Scammers using the 223 area code often claim you won a Publishers Clearing House prize or have a credit alert. They are fishing for your personal information by promising money or warning of identity theft.
Scam & Spam Phone Number Lookup:
Our database contains over 25 million Do Not Call and robocall complaints reported to the FTC.
Scammers from the 223 area code call pretending to be from Publisher's Clearing House. One caller named "Frank Green" uses fake badge number 955 USA and claims you won "$10 Million Dollars and a 2021 Ford in PINK!" with winner code WAB77709FB. They use your excitement about winning to trick you into paying fake fees or taxes to collect your prize. Publisher's Clearing House surprises major winners in person with their Prize Patrol. They do not call first.
"I received a call from 223-203-1998. Frank Green said he was with Publisher's Clearing House. I won $10 Million Dollars and a 2021 Ford in PINK! Badge number 955 USA. Winner code is WAB77709FB ANYWAY - Sharing..."
Text messages claiming to be a "FINAL REMINDER" from Equifax say your account has been flagged for unusual activity on the "Last Day To Resolve" with a suspicious website link. They steal your login credentials and personal information when you enter them on the fake website. Credit bureaus communicate sensitive account alerts through official mail or their secure website portal. They do not send urgent security warnings via text with unofficial links.
"'FINAL REMINDER EQUIFAX Has Flagged Your Account For Unusual Activity Last Day To Resolve' followed by scam website link. Do not click on website link! This is a scam!"
Automated robocalls target residents around 62 years old with fraudulent Medicare offers, using many different 223 phone numbers like 223-201-6691, 223-201-7456, 223-201-7725, and 223-201-6527 to evade call blocking. They collect your Medicare number to bill the government for fake medical equipment or services. Medicare will not cold-call you to sell products or services. Initial contact about your benefits comes through official mail.
"Whoever they are, they use robocalls and various telephone numbers, i.e. 223-201-6691/223201-7456/223-201-7725/223-201-6527. According to one website, they are conducting a Medicare scam and target people of 62 years of age."
Callers like "Mark McCain" leave messages about student loans, even calling people who have none, instructing you to call an 888 number back with reference ID 8283. They use your personal information to apply for fake loan forgiveness programs and steal any upfront fees you pay. Check your loan status directly on StudentAid.gov. Official student loan servicers do not have agents who cold-call with vague reference IDs.
"This call was from 'Mark McCain', calling about my student loan. I don't have any student loans, so have not called back and I have blocked this number. They wanted me to call 888-680-2791, reference ID 8283. DO NOT CALL THEM BACK!"
Pre-recorded messages from callers like "Carolyn" warn your vehicle is "at risk of not being covered" without mentioning your specific car make or model. They pressure you into buying expensive extended service plans that often provide little to no actual coverage. Your actual car warranty is not in jeopardy if you ignore these calls. These are third-party telemarketers with no connection to your dealership or manufacturer.
"Says my vehicle is 'at risk of not being covered'. Clearly a pre-recorded message, these scammers are getting lazy."
Sales calls for security systems turn hostile when you decline, with the same caller immediately phoning back pretending to be from DirecTV, using profanity and repeatedly calling back after you hang up. They use aggressive harassment to break down your resistance until you agree to buy something or give them personal information. Professional salespeople from legitimate companies do not curse at customers or impersonate other businesses. This is a clear sign of a scam or rogue telemarketer.
"ask not to call me again and to take me off their list and hung up, was immediately called back... I was then identified as a 'MF' and I hung up and was immediately called back telling me not to hang up on him."
Calls from 223 numbers are completely silent when answered or hang up after 2-3 seconds without anyone speaking. They use automated systems to verify your phone number is active and add you to lists for future scam and telemarketing calls. When you answer, it signals to the system that your number works. This leads to more unwanted calls.
"We keep receiving calls from this exchange... no response if we answer and no message left if we don't answer. All these calls within the last week, with some of them being multiple times."
Area Code 223 phone numbers reported as unwanted calls to the FTC in the last 30 days.
(223) 214-7891
Other
2 reports ·
(223) 308-2773
Calls pretending to be government, businesses, or family and friends
2 reports ·
(223) 338-7379
Other
2 reports ·
(223) 263-1752
Other
2 reports ·
(223) 263-3101
Other
1 report ·
(223) 204-3069
Calls pretending to be government, businesses, or family and friends
1 report ·
(223) 624-4276
Other
1 report ·
(223) 223-5880
Other
1 report ·
(223) 500-5542
Reducing your debt (credit cards, mortgage, student loans)
1 report ·
(223) 342-5208
Calls pretending to be government, businesses, or family and friends
1 report ·
No, area code 223 is not a scam. It's a legitimate telephone area code serving millions of legitimate residents and businesses in Pennsylvania, United States. Area code 223 is a general purpose code that has been in service since September 26, 2017.
You're likely experiencing "Neighbor Spoofing." Scammers fake their caller ID to display local or familiar numbers. If you live in or near Pennsylvania (Lancaster, Harrisburg, York), or have a 223 phone number yourself, scammers know you're more likely to answer what appears to be a local call.
Other Pennsylvania area codes where scam and spam calls are regularly reported: