What are Kings County Area Codes?
An area code is the set of three numbers that appears at the beginning of a phone number. It specifies a Numbering Plan Area (NPA), designated by the North American Numbering Plan (NANP). There are four area codes currently in use in Kings County. These area codes cover Kings County and the nearby counties in the state. Kings County area codes are maintained and implemented by the New York State Department of Public Service.
Area Code 718
Area code 718 is one of the NANP area codes for Kings County and the borough of Brooklyn in New York City. It also covers the boroughs of the Bronx, Queens, Staten Island, and parts of Manhattan. It was introduced in 1984 to split off parts of New York from area code 212, the single area code covering New York City.
Area Code 347
Area code 347 is a NANP overlay area code for the 718 area code in New York City. Overlay area codes are introduced to areas when it is necessary to increase the telephone numbers in the area. It was introduced in 1999.
Area code 929
Area code 929 is a NANP overlay code for the area covered by the 718 and 347 area codes. It was added in 2011 to accommodate additional phone numbers allocated to the boroughs of New York City outside Manhattan.
Area code 917
Area code 917 is an overlay area code for the NANP introduced for the five boroughs of New York City. It overlaps with the 347, 718, and 929 area codes covering the Bronx, Brooklyn, Staten Island, and Queens. It also includes parts of the island of Manhattan. It was introduced in 1992 and was the first overlay code for the county.
What are the best cell phone plans in Kings County?
A 2018 CDC survey estimated New York residents, under 18 years, who used wireless-only phones to be 45.9%. Those who only used landlines came to 2.9%. Adults (over 18 years) who used wireless-only phone services were estimated to be 38.8%, while those who used landlines made up 6% of the population. These statistics showed that wireless telephone technology had become the dominant form of telecommunication.
All major cell phone carriers have a presence in Kings County. These carriers provide various offers and services, each with varying signal coverage. Verizon has the best coverage in the county at 96%, T-Mobile follows with 92%, while AT&T and Sprint have 78% and 72% coverages respectively.
VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) is a technology that allows traditional telephone services to function over the internet. New York has various companies providing VoIP services for both private and business users. These companies also supply additional services like consultations, network designs, and onsite services. The county’s large population and New York’s position as a business center has a lot of companies turning to VoIP for cheaper and more efficient telecommunication solutions.
What are Kings County Phone Scams?
Phone scams in Kings County involve fraudulent phone calls that target residents in the county. Reverse phone lookup services and applications can help identify the perpetrators of these scams. The New York Police Department (NYPD) and consumer protection agencies like the Federal Trade Commission provide alerts and information about the scams prevalent in the county. Residents who believe that they have been scam targets can file complaints with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and New York Police Department (NYPD).
What are Bail Scams?
These scams typically target elderly residents of the county. Scammers contact their targets and inform them that younger relatives have been arrested and request they transfer or deliver money to process bail. These scammers usually pose as the supposed relatives’ lawyers or friends. These scams can turn deadly when victims are lured to secluded areas to deliver the requested amounts and then attacked when they resist. Anyone who receives these types of calls should always seek confirmation before responding to such requests. Use a reverse phone lookup application to identify such unknown callers through their phone numbers. Reverse phone lookup apps are useful in answering the question, “who called me?”
What are Social Security Scams?
In this scam, a scammer calls claiming to be from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They claim there is an issue with your social security number, and it will be suspended if not immediately resolved. The scammer then asks for some form of payment or personal and credit information to rectify the problem. To get their targets to comply, they will threaten legal action and other punishments.
King County residents should know that the Social Security Administration will never threaten them or ask for payments in gift cards, wire transfers, and cryptocurrencies. The SSA will only contact you if you requested a call or have ongoing business with them. If you receive a questionable call, hang up immediately, and report it to the Office of the Inspector General. You may be able to use a reverse phone lookup service to verify the identity of the caller.
What are Law Enforcement Impersonation Scams?
The NYPD warns residents of scam callers claiming to be officers of the Police Department. They claim that the residents missed jury duty or have unpaid tickets, and consequently, arrest warrants have been issued in their names. They then ask for credit information or specific forms of payment to clear the warrants.
Be advised that the police department does not carry out warrants by phone; they visit in person. If you receive a call and are unsure of its legitimacy, your best course of action is to hang up immediately. Contact the nearest NYPD precinct and make inquiries. Do not give out personal information over the phone, especially if you did not initiate the call. Use a phone number lookup service to check who this number is registered to.
What are New York Permit Renewal Scams?
This scam mainly targets New Yorkers who possess a license or permit from the state or county. The scammer claims to be from a government agency offering a discount for the renewal of your permit if you pay immediately. The scammer then attempts to collect personal information over the phone or asks you to send copies of insurance or banking documents. This is an attempt to use this information to steal your identity and your money. Government agencies never ask for personal or banking information, and financial transactions occur through their official websites. If you receive such a call, hang up immediately, and contact the agency in question to get accurate information.
What are Robocalls and Spam calls?
A robocall is an automated phone call that delivers a recorded message. If you answer a call and hear a recorded message, it is most likely a robocall. Robocalls are mainly used by political organizations and marketers to reach as many people as possible. Scammers have adopted this technology because it allows them to remain anonymous.
Follow the instructions listed below, if you receive robocalls:
- Hang up the call immediately. Ignore the messages delivered as following them just leads to more questions and prompts.
- Do not give personal information, especially passwords and banking details on robocalls.
- Contact your phone company about blocking robocall numbers and find out if there are fees. Robocallers change numbers often, so avoid paying to block numbers that can be changed.
- Research free phone number lookup and reverse phone lookup applications that you can use to identify and block robocall numbers.
- If you use some form of robocall-blocking application, provide the numbers you have identified to the company to block these numbers automatically.
- Register your phone number with the National Do Not Call Registry. Legitimate organizations and marketers consult this list to avoid contacting numbers on it. This helps identify illegal robocalls.
- Report robocalls to the Federal trade commission(FTC) or the Federal communications commission(FCC).
How can you Spot and Report Kings County Phone Scams?
Scammers always find innovative ways to defraud people. Phone scammers can be identified by putting suspicious numbers through free phone number lookup sites or using free reverse phone lookup applications. Common signs a phone call is a scam include:
- You are offered ridiculous discounts on products and services. If an offer seems too good, it usually is a scam. These sorts of scams rely on greed or excitement of their victims.
- Supposed government officials asking for private information or payments on a phone call you did not initiate. Government agencies do not make unrequested calls to ask for payments and confidential information over the phone. If a caller does this, it is likely a scam.
- Government agencies asking for payments in mailed cash, gift cards, vouchers, or bitcoin. Once you make these payments, it is impossible to track or recover them. Official government agencies do not request payments in untrackable forms.
- Instruction to pay for products or services that were advertised as free. Popular scams offer so-called free prizes, gifts, and services. Calls like these are scams; you do not have to pay for something free.
With phone scams, the best way to handle them is to be aware of the types of scams and stay informed on avoiding them. Being able to perform phone number lookups by name, by phone number, and by address are very useful in identifying scammers and avoiding phone scams.
A list of government agencies dedicated to combating phone scams in Kings County and providing information and aid to residents and victims are listed below.
Local law enforcement
Local law enforcement like the King County Sheriff’s Office and the New York Police Department issue scam alerts to inform citizens of these scams. Victims of any of these scams, especially those involving impersonation of law enforcement officers, should file complaints at the nearest precincts.
New York State Division of Consumer Protection
The Division of Consumer Protection provides alerts on scams active in the county and ways for residents to protect themselves. These alerts and information also cover other fraudulent activities in the state. Residents can file complaints on the agency’s website.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
The FCC is in charge of regulating communication nationwide. They work to prevent fraudulent uses of communications channels including scam letters, phone scams, and illegal robocalls. The FCC provides scam alerts and advises on how to stop robocalls and texts. Victims of scams can submit complaints to the FCC online.
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)The Federal Trade Commission was made to protect consumers from fraudulent and criminal activities. They provide information on how to block unwanted calls and operate the national Do Not Call Registry. Phone numbers on this registry are exempt from receiving robocalls from telemarketers and organizations. If your phone number is registered and you still receive robocalls, these are likely scam calls. Make complaints online or by calling the FTC on 1-888-382-1222.