Spam calls from 646 Area code is one of the most reported scams targeting Americans. This area code which is a toll free number for a large part of New York city is being abused by spammers, scammers, etc. This article reveals how the 646 area code scam calls work and how to stay protected;
Why you’ve a 646 area code call from an unknown number
Unknown calls from 646 area code are initiated by scammers who use different scam formats to bait victims. The scammers could either be calling from India, Pakistan or Nigeria but use a technology to spoof their caller ID as a 646 area code.
These scammers sometimes pose as IRS or Social Security Administration, law enforcement agents, lottery guys, etc. They also impersonate bank officials, parcel delivery companies, Insurance officials and many more.
The goal is all the same; to fleece you off your money and get your personal and financial details like credit card info, SSN, name, address, etc.
Tactics Used by the 646 Area Code Scam Callers
The 646 area code scam often use robocalls, sending vague pre-recorded voicemails and hanging up after few seconds. This would prompt the recipient to call back the number and then get entangle in a web of deceit.
Aside from the expense of calling back the 646 area code international premium rate numbers, victims would also get extorted through the following tactics
- Social Engineering Tactic; eg- The scammer would Claim someone is trying to hack into your bank account and would request you send your financial info
- Threatening Tactic; eg- The victim would be convinced someone has filed a court against him/her
The aim of course is to illicitly obtain people’s personal and financial information.
Whatever tactics they use, don’t fall for the scam. They might pretend to be a HR from a recruiting company, or even pretend to be Amazon customer care. Whatever the case might be, kindly ignore.
How was Your Telephone Number gotten?
There are many ways with which your telephone number was gotten by the scammer. It could be one of the following;
- Directories on the web
- Web search
- Social media
- Dark web
- Number generator (auto dialer)
What to Do About The 646 Area Code Scam
First things first; do not call back the number or respond to their request. You shouldn’t attempt to provide whatsoever information asked no matter how trivial you think it is.
Flag the telephone number as scam. That way you’d help spread awareness of the fraud and prevent people from being victims. You can flag the telephone number via your call blocker app.
Don’t have one installed already? Call blocker apps are available on app stores like Google Playstore, Apple App Store. Aside from flagging potential scams, they can help you directly stop calls identified as scams or make them ring silently.
Lastly, if you’ve already fallen victim to this scam, either by providing your credit card details, or sensitive information, you should do the following;
Alert your Bank of the Fraudulent Activity
Immediately notify your bank of the leaked credit card details and request for a credit freeze. You should also cancel your credit card and get a new one.
Enroll in identity theft monitoring services
Identity protection services like Experian or Aura monitor databases that collect different types of information. When you enroll with them, you’d receive an alert notifying you of suspicious activities like –
- a change of address request
- court or arrest records
- orders for new utility, cable, or wireless services
- an application for a payday loan, etc.
Bottom Line
You’ve an unknown call from 646 area code because you’re being targeted by scammers who’ve spoofed their caller ID to appear as 646 area code. The scammers could be calling from India, Pakistan, Nigeria, etc but may pose as bank officials, IRS officials, Insurance guys, etc.
Whatever the scenario may be, do not provide any information to them. Hang up the call and do not call back. You should also use a call blocking app to flag the number as spam. By so doing, whenever someone else gets a call from the number, the caller ID would show it’s from a spammer.
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