ID, UT, and WA Residents Told “Do Not Answer Calls” From These Area Codes

Nobody likes getting scam phone calls. They are annoying, waste our time, and they can be dangerous.

The telephone scam business is a billion-dollar industry with recent data claiming Americans lose around $30 billion each year due to scam calls.

1 of the Most Dangerous Area Codes to Answer Comes From California

These phone scams come in a variety of ways - but they are all nefarious. The majority of the area codes and phone numbers on the list from the FBI come from outside the United States, but many of them come from local phone numbers. The list below includes 17 of the most dangerous phone numbers and area codes including 1 from a nearby state, California.

This doesn’t mean you ignore calls from these numbers if you know someone from that area and recognize the number - but it definitely means you should block and ignore them if the number is unfamiliar. This includes phone calls and text messages.

FBI Warns Residents in UT, WA, and ID to Ignore Calls From These Area Codes

Not that we don't like California, but you should be extra careful of calls that come from the Sunshine State. There are 2 specific numbers to watch out for according to WPST.

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(805) 637-7243 – Linked to a Publishers Clearing House scam, this California number tells you that you’ve won a sweepstakes or have a credit card fraud alert.

(858) 605-9622 – Scammers pretending to be from major banks like Chase or Wells Fargo use this San Diego number to claim your account has been compromised.

Calls from these numbers could ring once and hope you call back out of curiosity. Text messages might ask you to click a link that gives the scammer access to your device.

If you are unsure whether a phone number is safe, you can search the number online to see if it has been reported as a scam.

The 17 Most Dangerous Area Codes in Idaho, Utah, and Washington: Ignore These Calls

According to the Been Verified website, 213 is the top scam area code from California. But it isn't just California you should watch out for. The top 'scam' area codes in our area come from our state: for Idaho its 208, Washington is 206, and Utah is 801.