What area codes should you not answer?
Sarah Duran
Published Mar 17, 2026
With that in mind, the Federal Trade Commission says you should never call back numbers in these area codes:
- 268 area code – Antigua and Barbuda.
- 284 area code – British Virgin Islands.
- 473 area code – Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.
- 664 area code – Montserrat.
- 649 area code – Turks and Caicos Islands.
What is a spam number on your phone?
Robocallers: Automated, prerecorded phone messages. Spammers: Unwanted callers that may be calling indiscriminately to a large number of recipients; sometimes includes callers to whom you’ve given consent to contact you.
What happens if you call back a spam number?
If you call them, the spammer can find out if that phone number is owned by an actual person. The spammer can also easily fake the same area code as you, and set up a clever social engineering trick that may involve you thinking with the wrong head.
How will I know if my phone is hacked?
Strange or inappropriate pop ups: Bright, flashing ads or X-rated content popping up on your phone may indicate malware. Texts or calls not made by you: If you notice text or calls from your phone that you didn’t make, your phone may be hacked.
What to do if a scammer calls you?
What should I do if I get a scam call?
- Don’t reveal personal details. Never give out personal or financial information (such as your bank account details or your PIN) over the phone, even if the caller claims to be from your bank.
- Hang up.
- Ring the organisation.
- Don’t be rushed.
Can someone hack my phone from my number?
But is it actually true that someone could hack my phone only by knowing my number? Quite simply – no, it isn’t.
Should I call a scammer back?
At the very least, answering the phone or calling back makes you vulnerable to future scams, says Eva Velasquez, CEO and president of Identity Theft Resource Center. Even if you don’t give out personal information to the other line, though, that call could cost you major money.
Can my phone be hacked by answering a call?
Answering a call will do absolutely nothing, apart from the usual things where you can hear the person on the other side. Unless you install an application that they ask, give it permissions and full access to your phone, there is no point where you will be hacked.
Does *# 21 tell you if your phone is tapped?
Are you worried if your calls or text messages are being tapped? Kindly dial *#21# on your phone; this will display the status of the various sorts of diversions that are taking place along with the number the information is being transferred to will be displayed on your phone’s screen.
What does *# 21 do to your phone?
*#21# – Displays call forwarding status.