Scammers using the 516 area code often claim you won a Publishers Clearing House prize or pose as government officials. They ask for upfront fees to claim your winnings or threaten arrest to extort money.
Scam & Spam Phone Number Lookup:
Our database contains over 25 million Do Not Call and robocall complaints reported to the FTC.
A robocaller or live person claims you've won millions from Publishers Clearing House, mentioning specific prizes like "$5.5 million and a 2020 Mercedes Benz" or "$18.5 million and a new car." They use fake names like "Dave Sawyer," "John Goodman," or "Michael Freeman" and tell you you're a "2nd place winner" to sound believable. To collect your prize, they demand you first pay fees for "taxes" or "registration," instructing you to go to Walmart or Dollar General to buy hundreds of dollars in gift cards, or to open a new bank account while staying on the phone. They use your gift card numbers to steal the money immediately. Publishers Clearing House will never call, email, or text to notify major prize winners. The real PCH Prize Patrol shows up at your door in person.
"Got a call from 516-708-4518 saying I won the PCH $5,000 a week for life. Want me to go to Dollar General Store and purchase 2 Vanilla Gift Cards for $500 each. Said I would have to have them when they brought my car and cash today."
Scammers call pretending to be from the IRS or Social Security Administration with aggressive robocalls threatening lawsuits, arrest, or having your Social Security Number suspended due to "tax fraud" or "suspicious activity." The automated voice claims it is the "second attempt" to contact you and demands payment via gift cards or wire transfer. They use your personal information and money to commit identity theft and drain your accounts. Contact the Social Security Administration or IRS directly using numbers from their official websites if you are concerned. The IRS and Social Security Administration do not call people to threaten them. They do not suspend SSNs over the phone.
"Got a call from this number saying that my social security number would be suspended because of fraudulent activity associated therewith, and that i should press 1 to talk to a representative about it."
Criminals pretend to be from PSEG Long Island, claiming your electricity bill is overdue and your service will be shut off in 30-45 minutes unless you make immediate payment. They often spoof PSEG's real number on your caller ID to appear legitimate, demand payment over the phone via gift card or mobile payment app, and have heavy accents while becoming aggressive when questioned. They use your payment information to steal your money while your electricity stays on. Call PSEG Long Island directly using the number on your actual utility bill to verify your account status. PSEG provides multiple written notices before shutting off service and will not demand immediate payment over the phone. Never pay a utility bill with a gift card.
"These assholes keep calling telling me my service is going to be disconnected in 30-45 minutes, they can go straight to hell and knock off the BS already, it's becoming old with these scammers"
Robocalls claim to be from "Microsoft Health Center" or "Apple Technical Support," warning that your computer has a "serious issue" or your iCloud account has been breached. The recording warns you to "refrain from using any financial activity on your devices" and urges you to press 1 to speak with their "security team," often calling at unusual times like 6:45 AM. They use remote access to your computer to install malware and steal your financial information. They gain access to your computer and financial accounts. Microsoft and Apple do not make unsolicited calls to tell you there's a problem with your device. Real tech support is initiated by you.
"Hello this call is from Microsoft Health Center. We encounter a serious issue coming out of your computer. It seems to be someone is trying to hijack your computer and tried to steal your personal information."
Relentless robocalls about your car's "extended warranty" come multiple times a day from many different spoofed numbers, making them difficult to block. The caller pressures you to act immediately before your "coverage expires" and calls even if you don't own a car or your car is not under warranty. If you ask to be removed from their list, they hang up or call back more frequently. If you engage, they sell you overpriced and often worthless service contracts. These aggressive robocall campaigns confirm your number is active when you engage. Your car's manufacturer will contact you via mail, not through harassing robocalls.
"Robocall scam for car vehicle warranty. I am on the do not call list. They call from multiple numbers all day every day."
Scammers call pretending to be from Medicare, Aetna, or other health insurers, asking for your Medicare number or offering you "free" medical devices like back braces you didn't request. They claim to be an "Aetna member adviser" and ask for your ID to discuss your health, often with heavy accents and call center noise in the background. They use your Medicare or insurance number to commit fraud and bill for fake medical services. Report suspicious calls to 1-800-MEDICARE. Official Medicare representatives will never call you out of the blue to ask for your number. Protecting your Medicare number is as important as protecting your Social Security and credit card numbers.
"Caller claimed to be from Aetna Medical. Asked for ID number. Replied I had no proof she was from Aetna. She replied call the number on the back of the Aetna card... I hung up, called Aetna, and they had no idea who this caller/phone number really was."
Callers claim there are "pending matters" or "multiple claims" filed against you, saying they have "paperwork to deliver" and will contact your HR department if you don't respond. They're vague about details, mentioning "pending matters" without specifics, and threaten to show up at your home or workplace. The caller claims to be from companies like "Excess Management" or says they need to "verify an address," leaving partial messages designed to make you curious and call back. They use high-pressure tactics to trick you into paying non-existent debts. Real process servers do not call ahead to warn you. They simply show up.
"Said they had paperwork to deliver to me. Obvious fraud."
Area Code 516 phone numbers reported as unwanted calls to the FTC in the last 30 days.
(516) 696-3512
No Subject Provided
11 reports ·
(516) 271-2250
Other
5 reports ·
(516) 386-9792
Other
5 reports ·
(516) 786-4188
Dropped call or no message
4 reports ·
(516) 587-5137
Other
3 reports ·
(516) 341-2516
Other
3 reports ·
(516) 201-5149
Dropped call or no message
3 reports ·
(516) 875-5645
No Subject Provided
2 reports ·
(516) 646-1369
Other
2 reports ·
(516) 728-1810
Other
2 reports ·
No, area code 516 is not a scam. It's a legitimate telephone area code serving millions of legitimate residents and businesses in New York, United States. Area code 516 is a general purpose code that has been in service since January 1, 1951.
You're likely experiencing "Neighbor Spoofing." Scammers fake their caller ID to display local or familiar numbers. If you live in or near New York (Hempstead, Levittown, Freeport), or have a 516 phone number yourself, scammers know you're more likely to answer what appears to be a local call.
Other New York area codes where scam and spam calls are regularly reported: