PA area code 814 gets millions of scam calls each year. What to do about pesky spam

Meredith Howard
·3 min read
2

If your phone has a central Pennsylvania area code and you’ve received a lot of automated calls recently, you’re not alone.

Millions of fraudulent phone calls are made to 814 area code phone numbers each year, according to one site, and federal agencies offer advice on identifying and stopping them.

Robocall-blocking software company YouMail estimates residents with central Pennsylvania area code 814 received more than 160 million robocalls in 2022 and more than 29 million already in this year.

“The index works by extrapolating the data collected from the many tens of millions of calls made each month to YouMail users,” YouMail’s website reads.

The website estimates alerts and reminders make up 28% of the calls, while 30% are telemarketing, 17% are payment reminders and 25% are scams.

How to report scam calls

In Pennsylvania, you can report phone call scams to the commonwealth’s attorney general online. The digital form will ask for your information, as well as anything you know about the scammer’s identity and location. You can also print out a form and mail it in.

The U.S. government recommends people report phone call scams online to the Federal Trade Commission. The agency can’t resolve individual cases, but uses reports to “investigate and bring cases against fraud, scams, and bad business practices.”

You can also report unwanted calls and register for the National Do Not Call Registry at donotcall.gov. The registry stops sales calls from real companies, but it can’t stop calls from scammers who ignore it, according to donotcall.gov.

“Companies that illegally call numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry or place an illegal robocall can currently be fined up to $43,792 per call,” the National Do Not Call Registry website says.

Spoofed phone numbers can be reported online through the Federal Communications Commission.

Common phone scams

Here are some examples of common phone call scams, according to the FTC:

  • Imposter scams: Someone pretends to be someone you trust, such as a government agency, a family member or a love interest.

  • Debt relief/credit scams: Fraudulent people or organizations may offer to get your student loans forgiven or fix your credit for a fee.

  • Business and investment scams: A caller may entice you to start your own business or make a large investment with the promise of big profits.

  • Charity scams: The FTC reports scammers posing as disaster relief organizations are common.

  • Extended car warranties: Just because a caller knows the type of car you drive and when you bought it doesn’t mean a service contract is legitimate.

  • “Free” trials: You could potentially be signed up to purchase subscriptions.

  • Loan scams: Guaranteed loans for an up-front fee are typically a red flag.

  • Prize or lottery scams: Scammers may call saying you’ve won a prize but that you need to pay some sort of up-front charge to receive it.

  • Travel and timeshare scams: Callers promise free or inexpensive vacations that may actually cost you a lot.

The FTC says the best defense against scam calls is call blocking.