Scam Alert: Don't Be Tempted to Return Calls or Text Messages From These Scammy Area Codes
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Scam Alert: Don't Be Tempted to Return Calls or Text Messages From These Scammy Area Codes

If you don't know about this scam and how it works you can find yourself in for a big surprise when your phone bill shows up with very large charges

August 8, 2025

Across North Carolina and the rest of the country consumers continue receiving missed-call or mysterious text notifications from certain Caribbean and other premium-rate area codes. Curious recipients return the call or message only to rack up hefty international surcharges that appear on their monthly phone bills days later. This “473 scam” and its many variations prey on your instinct to respond. Understanding which area codes to ignore how to spot the ruse and what steps to take if you’ve already called back will protect you from unexpected charges and identity theft.

How the Premium-Rate Callback Scam Operates

Scammers program auto-dialers to ring thousands of numbers from a premium-rate area code, one you may not recognize but appears domestic. They let the call ring once or send a short text claiming to be urgent. When you return the call or reply you connect to a high-tariff line that charges international rates or hidden per-minute fees often $1 to $10 per minute. You may hear silence or music on hold. The scam ends when you hang up but the billing continues until your provider applies any caps or you dispute the charges.

Common Variations of the Scam

  • One-ring calls: The phone rings once then stops. You call back assuming you missed a legitimate call.
  • Crying for help recording: A distress message plays, prompting you to call back for assistance.
  • Wrong number text: A message claims it was sent to you in error and asks you to reply to redirect it.
  • Voicemail prompts: You receive an automated “You have a new voicemail” text with a callback number.

Premium-Rate Area Codes to Avoid

These are part of the North American Numbering Plan but route to international destinations. Unless you have friends or relatives there do not answer or return calls/texts from:

  • 242 (Bahamas)
  • 246 (Barbados)
  • 264 (Anguilla)
  • 268 (Antigua)
  • 284 (British Virgin Islands)
  • 345 (Cayman Islands)
  • 441 (Bermuda)
  • 473 (Grenada Carriacou Petite Martinique)
  • 649 (Turks and Caicos)
  • 664 (Montserrat)
  • 721 (St Maarten)
  • 758 (St Lucia)
  • 767 (Dominica)
  • 784 (St Vincent and Grenadines)
  • 809 829 849 (Dominican Republic)
  • 868 (Trinidad and Tobago)
  • 869 (St Kitts and Nevis)
  • 876 (Jamaica)

Why These Calls Are So Costly

Phone companies classify calls to these area codes as international premium destinations. Carriers may charge markup fees on top of international rates plus connection surcharges. Prepaid plans and some wireless providers lack caps on international inbound charges, so even a brief callback can cost $5 to $50. Those on family or unlimited domestic plans often assume inbound calls are free, making the surprise bill even more painful.

Identifying Scam Calls and Texts

Look for these warning signs:

  • Unknown or repeated one-ring calls from unfamiliar area codes
  • Generic “urgent” or “important” text messages without details
  • Requests to call back immediately or risk missing critical information
  • No voicemail left but a prompt to call back

How to Protect Yourself

  • Do not answer or return calls/texts from the listed premium-rate codes
  • Enable call-blocking on your smartphone through your carrier or use a trusted app to auto-block known scam numbers
  • Whitelist contacts in your phone so only known numbers ring through automatically
  • Set international call caps on your mobile plan, contact your provider’s customer service to restrict or disable inbound international charges
  • Silence unknown callers, configure your device to send calls from unknown numbers directly to voicemail

What to Do If You’ve Already Called Back

If you returned a call or replied to a scam text:

  • Review your phone bill carefully for any premium charges
  • Contact your carrier’s billing department immediately to dispute the charges and request a credit or reversal
  • Ask the carrier to block future calls from that area code on your line
  • Place a fraud alert on your credit report if you provided any personal information

Reporting Premium-Rate Scams

  • File a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission at consumercomplaints.fcc.gov
  • Report unwanted calls and texts to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov
  • Notify your North Carolina Attorney General’s office Consumer Protection Division at (919) 814-5400
  • Contact your carrier’s fraud department to help trace and block the origin

North Carolina Resources and Legal Protections

While telecom regulation is primarily federal, North Carolina residents can seek assistance through:

  • NC Department of Justice Consumer Protection: for state-level investigations of deceptive practices
  • Local law enforcement: report persistent scam calls that invade privacy or target specific individuals
  • Community Outreach: local senior centers and libraries often host workshops on phone and digital fraud prevention

Additional Tips for Phone Safety

  • Keep your software updated, modern operating systems include scam-call detection features
  • Use a secondary number for forms and online sign-ups to isolate your primary number
  • Educate household members, share scam lists and ensure everyone knows never to return unknown premium calls

By ignoring suspicious area codes using built-in blocking tools and verifying any unexpected communications through official channels you can avoid costly phone scams and keep your monthly bill under control.