediately. The messages use official-sounding but vague terms like "legal enforcement action" and contain poor grammar such as "before you get arrested if you need any questions kindly call us back." They use these threats to trick you into calling back and giving them personal information or money. The Social Security Administration does not call people to threaten arrest. They communicate through official mailed letters only.
"The reason you have received this phone call from our department is to inform you that there's a legal enforcement action filed on your Social Security for fraudulent activity so before this matter goes to the state courthouse and before you get arrested if you need any questions kindly call us back..."
Live callers or voicemails claim a "pending civil complaint" has been filed against you using fake law firm names like "Ellington & Associates" or "Anderson and Associates." They provide a bogus case file number and claim legal documents were mailed to you that you never received. The callers pressure you to immediately call a different toll-free number to avoid court action and sometimes threaten to serve you at work. They refuse to provide their company's physical address or legitimate details. They use this fake legal pressure to get you to call back and pay money for a non-existent debt. Legitimate debt collectors must provide written validation notices. Law firms do not make threatening cold calls about "pending" complaints.
"Received a vm stating Andy was calling on behalf on Ellington & Assoc regarding a pending civil complaint scheduled to be filed against me in Sonoma County (they claim they sent me legal docs). Call 877-671-3058 and provided a file#."
A robocall claims to be from Amazon alerting you to a suspicious, high-value purchase on your account, often for an "Apple iPhone 11pro" or "Sony PlayStation 4 Pro." The message creates urgency by asking you to press 1 if you did not authorize the order or press 2 to authorize it. They ask you to call a 323 number for the "Fraud Protection Team." When you call or press 1, scammers will ask for your personal and financial information to "cancel" the fake charge and use it to steal from your real accounts. Amazon will never call you and ask for personal information over the phone. All order management happens within your secure account.
"...this is Amazon this call is to authorize a payment of ????? dollars we would like to inform you that there is an order placed for Apple iPhone 11pro using your Amazon account if you do not authorize this order press one or press two to authorize the...."
A call or email claims you are owed a refund for a computer service you never purchased from companies like "Geek Squad" or "US Technical Services." When you call, a scammer named "Sam Wilson" or similar directs you to log into your online bank account while they watch your screen. They manipulate what you see to make it look like they accidentally "refunded" you too much money, such as $2200 instead of $200, then demand you repay the difference by purchasing gift cards from Wal-Mart or Best Buy. They move money between your own accounts or use fraudulent transfers that will be reversed to create the fake overpayment. Any gift cards you buy are immediately stolen and the money is your own. No legitimate company asks for remote computer access for refunds or accepts gift card payments.
"I talked with a Sam Wilson (fake name) who told me they would give me $200 refund... He said that he was connected to my bank account... and that $2200 was deposited into my checking account. He said I needed to give back the $2000... by going to Wal-Mart and getting $2000 in gift cards."
Telemarketers claiming to be from "The Home Center" or "The Remodeling Center Inc." make relentless, harassing calls to residents multiple times a day. The callers are extremely aggressive, refuse to take you off their list, and use rude and inappropriate language when you decline their services. Some callers have made offensive comments like "your wife does" when a service is refused, and they call from different numbers even after you've asked to be removed. They use these illegal and abusive tactics to pressure you into hiring their services. Legitimate licensed contractors do not rely on harassing cold calls to find clients. These tactics indicate an unlicensed or fraudulent operation.
"He called today and was rude. When I told him that I did not need his service, he said, 'your wife does'. When I asked him 'what?', he said between 2 and 4 am..."
Someone claiming to be a process server or from a "courier service" calls saying they have legal documents to deliver to you. They create urgency and fear by threatening to show up at your home or place of employment and provide a different phone number and fake case file for you to call. The caller can't or won't provide specific details about the supposed court case. They use this fake legal threat to scare you into calling the second number, where another scammer will demand money for a fake debt. Real process servers do not call ahead to warn you they are coming. They show up.
"Got a call from this number saying they are a process server company and they need to serve me papers then they gave me another number 1-844-661-0291 to call because these are the people that are serving me."
No, area code 323 is not a scam. It's a legitimate telephone area code serving millions of legitimate residents and businesses in California, United States. Area code 323 is a general purpose code that has been in service since June 13, 1998.
You're likely experiencing "Neighbor Spoofing." Scammers fake their caller ID to display local or familiar numbers. If you live in or near California (Los Angeles, East Los Angeles, South Gate), or have a 323 phone number yourself, scammers know you're more likely to answer what appears to be a local call.
Other California area codes where scam and spam calls are regularly reported: