We found a new scam that's not new, and you need to know about it. I call them 410 Area Code Text Scams, and you'll find out why in a moment.
The Internet breeds a lot of good and bad air, and in the midst is the breeze of phone calls. One would expect that these calls will always be about checking on and finding out how things are going for those we're distanced from. It turns out that isn't always the case.
Nowadays, phone calls are about sales, spam, and scams, with different area codes from around the world. Who knows if the next call you receive after this would be one of those? Should you be concerned? Of course!
A Call From 410
Recently, I was going about my day when my phone received a call from 410. It was a missed call that rang for a few seconds. At first, I was surprised and then suspicious because I had not received any calls from the number before.
The call came from the exact three digits: 410. That got me thinking, “What could this call be about?” And not long after, I began research on the numbers, and what I found out made me decide to inform you about this one.
Here are three things I discovered from my research:
The call probably came from a sales campaign, likely affiliated with my internet service provider, and is suspicious.
The numbers “410” represent an area code.
There are scams associated with the numbers. You need to be aware of these scams in case you're not.
What Is the 410 Area Code?
Let's first consider what an area code is. An area code refers to specific numbers at the beginning of a telephone line associated with a geographical region or an area of land. It is used to identify a call from a specific location.
410 is an example of an area code. It is associated with North America, particularly the eastern part of the State of Maryland. In the North American Numbering Plan (NANP), 410 covers several cities, including Baltimore, Columbia, Annapolis, and Ellicott City, among others.
Under NANP, area codes are unique three-digit prefixes, followed by other digits associated with the caller. So when people in Baltimore make a call, it will indicate +410 at the beginning. But here comes the problem.
Remember when I said that I received a call from 410? Yes, it was exactly those three digits, and while I suspect that it was a sales call, I found that I wasn't alone on this one. I discovered there were scams associated with that area code.
410 Area Code Text Scams
Over the years, there have been reports of spam texts coming from numbers with area code 410, usually involving AT&T scams. Several people reported that they received text messages from the same area code, some with free gift card offers and others claiming they had or owed money.
This is a well-known scamming tactic (spoofing), where scammers from different locations and countries use a country code or caller ID to contact victims and scam them. In this case, they use area code 410 while ensuring their original location is undisclosed. This is critical since they'll pretend to be from a legitimate company like your bank and other service providers. But why?
There are several reasons why people receive these text messages, and you may receive them as well. An outstanding consideration is that you might have used your contact on a platform that exposed your data on the web. And for the messages, it could be one or all of the following:
To gain remote access to your system.
To steal your personal information, including password logins, card details, and the like.
To steal your money.
What should you do?
While some people reported that they blocked and reported the numbers as spam, as we recommend in how to report scam phone numbers, calls, and texts, others also forwarded the texts to 7726. A commendable move indeed.
7726 is the universal code for reporting spamming and scam text messages to your mobile provider, enabling them to block such messages from infiltrating the system. With that, you not only secure yourself but also others from being spammed with fraudulent text messages.
If you happen to receive suspicious text messages, you can copy and inspect them using our scam text checker. Then block the number on your phone and forward scam and spam texts to 7726. Avoid clicking on links and downloading file attachments in text messages.
Before any text message, secure your peace of mind and keep your money safe. Your safety comes first.
