Although some phone companies have been able to include “Scam Likely” Caller ID in their software, I know that I detest spam calls just as much as the next person, and even with that, there are still far too many of them. Having to ignore those calls that take up your screen or cause your phone to ring becomes tiresome and frustrating. They always find a new number, so blocking them doesn’t work. This begs the question, “What’s stopping us from being like Indiana and joining the Do Not Call List?”
Having said that, if you’d like, you can register your phone number with the Do Not Call Registry; however, Michigan is not one of the 11 states listed on the Do Not Call List. Thus, for the time being, we will have to handle the numerous spam and scam calls that we receive on a daily basis. According to data, we get an estimated 33 million robocalls per day, for an astounding total of 50 billion robocalls year! We have a few area codes that you should never answer since the callers will almost certainly be scammers or spammers.
As Michigan has not indicated that it would like to be added to the Do Not Call List, we will be ignoring calls from scammers and spammers going forward. We’ve found some statistics from Social Catfish that will save you time and tell you which area codes are most frequently utilized nationwide for scam and spam calls. This should help you stay safe and avoid taking any calls from scammers or spammers.
There are five area codes that you should always avoid answering:
Area Code: 268
Although this area code is connected to Antigua and Barbuda, scammers have been known to utilize it for a variety of fraudulent schemes.
Area Code: 876
Although scammers have been known to utilize this area code for work-at-home and lottery scams among other forms of fraud, it is also connected to Jamaica.
Area Code: 473
Although this area code is connected to Carriacou and Grenada, scammers have been known to utilize it for other kinds of fraud.
Area Code: 649
Although the Turks and Caicos Islands are linked to this area code, scammers have been known to utilize it for a variety of fraudulent schemes.
Area Code: 284
Although the British Virgin Islands are linked to this area code, scammers have been known to utilize it for other kinds of fraud.
