Phone Calls From These Phone Codes Can Be Scams
Phone scams have become so widespread that most of us don’t even bother to pick up the phone if we don’t know the number. However, as we become more cautious, scammers become more savvy and find ways to get our attention. Inc.com lists some area codes to look out for.
The scam was named “Fraud 473”. The caller either allows the phone to ring once, sends an alert text, or leaves a pre-recorded message that makes the recipient believe someone is in danger. Meaning? For you to call back. Inc.com reports:
The 473 scam name comes from the fact that criminals have been known to use caller IDs with area code 473, which appears to be internal, but is actually the code for the island of Grenada and several other islands outside the United States. … which, like the US, uses the country code +1 … In addition, the 473 fraud criminals often set premium numbers – the equivalent of the 900 numbers that were popular in the United States in the pre-Internet era. Calls to these numbers can sometimes cost more than $ 20 in the first minute!
In addition to 473, here are some other common area codes that scammers use.
242 – Bahamas
441 – Bermuda
784 – Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
246 – Barbados
809, 829 and 849 – Dominican Republic
264 – Anguilla
649 – Turks and Caicos
868 – Trinidad and Tobago
268 – Antigua
664 – Montserrat
For more details and a complete list, follow the links below.
Do not answer calls or text messages with these phone codes – it could be a scam | Inc.com via Consumerist