Known scam phone numbers and patterns to block
A curated, regularly-updated list of phone-number patterns, area codes, and SMS sender IDs used by active scams in 2026 — grouped by region. Specific numbers cycle quickly, but the patterns don't.
United States & Canada
Area code 473, 809, 829, 849 (Caribbean)
"One-ring" scams — calling back charges premium international rates.
Area code 268, 284, 876
Same Caribbean premium-rate trap. Don't call back unknown numbers from these area codes.
Local-area spoofed numbers
Your own area code calling about "car warranty", "IRS lawsuit", or "Social Security suspended". All scams.
Numbers starting with +1-800 / 888 / 877 claiming to be "Apple Support" or "Microsoft Support"
Apple and Microsoft never cold-call you. Hang up.
United Kingdom
+44 7 numbers texting as "HMRC", "Royal Mail", "DPD", "DVLA"
Tax and parcel fee scams. HMRC and Royal Mail never text demanding payment.
Numbers showing as "NHS" or "Bank Name" with a redelivery / refund link
SMS sender IDs can be faked. Open your banking app directly.
0843, 0844, 0871, 0872, 0873 callback requests
Premium-rate ranges. Calling back can cost £3.60/minute or more.
International calls from +375 (Belarus), +371 (Latvia), +234 (Nigeria)
Common one-ring ("Wangiri") scam origins.
Australia
Numbers texting as "myGov", "Linkt", "AusPost", "ATO"
Government and toll-road impersonation. Open the official app, don't tap the link.
+61 4xx numbers claiming to be Telstra, Optus, NBN technical support
Telcos don't cold-call to fix your internet. Hang up.
International calls from +233, +254, +91 with no message
One-ring scams hoping you'll call back to a premium-rate line.
Everywhere — sender ID patterns to ignore
"Your parcel is held — pay €1.99 redelivery fee"
No courier holds parcels for €1.99. The card form is the actual scam.
"You've won [iPhone / gift card]. Claim within 24 hours."
Urgency + tiny window = scam, every single time.
"Hi Mum / Dad, this is my new number — phone broken, can you send…"
"Hi Mum" scam. Call your child on their real number to verify.
"Your bank account has been suspended — verify here."
Banks never ask you to verify via an SMS link. Open the app instead.
A reminder about caller ID
Caller-ID and SMS sender names are trivially spoofed. A call or text appearing to come from your bank, the tax office, or a parcel courier may not be from them. If in any doubt: hang up, then call back on a number you trust (from your card, your bill, or the official website).
Common questions
How do I look up a scam phone number?
Use our free scam phone number lookup at /number-check — paste the number, optionally a line about what was said, and get a plain-English verdict in seconds. We don't query carrier databases (caller ID can be spoofed) but we flag known scam patterns, premium-rate ranges, and abused SMS sender IDs.
Where do these known scam numbers come from?
We compile patterns from reader reports, published advisories from national fraud agencies (FTC, Action Fraud, ACMA, CRTC), and our own scam-checker telemetry. Specific numbers cycle quickly — the patterns and area codes don't.
Can I report a scam number?
Yes — and you should. In the US: report to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and forward scam texts to 7726 (SPAM). In the UK: forward to 7726 and report at actionfraud.police.uk. In Australia: scamwatch.gov.au. Reporting feeds the carrier-level blocklists that protect everyone.
Why does a scam call show a local number?
Caller-ID spoofing is trivial. Scammers deliberately match your area code ("neighbour spoofing") because you're more likely to pick up. The real call usually originates from a VoIP gateway overseas. Never trust caller ID alone.
What should I do if I already answered?
If you only spoke and shared nothing sensitive, block the number and move on. If you shared a password, card number, or one-time code, treat it as a breach: change the password, freeze the card, and turn on two-factor authentication on the affected accounts immediately.