Do you find yourself constantly bombarded by unsolicited calls from area code 876, unsure whether it’s a legitimate call or yet another scam attempt? You’re not alone. In 2021 alone, the Federal Trade Commission received over 46,000 reports of scams originating from this area code, amounting to losses of more than $45 million. However, the frustration and potential risk of these calls can be mitigated. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll unravel the mystery behind these scam calls and equip you with effective strategies to block area code 876 numbers.
Where is the 876 Area Code?
Area code 876 is an area code for Jamaica and some of the main locations covered are Kingston, Portmore, Spanish Town, etc. Jamaica is located northwest of the Caribbean Sea. It is an island country. Jamaica Island is 234 kilometers long from east to west, 82 kilometers wide from north to south, and has a territorial area of 11,420 square kilometers, of which the land area is 10,991 square kilometers. It is across the Strait of Jamaica in the east, facing Haiti, about 145 kilometers north of Cuba. Jamaica is the third-largest island in the Caribbean, with a coastline of 1,220 kilometers. Blacks and Murato make up more than 90%. Most of the residents believe in Christianity. And there is a general tendency to be younger, with about 60% of the population under the age of 29.
The Time Zone of 876 Area Code
The 876 area code is situated in the Eastern time zone, which is also known as America/New York. Eastern Time Zone is a time zone that includes some or all of the 23 eastern states of the United States, parts of eastern Canada, the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, Panama and Colombia, mainland Ecuador, Peru, and the westernmost part of Brazil in South America, and a small portion, and some Caribbean and Atlantic islands.
Is 876 Area Code a Scam?
Anyone receiving unexpected calls from area code 876 should be on high alert, most likely from scam artists. Unfortunately, these scammers are very persistent and in some cases, threaten to hurt their victims if they don’t send money.
It often occurs that the calls from the 876 area code are mistaken for toll-free numbers. Victims were congratulated on winning the Jamaican lottery or a new car and then instructed to pay up to $4,000 to process the lottery winnings. Victims were told that once the fee was received, the money would be wired to their bank account and the car would be delivered to their homes. Many times, the caller will tell the victim that the lottery representative is in the area, and once the processing fee is received, someone will have the check delivered to their home. Scammers often use Google Earth to identify local landmarks, making the scam more credible. The key to the scammer’s success is to convince the victim to promise not to tell the family, and to create a big surprise. If the scammers feel they have potential victims, the calls increase in frequency, resulting in hundreds of calls.
Therefore, if you frequently receive calls from the area code 876 number and you have nothing to do with the number being called, it is recommended that you block the number. What’s more, people should remember some simple tips to prevent phone scams and never send money to anyone you don’t know well. Don’t give anyone personal information, such as bank accounts, passwords, or Social Security numbers. And contact your local government to report phone scams.
How to Block 876 Area Code Calls?
If someone frequently gets 876 area code calls from scammers or potentially illegitimate businesses, chances are that their numbers have been leaked online and many scammers try to extract their money. To avoid this trouble, they can block the 876-area code number at the very beginning. Some tips are provided below.
On Android – Simple Tips to Block 876 Area Code Calls
In this section, a Samsung Galaxy S21 is used as a sample to explain the detailed steps of blocking 876 area code calls.
Tip#1
Step 1. Open the Contacts app.
Step 2. Locate the contact (876) you intend to block.
Step 3. Tap the More menu, located at the bottom right corner.
Step 4. Hit the Block contact button.
Step 5. Tap Block again to confirm
Tip#2
Step 1. Download any mobile phone manager software and open the software.
Step 2. After entering, open the security protection, find the harassment blocker, and click to enter.
Step 3. After turning on the harassment blocking function, click the setting icon in the upper right corner to enter the setting interface of the mobile phone.
Step 4. On the setting interface, find the blacklist and click to enter.
Step 5. After turning on the blacklist function, click Add, then select Add by Region, and enter the province or area code.
On iPhone – Simple Tips to Block 876 Area Code Calls (iOS 12+)
Apple mobile phone is the choice of many users. If you happen to have an iPhone, here are two tips to block unwanted area codes.
Tip# 1
Step 1. Tap Settings at the bottom of the screen.
Step 2. Tap Block/Allow List.
Step 3. Tap the Allow tab.
Step 4. Tap Add to Allow list and enter the range or number you wish to block moving forward.
Step 5. Tap “Allow”.
Tip# 2
There is another way to do this was through an iPhone app called RealCall. You can block all numbers starting with any sequence, such as area codes. The total number of phone numbers you can block is limited to 50 million, which means you can block 5 area codes. The app works fine. You can choose a phone number with a different area code than where you live. Spammers often use your area code or a nearby area code to spoof numbers so you can block all the area codes the spammers try and still get all the calls you want. Blocked calls go directly to voicemail, so you don’t miss any important messages.