Memphis area residents with 901 numbers often face fake legal threats and Social Security impersonators. Callers try to scare you with arrest warrants to demand immediate payment.
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Callers pretend to be compliance officers from the Shelby County Civil Court or process servers and threaten you with legal action, claiming a complaint has been filed against you or an arrest warrant is imminent. They use names like "John Green" who claims to be a "TN state compliance officer," threaten to serve papers at your job, contact your relatives to create panic, and become abusive, calling victims names like "DUMP ASS." They use this fear to trick you into paying fake debts or giving up personal information. Real process servers and law enforcement do not call first. They show up.
"A person named 'John Green' who says he is a TN state compliance officer keeps calling and harrassing me to about a case and needing to serve me. There is NO case for me... And now he is harrassing my sister and other family member."
Scammers call claiming to be from the Social Security Administration, using robocalls with automated messages stating "Fraud suspected on your Social" and live callers who claim your Social Security Number has been "deactivated" or used in criminal activity. They threaten arrest if you don't call back immediately to "reactivate" your number and demand you confirm your SSN over the phone. They use your Social Security number to steal your identity and access government benefits. The Social Security Administration never calls to threaten you. They communicate through official mail.
"I got a call from this #. They left a voice message telling me to call them back with my ss# or I would be arrested. I'm about to call them backvand dare them to call me again."
Callers identifying as "Carol" or "Lucille" from "the tax group" leave urgent voicemails claiming to be supervisors who have reviewed your "case" and warn you are "getting closer to collections." The messages are vague about your specific case but urgent about collections, they claim to have "programs that can help you get out of this," and the calls come from local 901 numbers, not official IRS lines. They use your payment to steal money for non-existent tax debts. The IRS initiates contact through U.S. mail, not phone calls from vaguely named tax groups.
"This is Carol from the supervisor over at the tax group. I recently had a chance to take another look at your case and really you need to give me a call today. If this isn't resolved you're getting closer to collections..."
Callers, often using names like "Stacy," flood Memphis residents with robocalls about extending their vehicle's factory warranty, giving you a "final heads up" or "courtesy call" without knowing the specific make or model of your car. They become pushy or rude when you decline, sometimes calling victims names, and you receive dozens of calls even after blocking the number. They sell you expensive and often unnecessary service contracts that provide little value. These are not calls from your car's manufacturer.
"Trying to sell auto warranty, told them to remove us from list. They kept on pressing i said do you not understand remove me from your list. The woman proceeded to call me a bitch."
Callers use names like "James," "Brittany," "Alex," or "Jackson" and claim they are "local investors" who were "driving by your property" and want to make a cash offer, leaving vague voicemails asking you to call back different numbers and sometimes contacting you about properties you don't even own. They use generic scripts like "I know this call is clear out of the blue" to pressure you into quick sales far below market value so they can resell for large profits. These are typically wholesalers or predatory investors using public records.
"Hey this is James. I know this call is clear out of the blue. Im calling out property I believe you the owner of. I was just trying to call you to make you a cash offer for your home if you'd be interested in selling..."
Scammers call demanding payment for very old or completely fabricated debts, mentioning specific debts like "pay day loan from 2011" or "Capital One credit card from 2009" that you never had, threatening lawsuits or wage garnishment if you don't pay immediately, and offering "settlements" to create false urgency. When questioned, they become unprofessional or hang up because they refuse to provide official documentation by mail. They steal your money for debts that don't exist. Legitimate debt collectors must provide written proof by law.
"Called and said I owe money from an old Capital One credit card from 2009. I've never had a Capital One and once I realized this was an attempted scam I offered to come to their office to pay in person and was hung up on."
Area Code 901 phone numbers reported as unwanted calls to the FTC in the last 30 days.
(901) 644-6958
Other
3 reports ·
(901) 647-3656
Other
3 reports ·
(901) 446-4877
Other
2 reports ·
(901) 203-4358
Other
2 reports ·
(901) 244-4804
Other
2 reports ·
(901) 203-5542
Other
2 reports ·
(901) 599-8452
Reducing your debt (credit cards, mortgage, student loans)
2 reports ·
(901) 335-7864
Reducing your debt (credit cards, mortgage, student loans)
2 reports ·
(901) 341-7473
Other
2 reports ·
(901) 742-2578
Other
2 reports ·
No, area code 901 is not a scam. It's a legitimate telephone area code serving millions of legitimate residents and businesses in Tennessee, United States. Area code 901 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 Tennessee (Memphis, Bartlett, Collierville), or have a 901 phone number yourself, scammers know you're more likely to answer what appears to be a local call.
Other Tennessee area codes where scam and spam calls are regularly reported: