What are Fairfield County Area Codes?
The Bell System created the North American Numbering Plan in the 1940s. Part of the plan included the use of area codes to replace the cumbersome call operations system which required human operators to connect calls across the existing telephony communications system. Area codes were formed as three-digit prefixes added to seven-digit telephone numbers to route calls through the different geographical areas that were created. Each geographical area has its own area code. Hence, using area codes helped to automate calls and removed the reliance on human operators in connecting calls. You can find the area code of any geographical area in the United States by using an area code lookup tool online.
Four area codes cover Fairfield County: Area codes 220, 380, 614, and 740.
Area Code 220
Area code 220 serves southeastern Ohio and is an overlay for area code 740. It was first used on April 22, 2015, and serves Newark, Lancaster, Marion, Delaware, and Zanesville.
Area Code 380
Created from area code 614, area code 380 was first used on February 27, 2016. It is an overlay for area code 614 and serves Columbus, Dublin, Westerville, Grove City, and Reynoldsburg.
Area Code 614
Area code 614 is one of the original 86 area codes created by AT&T and the Bell System in 1947. It originally served southeast Ohio but was split in 1997 to form area code 740. In 2016, area code 380 was created to serve as an overlay to the 614-area code. Area code 614 serves Gahanna, Hilliard, Pickerington, Whitehall, and Upper Arlington.
Area Code 740
Area code 740 was first used on December 6, 1997, and was created from area code 614. It is currently overlaid by area code 220 which was created in 2015. It serves the same areas covered by area code 740.
What are the Best Cell Phone Plans in Fairfield County?
Fairfield and Ohio residents now use wireless telephony as their primary telephony communication option. As evidenced in a 2018 survey conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics, 58.5% of Ohio residents aged 18 and above used wireless telephony while 4.3% used landline-only telephony service. Among residents under the age of 18, 71.8% used wireless telephony service exclusively, while only 2.0% used landline telephony service exclusively.
However, having a wireless plan that suits their needs has also become important. Basically, three categories exist for the wireless plans from the major Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and the Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) operating in Fairfield County. These plans are family, individual, and no-contract plans. Family plans typically come with higher price tags and a phone line for each family member. An individual plan is a one-line, one-rate plan that does not include other devices or phones. No-contract plans provide flexible pricing and payment options are also commonly referred to as pay-as-you-go plans. These plans are usually on offer from the MVNOs. MVNOs are smaller carriers but high-quality mobile companies that purchase bulk data and minutes from the major MNOs for resale to consumers at marked down prices.
In Fairfield, Verizon has the best overall coverage with a score of 99%, while AT&T and T-Mobile each have a coverage score of 78%. Sprint's coverage score is rated 72%.
VoIP refers to Voice over Internet Protocol and is one of the most recent types of phone services available in Fairfield County. It is an alternative telephone service to cellular telephony that has been around for over a decade but is only just beginning to become more mainstream. VoIP service providers offer plans that allow users to make calls using the internet at much cheaper costs. VoIP relies on existing infrastructure - the Internet, to make calls possible and does not require erecting new infrastructure.
What are Fairfield County Phone Scams?
Fairfield phone scams are cons and fraudulent acts of crooked persons aimed at stealing sensitive information or money from county residents. To exploit the ubiquitous use of smartphones, con artists now falsify their caller ID information using spoofing techniques to deliver their attacks through text messages, live calls, and robocalls. Common phone scams in Fairfield County include sweepstakes scams, IRS scams, credit repair scams, and fake check scams. Phone lookup applications can help unmask the real identities of phone scammers.
What are Fairfield County Sweepstakes Scams?
In the sweepstakes scam, perpetrators claim that targets have won lotteries, contests, or big prizes. Many targets view these as their dreams becoming realities until they find out they have been swindled. Sweepstakes scammers typically lure people in with prizes such as smartphones, computers, and free vacations. Many of these fraudsters are not located in the United States and hence ask targets to transfer funds to cover shipping, insurance, or taxes.
Payment is usually required through gift cards, prepaid cards, cryptocurrencies, or wire transfers. Note that you never have to pay upfront to receive a legitimate prize. Reverse phone lookup tools can return the true identity information of phone scammers.
What are Fairfield County Credit Repair Scams?
When you are struggling with bad credit, credit repair companies seem like the perfect solution to help get yourself back on track again. For a fee, credit repair companies promise to remove bad information from your credit report and replace it with good information to leave you with a better credit score. However, the credit repair industry is replete with scammers whose only goal is to defraud consumers.
In the credit repair scam, the caller claims to represent a reputable credit repair company and guarantees credit repair provided you pay an upfront fee. Once you make any payment, the scammer disappears with the funds. Note that no reputable company will completely guarantee you credit repair or demand upfront payment. You can use a reverse cell phone lookup tool to verify if a caller’s identity matches the name given.
What are Fairfield County IRS Scams?
One of the most pernicious scams in Fairfield County involves crooked individuals calling residents claiming that they are getting in touch on behalf of the Internal Revenue Service. The con artists claim that residents owe the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) thousands of dollars in unpaid taxes and demand for immediate payment or their bank account information.
To appear real, some of these unsolicited callers spoof the actual caller ID information of the IRS and use fictitious names and badge numbers. These tricks help them gain the trust of their targets. They then demand quick payment to unverified accounts through wire transfers, gift cards, prepaid debit cards, and cryptocurrencies. Reverse phone number lookup applications can prevent residents from falling victim to IRS phone scams.
What are Fairfield County Fake Check Scams?
Fake check scammers often scan newspapers and online adverts for people listing items for sale and check postings on online job sites from people seeking employment. They contact these persons claiming to intend to purchase the products or services listed and offer to send checks or money orders covering more than the amount of the purchase. The scammers then ask for wire transfers to refund the overpayment. They may even ask targets to keep part of the overpayment as tips for transferring refunds.
Whatever the pitch used by the scammers, the checks or money orders received will be later found out as counterfeits. The checks will return unpaid, and the full amount deducted from the victims' accounts. To verify that callers are who they say they are, you can use good reverse phone lookup tools online to quickly do a number lookup or reverse number lookup.
What are Robocalls and Spam Calls?
A robocall is a telephone call placed using a predictive dialer to deliver a prerecorded message. While many people view robocalls are illegitimate calls, some are indeed legitimate. Informational messages such as those informing of flight cancellations or reminders about medical appointments are considered legitimate calls. Robocalls originating from charities seeking donations and political campaigners are also permitted in the United States.
However, many more robocalls are used by con artists and fraudulent telemarketers to trick people into losing money and signing up for bogus products and services. They use predictive dialers to make thousands of calls in the hope that some residents will fall victim to their schemes. These unwanted and unsolicited calls are scams. Fairfield County residents can use phone lookup services to identify if incoming calls are robocalls. You can also follow these guidelines to limit the scourge of robocalls:
- Register your numbers on the national Do-Not-Call List: Although scammers may find ways around the Do-Not-Call Registry, it is still a good idea to add your number to the registry. That way, you will get fewer robocalls from companies following the 2019 Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence (TRACED). The act increases penalties and requires phone companies to validate calls before they reach you. Call (888) 382-1222 from the phone you want to register or register online at DoNotCall. Register your home and cellphone numbers or confirm those numbers are already on the list.
- Set up your voicemail: One of the easiest methods to fight robocalls is to screen calls through your voicemail. Telemarketers often hang up when the call goes to voicemail.
- Use your smartphone's number-blocking feature: If you get an unsolicited call, you can block that number for good. Check your phone call settings to activate this feature. This is usually an effective option for many people.
- Ask your phone company about call-blocking services: Many phone service providers offer free call-blocking features. You may contact your provider to find out if one is included in your plan or may be purchased as an add-on service.
- Download a third-party call-blocking application: You can find one on any of the major mobile application stores. Examples include Hiya, Truecaller, and Nomorobo.
- Hang up on robocalls. If you answer a call and hear a recorded message instead of a live operator, hang up immediately. Do not follow any instructions provided on the call.
How to Spot and Report Fairfield County Phone Scams?
As phone scams aim to manipulate people into handing over sensitive data, scam attacks are expanding into new channels and growing even more sophisticated. While crooked individuals may apply varying manipulation techniques to many forms of phone scams, the underlying tricks and cons remain fairly constant. Stopping scams begins by being able to spot the cons when they begin or stopping potential scam calls from getting through. You can use reverse number lookup tools to spot phone scams. You should also be aware of the following red flags when you receive unsolicited calls:
- The caller wants to overpay you for an item and have you send them the difference: An unknown caller who intends to overpay most likely has ulterior motives. Do not accept such overpayment. The caller is only trying to prey on your greed.
- The caller pressures you to act right away: By pressuring you into making an immediate decision, the caller wants to stop you from confirming the information given to you. Do not give in to the pressure. Hang up and contact appropriate persons to verify what you have been told.
- The caller requires an upfront investment, even for a "free" prize: Scammers usually say you have won "free" prizes but must make an upfront payment for processing, shipping, or tax. Do not make any such payments. A prize is no longer free if you have to pay for it.
- The caller guarantees success on an investment: There is always a risk with nearly all investments. Do not fall for persons promising guaranteed returns on investment regardless of what happens.
- The caller asks you to make payment through insecure means: Money paid through MoneyGram, Western Union, prepaid debit cards, gift cards, and cryptocurrencies are nearly impossible to retrieve. Scammers prefer these methods to guarantee payment and protect their identity. Do not pay money to unknown persons through these methods regardless of who they claim to represent.
If you are fallen victim or have been contacted by a scammer, you can file complaints with any of the following public bodies:
- The Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office and local police departments: If you have received a call from a scammer, you can contact your local police department or the Fairfield County Sheriff's Office at (740) 652-7900. In Lancaster, you can contact the Lancaster Police Department at (740) 687-6680.
- The Ohio Attorney General’s Office: To report a scam, you can file a complaint online to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office or by calling the office at (800)282-0515.
- Federal Communications Commission: If you receive unwanted robocalls and text messages, you can file a report online with the FCC.
- Federal Trade Commission - The FTC protects consumers from deceptive and fraudulent practices. You can file a phone scam report with the FTC by completing the online complaint form.
- The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA): Report IRS imposters to the TIGTA. To report by phone, call TIGTA at (800) 366-4484.