Indiana's 219 area code is known for aggressive police fund harassment and fake prize giveaways. Scammers pressure you to donate or pay a fee to claim winnings that do not exist.
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 man calling himself "Dan" claims to be a retired police officer demanding donations from Northern Indiana businesses. He calls up to nine times in one day, curses when you decline, lies that your boss already approved a check pickup, and uses caller ID that sometimes shows "PoliceOfficerPac" or "Whiting Police Dept" to appear legitimate. He uses your commitment to pressure you into writing a check for his fake charity. Real police charities do not harass businesses with abusive language and lies.
"My boss has donated to this guy for around 10 years but enough is enough. This guy is the rudest, nastiest person I've ever encountered. He will lie and say he has talked to my boss and my boss left a check, when my boss hadn't even talked to him. If he doesn't get his way, he will be extremely rude."
Callers named "Thomas" or "Hollii" from a vague "claims department" tell you that your name was selected in a $25,000 cash giveaway based on an entry you supposedly submitted within the last 18 months. They demand you attend a 90-minute meeting to collect your prize. They use your attendance to trap you in a high-pressure timeshare sales presentation. No real cash prize exists.
"Message was left by a real person by the name of Thomas stating he was calling from the claims department (no company name provided) regarding an entry that was submitted within the last 18 months in hopes of winning their $25K cash giveaway and my name was selected."
A robocall claims to be from the Social Security Administration warning that your Social Security Number has been compromised or suspended, threatens immediate legal action, and instructs you to press 1 to speak with an agent. The caller may have a thick accent and becomes hostile when questioned. They use any personal information you provide to steal your identity or open accounts in your name. The Social Security Administration never calls to threaten legal action or claim your number is suspended.
"02 Dec 2019 received a cell phone call from (219) 654-1958, left a recorded message stating they were from SSA and that legal action was being taken against me, and that if I should press '1' on my phone to speak to an agent to prevent this legal action from going forth."
Scammers claiming to be from Medicare offer free medical equipment like a back brace or cancer screening test, claim you requested information about a health insurance policy you never requested, create false urgency by saying you could lose Medicare eligibility, and ask you to confirm your Medicare number. They use your Medicare information to bill fraudulent claims to the government in your name. Medicare representatives do not call to sell products or give away equipment.
"GOT A CALL AND SAID THEY WERE FROM MEDICARE AND WANTED TO KNOW WHERE TO SEND MY BACK BRACE. I HAVENT BEEN TO ANY DOCTOR FOR ANY BACK BRACE!!! FRAUD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DONT GIVE THEM ANY INFO."
Callers leave vague messages about a pending "legal matter" or "complaint" filed against you, mention things like "loan fraud," threaten to contact your HR department, insist you call back by a specific urgent deadline, and refuse to provide their name or company when asked. They use any personal information you provide to attempt to collect money on debts that do not exist. Real debt collectors must provide written validation notices and cannot threaten your employer over non-existent complaints.
"Caller asks me to contact a different phone number and wants my personal information and claims they have a 'complaint' against me and will contact my HR dept. Complete SCAM!"
You receive calls that ring once and stop, or calls where there is dead air for 15-20 seconds before a hang-up, sometimes multiple times per day from the same number with no voicemail, and calling back results in a busy signal or immediate disconnection. These automated dialers use your answer to verify your number is active and belongs to a real person. They sell your confirmed number to telemarketers and scammers for future targeting.
"This number has called me everyday for the last week. When I answer the phone it is dead air for about 15-20 seconds and then they hang up."
No, area code 219 is not a scam. It's a legitimate telephone area code serving millions of legitimate residents and businesses in Indiana, United States. Area code 219 is a general purpose code that has been in service since January 1, 1948.
You're likely experiencing "Neighbor Spoofing." Scammers fake their caller ID to display local or familiar numbers. If you live in or near Indiana (Hammond, Gary, Portage), or have a 219 phone number yourself, scammers know you're more likely to answer what appears to be a local call.
Other Indiana area codes where scam and spam calls are regularly reported: