Alabama's 659 area code is seeing fake medical debt collectors and police charity scams. Callers demand payment for bills you do not owe or ask for donations that never reach real officers.
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.
Getting calls from 659 area code and wonder if it's a scam? You're not alone. Scammers frequently spoof Alabama (Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Hoover) phone numbers to trick you into answering. Here are the most common area code 659 scams based on user comments:
Residents in Alabama's 659 area code are being targeted by callers posing as debt collectors from agencies like "Financial Recovery & Collections" or "Consumers Collections." They falsely claim you owe an old debt, typically between $400 and $500, for lab work from 2018 or 2019 allegedly done by "US Diagnostics Laboratory." Callers, sometimes using names like "Wyatt Thompson" or "Adrian Jones," demand immediate payment and threaten to ruin your credit score if you refuse.
Legitimate debt collectors are required by federal law (the FDCPA) to provide you with a written validation notice upon request. They cannot refuse to provide proof of the debt, and incorrectly citing HIPAA as a reason to withhold provider information is a major red flag.
"Got a call from 659-300-2033 telling me I owed $453 for lab work done over 3 years ago that was bogus. I asked for a copy of the bill and he said he couldn't give it to me. I told him no paperwork, no money. He said he'd report me to 3 credit bureaus and hung up."
This scam involves a call from a local 659 area code number asking for donations to support a police department in another state, such as California. The caller will try to get you to commit to a donation amount over the phone, but the funds rarely, if ever, reach the organization they claim to represent.
Local police departments do not typically use out-of-state call centers for fundraising. The vast majority of money raised by these for-profit telemarketers goes to the telemarketing company itself, not to the officers they claim to support.
"I just received a call from this number requesting for a donation for the local police department. I am in California. The call is coming from Alabama. Would an organization in Alabama make calls for a donation for an out-of-state organization?"
Scammers are calling local businesses claiming to be from "google maps business" to discuss your listing. Their goal is to get you on a computer so they can try to sell you unnecessary services for your free Google Business Profile or gain access to your computer.
Google will not call you to update your business listing or ask for payment to be included in Google Search or Maps. These services are free, and anyone claiming otherwise is running a scam.
"Call says they are with google maps business. They supposedly switch you to a boarding agent to help with your listing. Say they are not selling anything. Want you to get on your computer when talking to you. I am sure just another scam."
Some numbers in the 659 area code are being used for bizarre and offensive political prank calls rather than financial scams. These calls have no purpose other than to harass the recipient with strange messages, such as asking if "biden sniffed my hair too."
These are not legitimate political surveys or campaign calls. They are purely nuisance calls intended to harass and annoy you, and engaging with them may lead to more calls.
"Keeps calling wanting to know if biden sniffed my hair too .. WTF .."
Frequently Asked Questions about Area Code 201 Scams and Spam Calls
No, area code 659 is not a scam. It's a legitimate telephone area code serving millions of legitimate residents and businesses in Alabama, United States. Area code 659 is a general purpose code that has been in service since November 12, 2019.
Most common 659 scam types are:
You're likely experiencing "Neighbor Spoofing." Scammers fake their caller ID to display local or familiar numbers. If you live in or near Alabama, or have a 659 phone number yourself, scammers know you're more likely to answer what appears to be a local call.
Calling back to unknown spam number may incur premium charges or at least confirm your phone number is active and lead to more spam and scam calls.
There are three main ways to reduce spam calls:
It's definitely possible to block all specific area code phone numbers. However, we do not recommend this option because it would also prevent friends, family, doctors, and legitimate businesses from reaching you.
Other Alabama area codes where scam and spam calls are regularly reported: