Online Threat Alerts (OTA) - Alerting you to scams and frauds.

213 Area Code Scam Call And Text - How to Protect Yourself
213 Area Code Scam Call And Text - How to Protect Yourself

While the 213 area code is a legitimate code for downtown Los Angeles and surrounding areas, it has been identified as the top-reported area code for scam calls in California. Scammers frequently use VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) technology to spoof these numbers, making it appear as though they are calling from a trusted U.S. location when they may be operating from anywhere in the world.

Scam Tactics

Scammers using this area code often employ the following methods:

  • "Wrong Number" Texts: You may receive a seemingly accidental text like "Are we still on for dinner?" or a simple "Hello." These are phishing attempts designed to confirm your number is active and build trust for future fraudulent schemes, such as pig butchering investment scams.
  • One-Ring Scams: The scammer calls and hangs up after a single ring, hoping you will call back. Calling back can result in premium-rate international charges on your phone bill.
  • Impersonation Scams: Callers may pretend to be from government agencies (like EDD/unemployment) or law enforcement, claiming you have unpaid tickets or fees to pressure you into providing personal or financial information.
  • Mandarin-Language Scams: Some reports indicate scammers targeting specific communities by claiming issues with AT&T phone lines in Mandarin.

How to Protect Yourself

To avoid falling victim to these scams, follow these expert recommendations:

  1. Do Not Respond: Avoid replying to "wrong number" texts or calling back unknown numbers. Replying confirms your number is "live" to scammers.
  2. Verify Independently: If a caller claims to be from a business or government agency, hang up and call that organization using an official phone number from their verified website.
  3. Report the Scam: Forward suspicious text messages to 7726 (SPAM) and file a report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
  4. Use Lookup Tools: You can use reverse phone lookup tools or a quick search of the specific number to see if it has been reported by others.
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