What are Clermont County Area Codes?
The North American Numbering Plan (NANP) uses area codes to simplify the process of making phone calls, especially long-distance calls. Clermont County area code is the chain of three-digit numbers that precede phone numbers registered in the county. Area codes identify distinct geographical telephone service regions called Numbering Plan Areas (NPAs). The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio administers and manages the area code in Clermont County and the rest of the state.
Clermont County presently has one active area code (513).
Area Code 513
Created in 1947 as one of the original 86 NANP area codes, the 513 NPA serves southwest Ohio. Clermont County towns and villages under area code 513 include Batavia, Goshen, Wayne, New Richmond, and Moscow. Others are Franklin, Owensville, Williamsburg, Monroe, Tate, Stonelick, Union, and Bethel.
What are the Best Cell Phone Plans in Clermont County?
A 2018 CDC research showed that preference for wireless telephony services in Clermont County is steadily rising, and landline phone usage wanes. Compared to 4.3% of Ohioan adults who relied solely on landline phones for telecommunication, wireless-only users accounted for 58.5% of that demographic. Likewise, 2.0% of the youth population (under 18 years) who used only landlines services contrasted sharply with the 71.8% who depended exclusively on cell phones.
AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint generally offer impressive network services in Clermont County. AT&T has the best network spread, with a coverage that spans nearly all of the county at 99.9%. Verizon also provides stellar coverage with a penetration depth of 96.7%, while T-Mobile and Sprint cover 96.4% and 81.9% of the county, respectively. Several Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) are also present in Clermont County and offer residents telephone service options at competitive rates.
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is an alternative to traditional telephony services that enjoys widespread adoption in Clermont County. Many residents and businesses in the county continue to choose VoIP services because they offer affordable telephony rates and an array of features such as call conferencing and forwarding. VoIP provides users flexibility that cannot be matched by cell phones and landlines, provided broadband internet connections exist.
What are Clermont County Phone Scams?
These are fraudulent acts aided by telecommunications services that target county residents’ funds and confidential information. Fraudsters typically employ live phone calls, text messages, and automated calls to perpetrate these scams. They also use phone spoofing technology to hide their identities and impersonate legitimate entities such as government agencies and financial institutions. However, reverse phone lookup applications serve as excellent tools for uncovering scammers’ identities and help residents avoid scams.
Clermont County residents regularly file complaints about the following scams:
What are Clermont County Social Security Scams?
Fraudsters leverage the Social Security Administration (SSA) credibility to convince Clermont County residents into divulging confidential information and sending money. They call their marks and pretend to be with the SSA while making up fake claims to achieve their fraudulent aims. These scammers are particularly interested in obtaining their targets’ social security numbers so they can commit other theft. There are many variations of this scam. In a popular version, scammers trick targets into sharing confidential information by falsely promising to increase their social security benefits and at a fee. They may threaten to withhold such benefits unless the required information is provided and payments made. These scammers rely heavily on phone spoofing to deceive their marks and make it seem like they are calling from the SSA. Employees of the SSA will never threaten residents with benefits termination, arrests, or prosecutions over the phone. Clermont County residents who are victims of these scams can file complaints with the Office of the Inspector General, SSA by calling (800) 269-0271 or online. They can perform reverse phone lookups free of charge on scammers’ phone numbers to retrieve identifying information and unravel scams on them.
What are Clermont County Grandparent Scams?
These are scams that attempt to strip Clermont County seniors of their hard-earned money. Scammers target elderly residents with this fraudulent scheme because they are usually reluctant to report scam incidents to law enforcement. They often pose as their targets’ grandchildren when they call. The scammers will inform their marks that they are in some tough situations, describing them as emergencies, and urgently need money to resolve them. In most cases, the scammers claim to have been involved in ghastly accidents. They may also say they are stranded in a foreign country, need money to post bail or settle hospital bills. Sometimes, these scammers may have accomplices who will pose as law enforcement officers or attorneys, an attempt to fool their targets into complying with their demands. If their marks suspect they sound different, the scammers quickly blame it on a cold or accident-related injury. These scammers usually ask their targets to send money via irregular payment channels such as gift cards or wire transfers. Reverse phone search services can help Clermont County residents verify the actual identities of suspicious callers. Residents who receive these calls should hang up and call their grandchildren directly on their phone numbers to confirm claims. They can also contact other family members who may know the whereabouts of such relatives. Incidents of grandparent scams can be reported to the Clermont County Sheriff’s Office or the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.
What are Clermont County Computer Repair Scams?
In these scams, fraudsters use live phone calls or computer pop-ups to inform Clermont County residents that their computers have viruses. When pop-ups are used, targeted residents will be instructed to call specific numbers to get the issues fixed. These scammers claim to be representatives of familiar tech companies such as Microsoft and Apple and warn their marks of imminent data loss. They will offer to fix their targets’ computers and then request remote access. They use such access, if granted, to install malware designed to scan their victims’ computers for confidential information. The scammers may also lock their victims out of their computers and demand payment for their fake repairs before releasing control on such PCs. The Sheriff’s Office warns Clermont County residents never to allow remote access by unverified computer tech personnel to their computers. Performing free reverse phone lookups on the callers’ phone numbers can help ascertain if they are legitimate employees of computer companies as claimed. Report all incidents of computer repair scams to the Clermont County Sheriff’s Office or your local law enforcement agencies.
