Scammers are finding more and more ways to take advantage of you, even using 605 area code numbers to make you think it's a local call. Have you received a call from a 605 area code and the automated caller on the other end pretends her headset is unplugged to make it sound like the call is real? It's not real. It's automated. It's a scam.

It's just a good rule of thumb to never call back a number you don't recognize. Let's face it, if they really want to get ahold of you, wouldn't they leave a message? If they leave a message, you can decide if you want to call them back. More than likely, you won't - and shouldn't.

Inc.com has put together a list of area codes that could lead you to a scam. If you get a call or text from one of these area codes, do not call it back. I know it's hard to remember these numbers, but to really be safe, you shouldn't even answer a phone call from one of these numbers.

Here's a list of numbers you should not call back according to Inc.com.

Here are the current international area codes within the +1 country code:

  • 242 -- Bahamas
  • 441 -- Bermuda
  • 784 -- St. Vincent and Grenadines
  • 246 -- Barbados
  • 473 -- Grenada, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique
  • 809, 829, and 849 -- Dominican Republic
  • 264 -- Anguilla
  • 649 -- Turks and Caicos
  • 868 -- Trinidad and Tobago
  • 268 -- Antigua
  • 664 -- Montserrat
  • 876 -- Jamaica
  • 284 -- British Virgin Islands
  • 721 -- Sint Maarten
  • 758 -- St. Lucia
  • 869 -- St. Kitts and Nevis
  • 345 -- Cayman Islands
  • 767 -- Dominica

Here are the U.S. Territories' area codes (listed by territory):

  • American Samoa -- 684
  • Guam -- 671
  • Northern Mariana Islands -- 670
  • Puerto Rico -- 787 and 939
  • U.S. Virgin Islands -- 340

Here are the Canadian area codes (listed by province):

  • Alberta -- 403, 587, and 780
  • British Columbia -- 236, 250, 604, and 778
  • Manitoba -- 204 and 431
  • New Brunswick -- 506
  • Newfoundland -- 709 (879 is being added in 2018)
  • Northwest Territories -- 867
  • Nova Scotia -- 902
  • Nunavut -- 867
  • Ontario -- 226, 249, 289, 343, 365, 416, 437, 519, 613, 647, 705, 807, and 905
  • Quebec -- 418, 438, 450, 514, 579, 581, 819, and 873
  • Saskatchewan -- 306 and 639
  • Yukon -- 867
  • Nationwide -- 600 (and possibly 622, 633, 644, 655, 677, and 688)
  • U.S.-Canada Numbers to Beware:
    Area code -- 900

Also -- Canadian numbers that begin 976 after the area code (These can be like 900 numbers.)


See Also:

More From KXRB