I don't know what it is, but my phone has been ringing off the hook nonstop with spam calls and they all come from different area codes.  Has it been happening to you, too?

It's so irritating constantly declining calls all day long, especially when I've already flagged and blocked a ton of numbers from continuously re-calling.  Obviously not all calls from these area codes are spam, but my phone has been super accurate in flagging those that are either spam or telemarketers trying to make a buck.

Related: Major Phishing Scam Targeting Illinois I-PASS Users Via Text

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If you're going through the same problem and have endless calls from unknown numbers blowing up your phone and draining your battery, here are ways to stay vigilant:

  • If a call seems suspicious, don't entertain it.
  • Scammers often use convincing tactics to get personal information or money.
  • If you get a call from an unknown number, it's safer to let it go to voicemail.
  • Legitimate callers will typically leave a message if it's important enough, while scammers often will not.
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Illinois Residents, Avoid Answering Calls from These 8 Area Codes

(210), (423), (219), (314), (308), (229), (225), and (706).

To protect yourself from becoming a victim of fraud, here are a few tips:

  1. Register your number with the National Do Not Call Registry.
  2. Use your cell phone's blocking feature to prevent calls from same numbers.
  3. Never share personal information over the phone unless you are actually know the person on the other line.

Read More: Illinois State Police Warn About Dangerous Phone Scammers 

If you don't think you could be a victim of a phone scam, think again.  According to a 2022 survey, 68.4 million people lost money to phone scams. In 2023, 15% of American adults, or a member of their household, were scammed in the past year.

It can happen to anyone if the scammer, spammer, or telemarketer is good at their job!

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