What are Robocalls and Spam Calls?
Robocalls are phone calls that use computerized autodialers to convey prerecorded messages to mass phone numbers. They are cheap and convenient to use, allowing a single user to send out thousands of automated messages within a short time. They also serve as important tools in public service announcements, political campaigns, and appointment notifications. Scammers have, however, abused robocalls and now mass-deliver fraudulent automated messages to unsuspecting targets. They craftily design these messages to trick recipients into sharing confidential information or paying money. Scammers favor spoofed robocalls to stay anonymous and claim affiliations with legitimate businesses and government institutions in preying on their targets.
Spam calls refer to all types of mass phone calls that are randomly made to recipients without their consent. They are unsolicited and used to advertise products. Spam calls are sometimes considered a nuisance. Scammers use spam calls to randomly determine active phone numbers in an attempt to target users of such numbers for future scams. The FTC provides residents with tips on how to block unwanted calls. Clermont County residents can avoid falling victim to robocall scams using reverse phone lookup tools to recognize inbound robocalls.
Taking the following actions can help you avoid illegal robocall:
- Avoid answering calls from unknown phone numbers. This is one of the proven ways to avoid robocall scams.
- End all robocalls quickly if you accidentally answer them. Ignore any prompt suggesting you can opt-out of subsequent robocalls by pressing a specific number. Complying will only cause you to be targeted with more automated calls.
- Install a third-party mobile call-blocking app if your phone service provider does not offer free or pre-installed call-blocking services. It is more convenient and less expensive to block robocall and spam phone numbers with free call-blocking applications.
- Join the National Do Not Call Registry maintained by the FTC to reduce the frequency of unwanted calls from telemarketers and other sales-based businesses. You can join online or by calling 1 (888) 382 1222 with the phone number you wish to register. Subsequent scam calls can easily be spotted because scammers typically violate the DNC list.
- Call the FTC on 1 (888) 382 1222 and the FCC on 1 (888) 225-5322 to file reports of illegal robocalls.
How Can You Spot and Report Clermont County Phone Scams?
Phone scammers target Clermont County residents and often use crafty schemes to separate them from their money and obtain their confidential information deceptively. They capitalize on situations and monitor routine occurrences to develop fraudulent schemes that appear genuine and safe. However, by staying alert and informed of scam trends, Clermont County residents can stay ahead of scammers and avoid being fleeced.
The following are clues to recognize phone scam calls in Clermont County:
- Scammers use harassment and intimidation tactics to frighten their targets and secure compliance. They often employ threats of license suspensions, fines, arrests, incarcerations, and prosecutions to pressure their marks into giving in to their demands.
- Scammers request advance payments as a condition for receiving purported huge prizes or lottery winnings. If you must pay before you redeem winnings, then it is not free.
- Fraudsters often pose as representatives of credible businesses and trusted public agencies to make unsolicited requests for personal or financial information. Such information includes social security numbers, credit card and bank account details, passwords, PINs, and birth dates.
- Scammers offer Investment opportunities that guarantee high returns with little or no risk. Business opportunities are generally associated with certain levels of risks, and legitimate businesses will never make such promises to potential investors.
- Fraudsters often ask to be sent money through payment methods that preserve their anonymity. They favor unusual channels such as wire transfers, bitcoins, and preloaded debit/credit cards.
Services that offer reverse phone lookups by name and address are also effective in spotting phone scams. They help uncover scammers’ identities by providing crucial information about phone number registration records and discover whether their phone numbers have been linked with previous scam activities. Public agencies that protect consumers against phone scams in Clermont County also provide reporting platforms. They include:
Ohio Attorney General’s Office: The Ohio AGO protects residents from fraudulent and unfair business practices. They also educate residents with their online publications on consumer scams. Clermont County residents who are victims of phone scams can file reports with the Ohio AGO online or call 1 (800) 282-0515.
Clermont County Sheriff’s Office: The Sheriff’s Office is committed to preserving the lives and properties of Clermont County residents. They protect residents from criminals and periodically publish reported phone scam incidents to educate them. Clermont County residents who have been preyed upon by scammers can file complaints with the Sheriff’s Office by calling (513) 732-7500.
Federal Trade Commission: The FCC promotes a fair business environment in the U.S. by opposing deceptive and fraudulent business practices. They also keep consumers safe from scams and provide them with regular scam alerts. Through the National Do Not Call Registry, the FTC protects registered residents from unwanted robocalls. Residents of Clermont County targeted by scams and illegal robocalls can call the FTC at 1 (888) 382-1222 or file reports online.
Federal Communications Commission: The FCC oversees interstate and international communications in the United States. They protect residents from illegal robocalls and phone spoofing scams. Residents can submit complaints of unwanted robocalls and phone spoofing scams to the FCC online.