The 854 area code is used by fake federal agents and scammers selling useless medical braces. They try to intimidate you with arrest threats or bill Medicare for equipment you do not need.
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Callers claiming to be from the Social Security Administration or other federal agencies leave automated messages threatening arrest for a "federal crime" or issue with the "US Treasury." The pre-recorded message says this is the "final attempt to reach you" and orders you to "speak to a federal agent" by calling them back immediately. They use your fear of arrest to trick you into calling back, where they will demand personal information or payments to resolve the fake federal crime. Real federal agencies contact you through official U.S. mail first. They do not call to threaten arrest.
"The final attempt to reach you to resolve this issue immediately and to speak to a federal agent call back number 854-227-7908 I repeat 854-227-7908"
Aggressive callers target South Carolina residents with offers for "free" back or knee braces, asking for Medicare information over the phone and threatening to cut off Medicare benefits if you don't cooperate. If you hang up, they immediately call back from an "Unknown Number." They use your Medicare information to bill the government for medical equipment you never ordered or received. Medical equipment like braces must be prescribed by your doctor before Medicare covers it. Medicare does not cut off benefits for refusing telemarketer calls.
"They are insurance scammers for back and knee braces trying to get you to give them your Medicare information to get a FREE brace. They have been calling me Numerous Times a week for over a year."
Scammers contact residents about fake charges for "Norton software" for $599.99 or PayPal crypto orders for $845, instructing you to call back or press 1 to cancel the fake transaction. The message claims this is an alert about a large charge for a product you don't use and tells you to "press one to speak to our representative" about an "unauthorized transaction" you don't recognize. When you call back or press 1, they gain access to your real accounts or trick you into paying fake refund fees. Companies like Norton and PayPal send billing alerts through email to your registered address, not robocalls.
"Keep receiving calls from this number saying that they are drafting payment of $599.99 for Norton software. I don't use Norton"
Text messages pretend to be from financial institutions like "First Horizon Bank," falsely claiming your services have been stopped and containing misspelled words or grammatical errors. The message directs you to a strange website link rather than the bank's official site. The fake website steals your login information when you enter it. Your bank never sends text messages with links to verify information or reactivate accounts. They tell you to log in to their secure website directly.
"Received a text informing me that services had been stopped with First Horizon Bank. Instructed me to visit a website which I didn't do, I don't have an account with this bank and the website does not belong to First Horizon."
Automated robocalls try to sell medical alarm systems at extremely disruptive hours, coming in as early as 6:06 a.m. and as late as 2:29 a.m. to startle you into answering the phone. These calls are designed to catch you off guard when you're most likely to answer without thinking, making you more vulnerable to their sales pitch. Federal law prohibits telemarketer calls before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. Calls outside these hours come from illegal operations.
"My phone rang at 6:06 AM in the MORNING. That's practically in the middle of the night! Of course I answered--I have children who might need me. It was stupid Medical Alarm scammers."
Telemarketers pretend to be from companies you know, like Marriott Hotels or your local car dealership such as Stokes Volkswagen, using your specific vehicle information including make, model, and mileage to lure you into trade-in deals. They claim to be from a local business but sound scripted and pushy, and have been "harassing me for months, from different numbers." They use your personal data, often sold by businesses to marketing firms, to sound legitimate and pressure you into deals with hidden fees or inflated prices. Legitimate businesses don't use high-pressure tactics or call repeatedly from different numbers.
"Called said they were from the dealership where I bought my car and that the manager asked them to call to see if I was interested in trading in. She wasn't from the dealership but had the make, model and mileage."
No, area code 854 is not a scam. It's a legitimate telephone area code serving millions of legitimate residents and businesses in South Carolina, United States. Area code 854 is a general purpose code that has been in service since October 19, 2015.
You're likely experiencing "Neighbor Spoofing." Scammers fake their caller ID to display local or familiar numbers. If you live in or near South Carolina (Charleston, North Charleston, Mount Pleasant), or have a 854 phone number yourself, scammers know you're more likely to answer what appears to be a local call.
Other South Carolina area codes where scam and spam calls are regularly reported: