Scammers use area code 406 to pose as process servers or the U.S. Postal Service. They send text messages about lost packages to steal your credit card details or personal information.
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Callers claiming to be from a "Process Division" call Montana residents with aggressive robocalls about "pending matters." They threaten to "actively pursue you at your place of employment and your residence" if you don't respond, mention arrest warrants with deadlines like 3:00-5:00 PM, and use vague official-sounding case numbers. These pieced-together robocall recordings are designed to scare you into calling back and giving them personal information they can sell or use for identity theft. Real process servers and law enforcement do not call ahead to warn you they are coming. They show up.
"Never answered. Message states they will be 'actively pursuing you at your place of employment and your residence.' Received multiple times. Just ignored."
A caller identifying as "Christine Clark" or "Kristen Clark" claims to be from the "US Postal Service fraud department here in Bozeman." She says you have a check for $2.5 million waiting or that they are investigating an "illegal package" and asks you to call back to resolve the issue. They use any personal information you provide to steal your identity or trick you into paying fake fees to claim your nonexistent prize. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service does not call people about prize winnings or illegal packages. These matters go through official channels.
"Received a call 12/28/20 at 11:28am from Christina Clark with the US postal inspection service in Bozeman also calling about a $2.5 million check and to call them."
An automated robocall claims a fraudulent purchase has been made on your Amazon account for an expensive item like an "iPhone 11" for $749.99 or another purchase for $319.00. The scammer wants you to press 1 or call back to cancel the order, then asks for remote access to your computer to "process a cancellation." They use this access to steal your personal files, banking information, or install malware on your computer. Amazon never calls you and asks for payment information or remote access to cancel an order.
"received a call on my answering machine, from an automated sounding monotone voice, to contact amazon...about a charge of $749.99 for i-phone 11 to my account that I ordered. If they did not hear back from me they would continue to charge my account."
Automated voices like "Amy" claim to be from the "Vehicle Processing Center" or "Auto Warranty Services" about your car's extended warranty expiring. They create false urgency about an expiring warranty and often don't know your name or what car you drive. Even when you tell them you're not interested or don't own the vehicle, they continue calling from different numbers. These calls are from third-party sellers trying to sell you overpriced service contracts with many exclusions. The warranties they sell are not affiliated with your vehicle's actual warranty.
"Same as above, I block one number and they start calling me from another. I've blocked a total of 6 different numbers. All Montana area codes (406). I connected once to a live person, asked them to remove me from list, I don't have a warranty and to stop calling and was hung up on before I got 6 words out."
Callers claiming to be from the "Department of Federal Student Loan Debt Forgiveness" offer to reduce or eliminate your student loan debt, often referencing federal stimulus plans. They target you even if you don't have student loans, sometimes offering to "include one" if you tell them you have no debt, and pressure you for personal information to check eligibility. They use your Social Security number or Federal Student Aid ID to access your real accounts or steal your identity. Legitimate federal student loan forgiveness programs are free through official government channels. No government agency calls you with unsolicited loan forgiveness offers.
"'StUdEnT LoAn dEbT fOrGiVeNeSs aSsiStAnCe pRoGrAmS!!' clown robocall scampaign... Me: 'I don't have any student loans.' Bozo: 'We iNcLuDe oNe!!'"
Callers from 406 numbers call at extremely late hours like 1:00 AM, 3:00 AM, or 4:30 AM, then immediately hang up when you answer. They may call your cell phone and landline back-to-back, and when you try calling back, you often get a "not a working number" message. This harassment technique tricks you into answering by making you think it's an emergency, then they verify your number is active and sell it to other spammers. No legitimate business or agency calls strangers in the middle of the night.
"CALLED MY PERSONAL CELL PHONE AT 12:38 A.M. AND THEN MY WORK CELL PHONE AT 12:39 A.M!!!! Since only my friends and family have both my numbers I thought it might be an emergency so answered the second call and they just hung up!! Ugh!! Really?!"
No, area code 406 is not a scam. It's a legitimate telephone area code serving millions of legitimate residents and businesses in Montana, United States. Area code 406 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 Montana (Billings, Missoula, Great Falls), or have a 406 phone number yourself, scammers know you're more likely to answer what appears to be a local call.