Calls from the 309 area code frequently involve fake student loan forgiveness offers and threats about your Social Security benefits. These scammers promise debt relief or claim your benefits are at risk to steal your identity.
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.
A woman named "Megan from Student Loan Relief" leaves robocall voicemails claiming you are pre-qualified for a student loan forgiveness program and saying it's "imperative" you call back before programs change. The call often comes from one number while asking you to call back a different 309 number. They use your personal information to enroll you in expensive services or steal your loan account details. Real loan servicers and the Department of Education never make unsolicited robocalls about forgiveness programs.
"Hi, this is Megan calling with student loan relief. You can just give me a call at 309-220-3361 and I'm actually just reaching out to you regarding your federal student loan balance. We've got some good news you've been pre-qualified for the student loan forgiveness program. However, it's imperative that we speak to you as soon as possible before these programs change."
Callers claiming to be from the "SSA department" or Medicare threaten that legal enforcement actions have been filed against your Social Security number and that an arrest warrant has been issued for fraudulent activity. An automated voice instructs you to "press one" to speak with someone, and they ask for your Medicare or Social Security number to "verify" your identity. They use this information to steal your benefits or open accounts in your name. The Social Security Administration and Medicare never call to threaten arrest or ask for personal information in unsolicited calls.
"This message is to inform you that the SSA department is filing a lawsuit against you and an arrest warrant has been released in your name due to legal enforcement actions filed on your social security number for fraudulent activities. To get more information about this case file from the federal database, press one."
Aggressive callers falsely claim you or a family member were involved in a car accident and demand immediate payment for damages like $2900. These scammers may pose as lawyers from firms like "Wilber & Associates," becoming rude and threatening to have your driver's license suspended if you refuse to pay, and they refuse to provide detailed written proof of the debt or accident. They use any payment information to drain your accounts or commit identity theft. Legitimate collection agencies must provide written validation notices by mail and cannot threaten license suspension over unverified civil claims.
"It's a man claiming to be a lawyer from Wilber & Associates. He was really rude and threatening me to pay up for an accident I wasn't in if not he'd send the report to the state to get my license suspended."
Automated voices from your "vehicle service department" claim your warranty is expiring and ask for the year, make, and model of your car. When residents ask to be placed on the Do Not Call list, the callers laugh, hang up, or simply ignore the request, with calls continuing multiple times a day from various 309 numbers. They use your vehicle information to sell you overpriced service contracts or steal your personal details. These calls are from third-party companies, not your car's manufacturer or dealer.
"This is an extended car warranty company that calls me multiple times a day from all different numbers. I've asked them to stop and that I was reporting them to the Do Not Call list, but they laughed and hung up on me!"
Text messages appearing to be from the "Illinois Department of Transportation" falsely claim you need to verify your driver's license details and provide a malicious link to do so. They use the link to steal your personal information or install malware on your device. In Illinois, driver's licenses are managed by the Secretary of State's office, not IDOT, and government agencies never send unsolicited texts with verification links.
"Got a text message from 309 324-4323 claiming to be ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION asking to veryify my Driver's License Details"
Robocalls or text messages claim a suspicious charge has been made to your Amazon account for amounts like "$349" or "$1099.99" and instruct you to press 1 or call a number to speak with "customer support" to cancel the order. The messages often contain poor grammar or unnatural phrasing. They use this trick to steal your Amazon account login or financial information. Amazon never calls customers to confirm purchases or asks for personal information over the phone.
"billed card attached to your amazon account the amount to charge to $1099.99 we know it comes suspicious activity on your account so we have put on hold it's transaction please press one now and for report press...."
No, area code 309 is not a scam. It's a legitimate telephone area code serving millions of legitimate residents and businesses in Illinois, United States. Area code 309 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 Illinois (Peoria, Bloomington, Normal), or have a 309 phone number yourself, scammers know you're more likely to answer what appears to be a local call.
Other Illinois area codes where scam and spam calls are regularly reported: