202 Area Code Scam Report
Washington, DC
Updated Jul 19, 2026 · FTC complaint data
The 202 area code covers Washington, DC and ranks #11 out of all U.S. area codes for scam call complaints. The FTC has logged 89,291 complaints from 32,694 unique phone numbers in the 202 prefix. The FCC independently recorded another 5,591 complaints, meaning people are reporting these numbers to multiple federal agencies.
But here is what makes 202 distinctive: 0% of victims are Washington DC residents, and 14% of victims have a 202 number themselves. This is a textbook neighbor spoofing pattern. Scammers fake a 202 caller ID because people in the Washington DC area are far more likely to answer a call that looks like it is coming from their own neighborhood. The number on your screen is fabricated.
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202 Area Code at a Glance
89,291
2.7 per number avg
5,591
independent federal source
0%
target Washington DC residents
#11
of all U.S. area codes
Why Scammers Spoof 202 Numbers
Caller ID spoofing is trivially easy with modern VoIP technology. Scammers operating from anywhere in the world can make your phone display any number they choose. They pick 202 because it is a large, recognizable Washington DC area code. When your phone rings and shows a 202 number, your instinct is that it might be a local business, a doctor's office, or someone you know. That instinct is exactly what scammers exploit.
The data confirms this. Of all FTC complaints about 202 numbers:
- 0% of victims are in Washington DC, confirming local targeting
- 14% of victims have a 202 number themselves, meaning scammers match the victim's own area code
- The remaining 100% of complaints come from all 50 states, showing these numbers also appear in broader campaigns
What 202 Scam Calls Are About
Not all 202 scam calls run the same playbook. The FTC categorizes complaints by subject, and the automation rate (robocall percentage) reveals which scams are run by machines versus live callers.
Reducing your debt (credit cards, mortgage, student loans) scams have the highest automation rate at 76.2%, meaning 8 out of 10 calls are robots. Warranties & protection plans follows at 74.6%. If your phone rings from a 202 number and you hear a recorded message about debt, tech support, or a government agency, it is almost certainly spoofed.
Calls pretending to be government, businesses, or family and friends
16,249 complaints
55.6%
robocall rate
Reducing your debt (credit cards, mortgage, student loans)
3,708 complaints
76.2%
robocall rate
Medical & prescriptions
1,829 complaints
57.1%
robocall rate
Lotteries, prizes & sweepstakes
1,671 complaints
44.3%
robocall rate
Warranties & protection plans
995 complaints
74.6%
robocall rate
Energy, solar, & utilities
805 complaints
56%
robocall rate
Most Reported 202 Numbers
These 202 numbers have the highest FTC complaint counts. Click any number to see the full scam report with carrier data, complaint history, and AI risk analysis.
What to Do If You Get a Call from a 202 Number
If you did not answer
Do not call back. Scammers spoof real people's numbers, so calling back may reach an innocent person. Instead, check the number on ScamVerify™ to see if it has been reported. If there is no voicemail, it was almost certainly a robocall.
If you answered
Hang up immediately if you hear a recorded message. If a live person asks for personal information, payment, or claims to be from the IRS, Social Security, or your bank, do not engage. Legitimate agencies do not cold-call demanding immediate payment. Check the number below, then report it to the FTC at donotcall.gov.
Remember: the number is not real
The 202 number that appeared on your screen was almost certainly spoofed. The actual caller could be anywhere. This is why blocking individual numbers has limited value. Scammers generate thousands of spoofed numbers and discard them after a few calls.
Related Articles
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The Washington DC Scam Call Cluster
202 does not exist in isolation. The entire Washington DC metro shares five area codes, and scammers rotate through all of them. Combined, these codes account for 89,291 FTC complaints, making DFW one of the most spoofed metro areas in the country.
Fort Worth's 817 has the highest in-state targeting rate at 84%, while 469 sits at 0%. This suggests 817 is used almost exclusively for neighbor spoofing, while 469 sees slightly more use in broader nationwide campaigns.
Where This Data Comes From
Every number on this page comes from federal complaint databases, not estimates or surveys. When you check a specific 202 number on ScamVerify™, we cross-reference these sources in real time along with carrier intelligence and community reports.
- FTC Do Not Call Registry - 89,291 complaints from 202 numbers. Consumers file these when they receive unwanted calls, especially from numbers on the Do Not Call list.
- FCC Consumer Complaints - 5,591 complaints from 202 numbers. An independent federal source that corroborates the FTC data.
- Carrier Intelligence - Real-time caller ID verification, line type detection, and STIR/SHAKEN attestation available when you check a specific number.