The 779 area code is plagued by vehicle warranty scams and government impersonators. They threaten you with legal trouble or badger you about car repairs to get your credit card.
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 offer warranty renewals target people in the 779 area code, including owners of cars that are 13 years old and clearly out of warranty. The automated messages ask you to press a number like 7 or 9 to speak with a representative, and the calls persist from many different numbers. When you press the number, you confirm your phone line is active and they sell you overpriced service contracts that are not real warranty extensions.
"Robocall offering to renew my Extended Warranty on my car. My car is 13 years old and I DON'T HAVE ANY WARRANTY POLICY. Obvious scam."
Callers pretending to be from the Social Security Administration or IRS threaten to suspend your Social Security number due to "actions in Washington DC" or claim you will be arrested if you don't pay money owed. They call from local 779 numbers and ask you to confirm your name, address, and the last four digits of your Social Security number. They use your personal information to steal your identity and open accounts in your name. The Social Security Administration and IRS never call to make threats, they send official mail.
"Claiming to be social security administration. Stated There was a suspension notice against my ss number from actions in Washington DC"
Scammers posing as debt collectors call 779 residents about debts that were disputed and removed from credit reports years ago, use robocalls, refuse to identify their company, or impersonate real businesses like Comcast and hang up when you refuse to provide your Social Security number. They refer vaguely to a "personal business matter" and threaten legal action if you don't provide a credit card number immediately. They use your payment information to steal money from your accounts. Real debt collectors must mail you written validation notices within five days of first contact.
"called said they were a debt collector..it was a robo caller then if you press 1 or 0 it connects you to someone supposedly collecting a debt.. however the debt that they were trying to collect was disputed and removed from my credit report 4 years ago."
A caller named "Amber" claims to be from "US Bank" and offers a $5,000 loan, but requires you to first pay a $100 "insurance" fee by putting money on a "Red Card" from a retail store. They steal the gift card money and never provide any loan. Real lenders deduct fees from the loan amount, they never require upfront payments via gift cards.
"This person was named Amber and claimed to work for US Bank. She offered me a loan too good to be true for $5000. She then told me I needed to put $100 on a Red Card from the store to pay for "Insurance" on the loan..."
Scammers send text messages to employees pretending to be their CEO or a coworker, asking for an urgent "favor" that involves purchasing gift cards, and refuse to speak on the phone when you try to verify the request. They use the gift card information to steal the money loaded on the cards. Real bosses don't text from random numbers asking for gift card purchases.
"This number tried to impersonate the CEO of the company that I work for...Pretended to be my CEO asking for a favor. I asked them to call me instead because the favor was about purchasing something at a grocery store. Obviously a scam"
A person named "Victoria Miller" leaves voicemails about a computer service subscription for $399.99, threatening that if you don't call a specific 866 number to cancel, you will be automatically charged $8,400 for five years of service on your Key Bank checking account. They want you to call so they can steal your financial information when you try to "cancel" the fake subscription. Real companies don't use threatening voicemails about massive charges to handle renewals.
"Yes computer scam told me to call back and say I didn't want the yearly price of $399.99 or Pay for 5 years unless I called to cancel I would be charged $8400 for 5 years service on my Key Bank Checking account. The person who called is Victoria Miller..."
Text messages pretending to be from the "0ffice-Secretary-0f-State" of Illinois claim your driver's license has been revoked and include a link to resolve the issue. The misspelled "0ffice" uses zeros instead of the letter O. They use the link to steal your personal information when you try to check your license status. The Illinois Secretary of State sends official notices through U.S. Mail, not text messages.
"Got text: '0ffice-Secretary-0f-State:\n(D-L has been revoked). Complet here:https://forms.......'\nBlocked the number."
No, area code 779 is not a scam. It's a legitimate telephone area code serving millions of legitimate residents and businesses in Illinois, United States. Area code 779 is a general purpose code that has been in service since March 17, 2007.
You're likely experiencing "Neighbor Spoofing." Scammers fake their caller ID to display local or familiar numbers. If you live in or near Illinois (Rockford, Joliet, DeKalb), or have a 779 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: