If You Live In North Dakota or Montana, Don’t Answer Calls From These 5 Area Codes

Picture this: you’re at work, knee-deep in a project when your phone starts ringing. You dive through the chaos on your desk—pens flying, papers scattering—only to find a number you don’t recognize. Do you answer? Against your better judgment, you do. And just like that, you’re greeted by a robotic voice or an overly friendly telemarketer pitching a once-in-a-lifetime deal. Sigh.

Get our free mobile app

Turns out, you’re not alone. Enterprise Apps Today estimates the average person gets 17 spam calls daily. Yes, daily. That’s enough interruptions to make even the calmest among us dream of launching their phone into orbit.

In 2023, Americans endured a staggering 5.46 billion robocalls in August alone! Worldwide, 25% of these pesky calls originated in the U.S., with scammers dialing nonstop—up to 1.2 million calls per minute.

Spot the Scam: Shady Area Codes

While spam calls come from everywhere, certain area codes have gained infamy:

• 268 (Antigua & Barbuda): A tropical location, but scammers’ paradise.
• 876 (Jamaica): Known for “you’ve won the lottery!” scams.
• 473 (Grenada): No Caribbean vacation here—just fraudsters.
• 649 (Turks & Caicos): Beautiful islands, ugly scams.
• 284 (British Virgin Islands): A hotspot for scam operations.

Social Catfish has some tips if you do get a call from any of the area codes listed above.

First things first: don’t answer unknown numbers. If curiosity gets the better of you, hang up immediately and resist the urge to share personal details. Scammers thrive on stealing information like your name, address, or credit card details.

Instead, jot down the number, look it up online to check for scam reports, and report it to your phone carrier or the FTC. For long-term peace of mind, add your number to the National Do Not Call Registry or try call-blocking apps.

So the next time your phone rings and it’s a mystery caller, just remember: the project on your desk deserves your attention far more than a telemarketer ever will!