Is the area code 276 spam?

Area code 276 is located in western Virginia and covers Bristol, Martinsville, and Wytheville.

Should you suspect any person calling from this area code of being a scammer? Not according to our research. That is, unless you live in Virginia. Read on to find out why.

Dorota Martin

Is area code 276 spam?

Area code 276 is not spam. 276 is the area code for western Virginia. It’s sometimes reported as spam, but only by residents of Virginia itself. Area code 276 is not associated with spam in any other US state or territory.

If you’re in Virginia, you might get spam calls from this area code. In fact, area code 276 ranks as the 7th most commonly reported area code for spam in Virginia.

Related: How to block an area code

Wondering about the top 10 area codes that Virginians report as spam? Here’s the list:

Which phone numbers starting with the 276 area code are reported the most in the state of Virginia?

Among the numerous spam calls originating from the 276 area code, certain numbers are reported repeatedly. Below is a list of the most frequently reported 276 numbers in Virginia.

What are the spam calls from 276 usually about?

Spam calls originating from the 276 area code cover various  topics. The most frequent ones are related to medical and prescription offers, accounting for 13% of these calls. Another common theme is reducing your debt, making up 10.36%. Additionally, there is a notable proportion of reported calls (5.41%) in which scammers pretend to be government officials, including police-impersonation calls. Other subjects include warranties and protection plans (1.38%), charities (2.07%), vacation and timeshares (0.92%), and computer and technical support (0.69%). 

60.47% of spam calls in Virginia originate from within Virginia

Spam and scam calls are a widespread nuisance in the US, which is why so many of us seek guidance online. Often, advice includes avoiding certain “spam area codes” thought to be problematic across all states. While this may have once held true, the situation has evolved with scammers becoming more sophisticated. 

Incogni’s research team examined the area codes most frequently reported as spam to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). They found that no single spam code consistently dominates the spam-call list. That is, unless you look at spam area codes on the state level.

An analysis of spam-call patterns in each state revealed that the majority (59.81%) of spam calls originate from the same state as the recipient. In Virginia, 60.47% of unwanted calls are made from within the state, which is similar to the national average. In other words, Virginians should be particularly cautious of calls originating from local area codes.

Neighbor spoofing helps to make the call look credible

It may seem like spammers have relocated to Virginia to better target locals, but that’s not typically what’s happening. A more cost-effective strategy, known as neighbor spoofing, is often used.

Neighbor spoofing involves deliberately falsifying caller-ID information to hide the caller’s true identity. This technique tricks you into thinking that the call is from a local number, maybe even someone you know, in order to increase the chances of you answering it.

Recognizing a scam call

Scammers use phone number spoofing to lure you into fraudulent schemes. Here are some of the key elements to look out for when trying to determine if a call you picked up could be scam:

• Request for immediate payment.
• Pressure for personal or financial information.
• Claims of urgent service or account issues.

Scammers may impersonate businesses or government agencies, using a false sense of urgency to demand money. If you think you’ve received such a call, make sure to verify the caller’s identity and never disclose any sensitive information before you do.

How to fight spam calls

The most effective measure to reduce spam calls is to add your phone numbers to the FTC’s National Do Not Call Registry. The registry plays a key role in cutting down on unwanted calls from telemarketers and researchers. 

Another way to reduce unwanted calls is to use the blocking features on your device. Both iPhones and Android phones come with various spam-fighting features. 

To find out more and for our step-by-step instructions on enabling these features, read through our detailed guide on how to stop spam texts and robocalls.

Internet hygiene: prevent spam calls from happening

Preventing spam calls is possible, and it’s all about being more careful about how much information you share online. Hackers need to get your number from somewhere before targeting you with spam and text messages. They usually gather this information from social media and people search sites. 

Update your privacy settings to secure your sensitive data from being leaked, and send requests to websites and people search sites asking them to remove your information.

For comprehensive, step-by-step instructions, read our guide on how to remove personal information from the internet.

Alternatively, try Incogni’s data removal solution—save hours on manual removal requests and let us do the work for you. 

Other area codes often considered spam:

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