If you're sick of picking up your phone only to discover another scam, wasting your time and ruining your concentration, then blocking these 12 numbers might finally bring some relief.
Users of the background check company BeenVerified have reported over 150,000 suspicious phone numbers in the past two years — but a new analysis shows that just 12 spam and scam numbers were the subject of a hundred complaints or more.
Most of the malicious numbers, nine out of 12, fired off scam text messages, designed to trick unsuspecting victims into clicking on a malicious link. Four of the top 12 posed as businesses, like a bank or credit card company, in an effort to get their mark's account information.
But one terrifying scam call turned out to be a scam you can blame on your friends.
The marketing team promoting the slasher sequel 'Scream VI' last March, created an app that allowed fans to send a haunting phone message from masked killer Ghostface to any number they chose.
In a few of these cases, the phone scammer really was calling from inside the house.
Researchers used call complaints logged with BeenVerified.com's Scam Call Monitor, analyzing 157,703 call complaints logged on their free reverse phone lookup tool from July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2023.
These top 12 worst offenders all had somewhere between 100 and 200 complaints from US citizens.
The Top 12 Scam Phone Numbers (and their scams)
1. (865) 630-4266 — WellsFargo Account Notice 'Reach us NOW'
The top scam was an automated text message purporting to alert victims that their Wells Fargo bank account had been temporarily locked.
They scammers said the account holder should call their fake number right away, likely to give up their personal account information.
2. (469) 709-7630 — '[shipper] has a failed delivery attempt for [tracking number].'
Multiple users told Scam Call Monitor that this sophisticated trick mentioned either their own name or that of a loved one to persuade them that something had genuinely gone wrong with a real shipment.
As one user reported, 'When I called to see who they were, I was asked to enter only the last two digits of my SSN for verification. I hung up.'
3. (805) 637-7243 — Congratulations! You've won Publisher's Clearing House!
According to BeenVerified: 'It appears that scammers may use the same number for a variety of scams.'
'Users of our reverse phone number tool reported this number was used for scam callers claiming to be from Publisher's Clearing House, as well as representatives from Visa's fraud department. Still more users reported this number for calls claiming that an unpaid bill may result in a freezing of their assets.'
4. (858) 605-9622 — [Bank Account Number] 'temporarily ON HOLD!'
A variation on the most common scam, this number spammed out a text message that reads: '[Bank name]: ACCNT #5674 temporarily ON HOLD! Your security is our priority. Call now: (858) 605-9622 (Do Not Disregard!)'
The number posed as a variety of financial institutions, including PNC, Chase, and Wells Fargo.
5. (863) 532-7969 — 'Debit Card Frozen! Call Immediately!'
No pun intended, this scam avoided getting into specifics, and instead banked on the fact that most of its victims would likely have a debit card.
6. (904) 495-2559 — 'AT&T Free Msg: Congrats to [number] lucky users!'
One person filed a complaint to BeenVerified about this scam message: 'ATT Free Msg: Congrats to 2 lucky users! Today's winners of our raffle are: Tim N***** and you, (Name)! Claim now: j2kmz.info/XXXXX (904) 495-2559'
The text was just one of numerous examples of targets being enticed by false promises of lottery wins and prizes.
7. (312) 339-1227 — 'Lose weight!' or 'Track your package'
Spammers go for quantity of attempts over quality and often reuse the same phone numbers even as they try new scams.
Multiple US citizens complained that number reached them to push weight-loss products or run another variation on the delivery scam.
8. (917) 540-7996 — 'Do you like scary movies?' viral marketing for 'Scream VI'
Dozens of complaints came into BeenVerified during March 2023 reporting a disturbing voice message from an unknown number.
'Is this [user's name]?' the message began. 'Oh good! I'm happy I finally get to speak to you [user's name]. We've never met, not officially, but I feel life [sic] I already know you.'
'It's funny how you can see someone's true character when they are alone. Or at least when they think they're alone. I have one question for you, [user's name]. Guess where I'm hiding?'
The terrifying, threatening call turned out to be a marketing campaign for the slasher sequel 'Scream VI' Paramount's marketing team released their 'Hello Ghostface' app on March 10, 2023, letting users prank themselves or really anyone they wanted to.
9. (347) 437-1689 — unpaid tax scams and a fake Dyson vacuum
Fake 'fraud alerts' are a growing kind of fraud itself.
Scam calls and texts from this number were reported as detailing believable claims of major purchases on victims' accounts, like a high-end Dyson vacuum cleaner.
In some variations, scammers using this number claimed instead to alert their targets to unpaid taxes which they supposedly owed to state or federal governments, - oversights they could correct just by clicking the link.
10. (301) 307-4601 — USPS 'your package is on hold'
A slightly more brazen and official version of the typical delivery scam, this number reportedly posed as the United States Postal Service itself, with another bogus text and malicious URL link.
11. Call (878) 877-1402 Now! 994# Card-Locked Alert
Numerous users reported receiving a text that read 'Call 878-877-1402 Now ! 994# Card-Locked Alert Account-ID:' followed by their own phone number, part of the scammer's effort to lend some credibility to the message.
12. (202) 221-7923 — 'Student loan forgiveness deadline coming. Call Kelsey'
According to the analysis from BeenVerified: 'Dozens of users reported getting phone messages from a 'Kelsey Adams' about a fast-approaching deadline for student-loan forgiveness and the need to act—or else.'
'Scammers follow the news and tailor their scams accordingly. As student-loan debt forgiveness has been a hot topic in recent years, scammers are making false claims about nonexistent deadline.'
So, what do you do if you get a call from a number that's not on this list, but still strikes you as suspicious?
BeenVerified's associate director of data studies, Kevin Voigt, recommends first don't click any of the links, or call the number back or hand over any information. Then, find contact info for the real company that the call or text is claiming to come from.
'Call companies directly to check fraud claims,' Voigt said in a statement. 'Do not use links or phone numbers provided.'
'Instead, check your card or account for the authorized fraud prevention number.'
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