The 515 area code is being used for Social Security number suspension scams and fake legal threats. Callers pretend to be government agents to frighten you into revealing sensitive information.
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.
Robocalls from the 515 area code claim your Social Security number has been used in fraudulent activity, sometimes mentioning a crime in "South Texas." The recorded voice states your SSN is "breached" or will be "cancelled" and threatens immediate arrest or legal proceedings if you don't call back. The caller ID might falsely display "SSI" to appear legitimate. They use your fear to trick you into calling back and giving them personal information over the phone. The Social Security Administration never calls to threaten people or suspend numbers.
"Telling me my social society number is under investigation and call back or ima get arrested."
Scammers call pretending to be from firms like "American Legal Recovery" or use fake names like "Claire Brown" or "Heather Dawson." They leave voicemails about a "complaint notice" or pending legal action, threatening to contact your HR or payroll department if you don't respond. They mention vague "civil complaints" without specifics and pressure you to call back immediately to "update your address." They use your personal information to make fake debts seem real and collect money you don't owe. Real process servers don't call ahead, they just show up.
"Hello my name is Claire Brown you were not available today and this message is in regards to a complaint notice to your attention... after a third field attempt I'm required to direct further contact to your HR or payroll department on file."
Robocalls claim to be from the "vehicle service bureau" about your car's extended warranty. They call multiple times a day, sometimes for months, often with outdated information about vehicles you no longer own. When you tell them they have wrong information, like asking about a Toyota you don't own, they hang up immediately. They use your public vehicle records to sell you overpriced third-party warranties that provide little coverage. These are not your car's manufacturer or dealer.
"Calls 2-4 times a day for 2 months. Called the number back, got a girl saying she's calling about the extended warranty on my Toyota. Dont own a Toyota which when I told her that, she hung up."
Scammers use robocalls or live agents to call businesses pretending to be from Equifax or banks doing mortgage refinances. They ask for "verification of employment" and repeatedly call main office lines instead of going through proper channels. The call-back number they provide is different from the caller ID. They use any employment details you give them for identity theft or to create fake loan applications. Legitimate lenders handle employment verifications through formal written requests or secure online portals, never through unsolicited robocalls.
"Robo-called saying they were Equifax, asking for verification of employment. Verifications of employment are NEVER left to voice-emulating robots, they are always handled by a live person. All signs of a scam."
Callers identify themselves vaguely as "your health insurance provider" or a "Medicare advisor" but refuse to state which specific company they represent. They ask "Can you hear me?" to get you to say "yes" and try to sell medical equipment you didn't request, like a "Medicare back brace" with a surprise $25 fee at the end. They call repeatedly even after you ask them to stop. They use your Medicare number and health information to bill Medicare for items you never received or approved. Your real insurance provider already knows who you are and will not call to sell you products.
"Medicare back brace scam. They tell you Medicare will cover the back brace completely but at the very end of the conversation they tell you there's a $25 one-time fee. I hung up and called the FTC as well as Medicare to let them know."
A recorded message from a man identifying himself as "Neil" makes unsolicited offers to buy Iowa homes for cash. He claims he "just sold his home in the area" and lets you "choose the move out date" to build false trust. He calls both cell phones and landlines without you providing your number. They use this approach to find financially distressed homeowners and pressure them into selling far below market value. Legitimate real estate investors use targeted marketing like mailers or work through agents, not mass robocalls.
"Neil just sold his home in the area and is looking to buy another home in our area for cash. He said I wouldn't need to pick up anything and I could choose the move out date. Recording."
Scammers send text messages with graphic images of dead and dismembered bodies, claim they are killers-for-hire, and threaten to harm you and your family unless you pay thousands of dollars like $2,900. They use your name and address found online to make the threat seem real. They use your fear to extort money through wire transfers or prepaid cards. The scammers are almost always located overseas and have no physical presence in Iowa. They cannot act on their threats.
"Showed me names and addresses of me and family members that anyone can get from the internet along with pictures of dead dismembered bodies and severed heads with a monthly demand."
Robocalls impersonate the IRS and FBI's "Tax and Crime division," falsely claiming a warrant has been issued for your arrest due to tax fraud. The message contains obvious spelling errors like "face the consiqunses" and demands you call back immediately on a specific number. They trick you into giving personal information and paying fake tax debts through wire transfers or gift cards. The IRS never calls to demand immediate payment or threatens arrest without first mailing several notices. Their first contact is always via U.S. Mail.
"I have received numerous calls from this number, claiming to be an FBI agent with the Tax and Crime division. That they have processed my address and sent a warrant for my arrest."
No, area code 515 is not a scam. It's a legitimate telephone area code serving millions of legitimate residents and businesses in Iowa, United States. Area code 515 is a general purpose code that has been in service since January 1, 1947.
You're likely experiencing "Neighbor Spoofing." Scammers fake their caller ID to display local or familiar numbers. If you live in or near Iowa (Des Moines, Ames, West Des Moines), or have a 515 phone number yourself, scammers know you're more likely to answer what appears to be a local call.
Other Iowa area codes where scam and spam calls are regularly reported: