Legal threats and arrest warrant hoaxes are the main issues with the 805 area code. Callers claim you are in trouble with the law to pressure you into making a payment.
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.
Scammers leave robocall voicemails claiming you have "4 serious allegations" against your name or that the IRS has issued warrants for your arrest. They threaten you will be "taken under custody by the local police" if you don't call them back immediately, using generic titles like "officer" without naming a specific agency. They use your callback to extract personal information or demand immediate payment to make the fake charges disappear. Real law enforcement does not call to warn you about warrants. They show up.
"You will be taken under custody by the local police, because there are 4 serious allegations presses on your name at this moment. We would request you to get back to us so we could discuss about this case before taking any legal action against you."
You receive a robocall from a supposed "Investigation Department" claiming your Social Security Number will be suspended due to fraudulent activity. Callers, sometimes identifying as "Peter" or "Capt. Frank," instruct you to "press 1 to connect with an officer" to avoid legal consequences, then ask you to confirm your SSN over the phone to create urgency about your benefits. They use your Social Security number to open accounts in your name or steal your identity. Your SSN cannot be suspended or cancelled. The Social Security Administration communicates through official mail, not threatening robocalls.
"Calling you from Investigation Department of federal government we have just received a notification regarding your social security suspension from the headquarters of Social Security Administration this matter is very serious call us back as quick as possible..."
You get a call, text, or email warning that you will be charged hundreds of dollars ($299, $399, $459) for an auto-renewing subscription with companies like Microsoft, Amazon, Norton, or Geek Squad. Others claim a fraudulent iPhone purchase was made on your Amazon account and you must call a specific 805 number to cancel it. The message provides a phone number to "cancel" the charge, and callers ask for remote access to your computer to "fix" the issue or process a refund. They use remote access to install malware on your computer or steal your banking information while pretending to help. Legitimate companies do not call you to resolve technical issues unless you contact them first. They never ask for remote access to process refunds.
"Robo phone call with 'reminder' that 459.00 give or take was going to be debited from my account for Microsoft license and fees. If I didnot want it debited I was to call 805-248-7665....I did not make the call, I knew these idot brainless twits were scammers..."
Aggressive callers claim you owe hundreds of dollars for old "medical lab work" from years ago. They use high-pressure tactics like demanding payment by "noon tomorrow," cannot provide details about the lab or doctor, refuse to mail you a physical copy of the bill, and threaten lawsuits if you don't pay over the phone immediately. They pocket your payment for a debt that doesn't exist. Under federal law, legitimate debt collectors must provide written validation notices when requested. Real collectors cannot threaten court action they don't intend to take.
"Got a call from 805-219-7011 saying I owe a $400+ medical bill for lab work. I have insurance that covers that 100%. He wanted to offer me a reduced amount... He said if I didn't pay today I would receive a notice to appear in court."
Scammers impersonating customer service from Facebook, Google, or Amazon claim your account is compromised or that they need to issue you a refund. They instruct you to purchase hundreds of dollars in Google Play or Steam gift cards in specific amounts like $100 increments, pressure you to stay on the phone while you go to the store, and demand you read them the numbers from the back of the cards. They drain the gift cards immediately, leaving you with worthless plastic. No legitimate business or government agency accepts gift cards as payment or uses them for refunds. Once you give them the code, your money is gone forever.
"They are posing as facebook customer service. They instructed me to purchase $1,400 dollars worth of Google play cards in $100.00 increments (which they said facebook would refund me); that they needed to verify the 16 digit numbers on back of cards..."
While browsing online, a malicious popup freezes your phone's screen with repeating "Call" or "Cancel" prompts, claims your phone is "hacked" and infected, prevents you from closing the browser or powering down normally, and forces you to call a specific 805 number claiming to be "Apple support." They use the fake emergency to pressure you into paying for unnecessary tech support or giving them remote access to steal your information. Apple and other tech companies never lock your browser with popups and force you to call them. This is malicious code from a compromised website designed to scare you into calling scammers.
"Website malware popup forced my phone into an endless loop of attempted call prompts to call this number. Had to force shutdown my iPhone to get rid of it. Also deleted the Firefox browser from my phone."
You receive urgent text messages appearing to be from major banks like Chase or Citizens Bank containing a fake "authorization code" and suspicious links using strange domains like `jpmchasbnkly.bar` or `myvnc.com`, warning you to "take action here if you didn't request this code" to create panic and urge immediate clicking. The links lead to fake banking websites that steal your login credentials when you enter them. Banks never send links in text messages to resolve security alerts or verify your identity. They always direct you to log into your account through their official website or app.
"Got a text message saying it was a Bank Alert, see details below: Citizens Bank Alert: Your authorization code is 501546. Take action here if you didn't request this code www.jpmchasbnkly.bar/Vo2Ut"
No, area code 805 is not a scam. It's a legitimate telephone area code serving millions of legitimate residents and businesses in California, United States. Area code 805 is a general purpose code that has been in service since January 1, 1957.
You're likely experiencing "Neighbor Spoofing." Scammers fake their caller ID to display local or familiar numbers. If you live in or near California (Oxnard, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks), or have a 805 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: