Spam calls continue to plague North Carolina, with August 2024 seeing a significant surge in robocall activity. Data reveals that 198.6 million robocalls were placed within the state, marking a 4% month-over-month (MoM) increase. This translates to an overwhelming 6.4 million calls per day, with an average of 23.5 calls per person. Let’s dive deeper into the details of these spam calls, examine the top offenders, and explore ways North Carolinians can protect themselves from these unwanted calls.
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Top Robocall Offenders in North Carolina: August 2024
The top 5 robocallers in North Carolina were identified, ranging from debt collectors to telemarketing services. Here’s a breakdown of the most notorious robocallers bombarding residents in August:
- 919-647-9755 – Originating from Raleigh, NC, this number was identified as a prison call consent service through Global Tel Link.
- 844-206-9035 – A toll-free number used by Spectrum to send out payment reminders.
- 888-545-0401 – Toll-free calls from Paragon Revenue Group, primarily used for debt collection.
- 800-955-6600 – Associated with Capital One, this toll-free number serves as a bank/credit card payment reminder.
- 866-914-5806 – Spectrum Policy Cancellation Alert
The list goes on, with the majority of calls relating to payment reminders, debt collection, and various scams.
Robocalls by Category
Robocalls fall into four primary categories, and in August 2024, telemarketing calls dominated the landscape:
- Telemarketing: 36%
- Alerts and Reminders: 24%
- Scams: 22%
- Payment Reminders: 18%
The telemarketing calls often include offers for products, services, or promotions, while scam calls frequently involve attempts to steal personal information or convince victims to part with their money. Alerts and reminders typically notify recipients of appointments, policy cancellations, or other time-sensitive matters.
Area Codes Affected the Most
North Carolina’s most heavily targeted area codes include:
- 704 and 980: Serving Charlotte and surrounding areas.
- 919 and 984: Covering the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area, known as the Research Triangle.
- 336 and 743: Encompassing the Piedmont Triad, including Greensboro and Winston-Salem.
- 828: Spanning western North Carolina, including the Appalachian Mountains.
- 252: Covering eastern North Carolina, including the Outer Banks.
These area codes are crucial for identifying where robocall traffic originates and can help individuals track suspicious numbers more effectively using reverse phone lookup services.
How to Use Reverse Phone Lookup in North Carolina
North Carolina residents can protect themselves from robocalls by using reverse phone number lookup services. These tools help individuals identify the caller’s origin and determine whether a call is legitimate. YouMail offers a comprehensive lookup service, allowing users to search by city, state, or area code. Here’s how reverse phone lookups benefit North Carolinians:
- Identifying Scam Calls: With multiple area codes in the state, scammers often spoof numbers to appear local. Reverse lookup reveals the true nature of these calls.
- Blocking Unwanted Calls: Services like YouMail help block unwanted calls, enhancing communication security.
- Reconnecting with Trusted Contacts: Lookups help ensure that you’re not missing important calls from friends or businesses you may have previously dealt with.
YouMail’s Call Blocking Technology
To combat the rising tide of robocalls, YouMail’s call-blocking technology stands as one of the most powerful tools for North Carolina residents. Here’s how it works:
- Automatic Detection: YouMail automatically detects spam, robocalls, and scam calls, sparing you the frustration of dealing with them.
- Out-of-Service Message: When YouMail detects a spam call, it plays an “out of service” message, which convinces the spammer that your number is no longer in use.
- Call Disconnection: After the message, the call is automatically disconnected, saving your time and protecting your privacy.
YouMail also provides real-time alerts about the type of scam that has been blocked, whether it’s an IRS scam, health insurance scam, or a bank payment reminder. This proactive approach helps you stay informed about ongoing robocall trends in your area.
Privacy Scan by YouMail
In addition to blocking spam calls, YouMail offers a Privacy Scan feature, which helps residents protect their personal information from being exploited online. Here’s what the Privacy Scan can do for you:
- Identify Online Data Exposures: The free Privacy Scan detects whether your personal information—such as your phone number, email, or address—is exposed online.
- Prevent Identity Theft: By identifying these exposures early, YouMail can help prevent potential identity theft or other malicious activities.
- Continuous Monitoring: The service continuously scans for data exposure, ensuring ongoing protection and removing data when necessary.
Running a Privacy Scan takes minutes and can significantly enhance your online security.
Most Frequently Blocked Numbers in North Carolina
Certain numbers have been blocked more frequently than others across North Carolina. Here are some of the most common offenders:
- 828-248-7824
- 919-964-2018
- 336-859-6343
- 704-969-5451
- 980-477-3668
Many of these numbers are linked to scams, telemarketers, or debt collectors. Residents are encouraged to report suspicious numbers to help build an updated database of known robocallers.
Recent Voicemail Spam Examples
Here are some real-world examples of robocall voicemails left for North Carolina residents:
- Loan Spam: “Hi, this is Lisa with Rapid Funding. I’m a private lender and can fund up to $750,000 in working capital…”
- Debt Forgiveness Scam: “Hello, this is Linda from Debt Solutions. I’m calling about an important update regarding our Debt Forgiveness Program…”
These voicemails demonstrate the tactics used by scammers and telemarketers to lure in unsuspecting victims. Always be cautious of unfamiliar numbers and unsolicited offers.
Conclusion
Robocalls in North Carolina remain a persistent issue, with 198.6 million calls placed in August 2024 alone. Residents are strongly encouraged to use tools like reverse phone lookup and YouMail’s call blocking technology to protect themselves from fraud, scams, and other malicious activity. With area codes covering the state’s largest cities and rural areas, the threat of robocalls affects everyone.
FAQs
- How many robocalls were placed in North Carolina in August 2024?
- There were 198.6 million robocalls, marking a 4% increase compared to the previous month.
- What is YouMail’s Privacy Scan, and how does it help?
- YouMail’s Privacy Scan identifies if your personal information is exposed online and helps protect against identity theft by removing exposed data.
- Which robocall category was the most prevalent in August 2024?
- Telemarketing calls were the most common, accounting for 36% of all robocalls.
- What are some of the most frequently blocked numbers in North Carolina?
- Numbers like 828-248-7824 and 704-969-5451 are among the most frequently blocked.
- How does YouMail block robocalls?
- YouMail detects unwanted calls, plays an “out of service” message, and disconnects the call automatically.
