Been getting phone calls on my mobile with a single digit area code? (USA)

[ScottK]

no one on other forums I participate on has an answer....
I've been getting calls on my cell phone (Cingular) with (7) as the area code.
I have not been answering as I only answer known numbers on my cell.
Just wondering if this is some new type of cell phone spam as it's happened twice now and bot instances the caller has called three times in quick succession and stopped.

Is anyone here in the phone industry?

 

[tomvehoski]

Sometimes if the call is originating from a switchboard it will mess with caller ID. If I get a call from our location in Alabama, sometimes my phone will only show the area code and first three digits of the phone number.

It could be an international call.

I have also heard there is a way to falsify the number shown on caller ID. If they are not leaving a message, could be a telemarketer.

Try googling the entire number and see what shows up there. I've been getting messages on my home machine for the last two weeks looking for various relatives and in-laws. No company name, so I googled the phone number they left and found it is a shady collection agency that purchases really old accounts and annoys the relatives. I've just continued to ignore the messages.

 

[ScottK]

Thanks Tom
Tried google, but got nothing useful.
I also suspect telemarketers as there is never a message.
Haven't tried calling one of the numbers back just to see.

 

[Wes Bucey]

no one on other forums I participate on has an answer....
I've been getting calls on my cell phone (Cingular) with (7) as the area code.
I have not been answering as I only answer known numbers on my cell.
Just wondering if this is some new type of cell phone spam as it's happened twice now and bot instances the caller has called three times in quick succession and stopped.

Is anyone here in the phone industry?

If it were I, I'd merely call Cingular Customer Service and ask them to follow up for you. Phone companies are usually very accommodating, especially if you characterize the situation as if you "feel" you are being targeted for a scam.

 

[CarolX]

And the "no fail" method to assure it is a legitimate or needed call. Voice Mail.

 

[ScottK]

And the "no fail" method to assure it is a legitimate or needed call. Voice Mail.

which is why I deny the calls - to wait for VM.

 

[Marc]

I do the same. If there's no voice mail then the call wasn't important.

 

[JerryStem]

Spoofing caller ID is pretty simple, I've read many articles on it.

VM is there for a reason. If it's important enough, they'll use it...