Area codes are used to identify specific geographic regions within a country’s telephone numbering plan. In the United States, area code 626 is assigned to parts of California. However, it is important to note that area codes themselves are not inherently scams. Scammers can use any area code to make fraudulent calls, so it is essential to be cautious and aware of potential scams regardless of the area code.
What is Area Code 626
The most populous cities in area code 626 are Alhambra, Los Angeles, Pasadena, El Monte, and West Covina. Other cities in the 626 area code include La Puente, Glendora, Arcadia, Monrovia, Covina, Baldwin Park, Burbank, Rowland Heights, Sierra Madre, Azusa, South Pasadena, Pomona, Anaheim, and San Gabriel. Area code 626 is a California telephone area code that was split from area code 818 on June 14, 1997. It covers most of the San Gabriel Valley and nearby areas in the northeastern portion of Los Angeles County, California, US, including Arcadia, Monrovia, El Monte, and most of Pasadena, and West Covina.
Where is Area Code 626
The 626 Area Code is located in the state of California. Area Code 626 is one of the 269 three-digit telephone area codes in the USA. It covers roughly 6,411,000 unique phone numbers and 5,522,970 individuals near the cities of Alhambra, Los Angeles, and Pasadena.
The Time zone of Area Code 626
The 626 area code lies within the Pacific Daylight Time Zone (or PDT).
Is 626 Area Code a Scam?
Area code 626 is not inherently a scam. It is a legitimate area code located in the state of California, USA. However, like any area code, it can be used by scammers to trick people into giving out personal information or making fraudulent purchases. Scammers have exploited technology, utilizing tactics like caller ID spoofing to mask their origins and make it appear as though the call is coming from the 626 area code.
It’s important to note that scammers can create scam phone numbers by spoofing numbers from many area codes, not just the ones listed above. Remember, a good rule of thumb is if you don’t recognize the phone number, don’t pick up your phone and let it go to voicemail. This can help you avoid falling for common phone scams, such as those pesky car extended warranty calls.
Scams Associated with Area Code 626
Traffic Pumping
Have you ever tried to place a call and gotten a message that the call is outside your plan and you’ll be charged a penny per minute? That’s a sign that you’re about to be “traffic pumped.” Here’s the deal: Rural carriers are allowed under federal law to charge wireless and long-distance carriers higher access fees for calls to local subscribers. With inflated call volumes, the rural carriers can then bill the wireless and long-distance companies an exorbitant amount and give the chat lines a kickback.
Unfortunately, the burden of the higher charge is shared by your wireless or landline provider with you, hence the warning about paying more that you hear at the start of an out-of-plan call. If you hang up before the call connects, you’re billed nothing.
The One-Ring Scam
A separate but similar scam is the one-ring cell phone scam. In this scam, crooks use robocall technology to place internet calls that ring only once to cell phones.
If you pick up, the robocaller just drops the line. But the bigger danger is if you miss the call. Like many people, you might think it’s an important call and dial that number right back. Bad move. Turns out the area codes are largely located in the Caribbean and could cost you $15 to $30 between international fees and per-minute charges!
Some Spam Phone Numbers from Area Coe 626
How to Block 626 Area Code Scam Calls?
Register at DoNotCall
The FTC runs The National Do Not Call Registry, allowing people who want to block unwanted calls to sign up with their phone number. Companies must respect it, which means they are prohibited from calling the numbers the registry contains.
However, this only applies to telemarketing. By signing up, you shouldn’t get any annoying calls from ISPs and other companies trying to sell you stuff, but you can still get political, survey, and other similar calls. Signing up also won’t eliminate scam calls, as shady characters normally don’t care much about the law.
Block 626 Area Code Calls on Android or iPhone
If you are getting unwanted calls from 626 area code numbers, there is a possibility that your number has been leaked online and scammers or spammers are trying to verify the identity and proceed with the scamming.
On Android, you should go to Call History. Tap on “i” Next to the Phone Number and select Block.
On iPhone, you can go to Calls List. Click on Circled “i”, select More Information, and Select Block Caller.
Use a Blocker App
You can also use the third-party app RealCall to block telemarketers and scams. RealCall is a tool that focuses on blocking spam calls and spam text messages for both IOS and Android. Based on a strong number database and continuous iteration of blocking rules, it can effectively block 99% of robocalls, fraudulent calls, marketing calls, and of course, spam SMS. RealCall blocks numbers that are on the Global Blacklist of spam numbers, which is updated daily. When a number on this global blacklist calls you, it will automatically be blocked by RealCall.
Consult Your Carrier
Additionally, the big three U.S. carriers offer apps and services to help their users fight unwanted calls. Features differ from carrier to carrier, as do pricing and availability. Most work the same as the apps described above, which means they’ll notify you when you get a spam call or block it so it won’t even reach you.