214 Area Code Scam Report
Dallas, TX
Updated Jun 28, 2026 · FTC complaint data
The 214 area code covers Dallas, TX and ranks #62 out of all U.S. area codes for scam call complaints. The FTC has logged 63,463 complaints from 32,762 unique phone numbers in the 214 prefix. The FCC independently recorded another 1,974 complaints, meaning people are reporting these numbers to multiple federal agencies.
But here is what makes 214 distinctive: 76.2% of victims are Texas residents, and 61% of victims have a 214 number themselves. This is a textbook neighbor spoofing pattern. Scammers fake a 214 caller ID because people in the Dallas-Fort Worth 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.
The Dallas-Fort Worth region is one of the most spoofed areas in the country. Across all five area codes (469, 214, 972, 817, 682), there are a combined 319,923 FTC complaints. Scammers rotate through these codes, so a number that showed up as 214 today might appear under a different local code tomorrow.
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Tell Ava what happened and she checks it against 65,437 federal complaints and real-time carrier data, then tells you exactly what you are dealing with.
214 Area Code at a Glance
63,463
1.9 per number avg
1,974
independent federal source
76.2%
target Texas residents
#62
of all U.S. area codes
Why Scammers Spoof 214 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 214 because it is a large, recognizable Dallas-Fort Worth area code. When your phone rings and shows a 214 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 214 numbers:
- 76.2% of victims are in Texas, confirming local targeting
- 61% of victims have a 214 number themselves, meaning scammers match the victim's own area code
- The remaining 24% of complaints come from all 50 states, showing these numbers also appear in broader campaigns
What 214 Scam Calls Are About
Not all 214 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.
Warranties & protection plans scams have the highest automation rate at 85.2%, meaning 9 out of 10 calls are robots. Reducing your debt (credit cards, mortgage, student loans) follows at 71.2%. If your phone rings from a 214 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
6,937 complaints
68.3%
robocall rate
Medical & prescriptions
6,220 complaints
63.7%
robocall rate
Warranties & protection plans
3,210 complaints
85.2%
robocall rate
Reducing your debt (credit cards, mortgage, student loans)
2,014 complaints
71.2%
robocall rate
Energy, solar, & utilities
1,765 complaints
59.4%
robocall rate
Home improvement & cleaning
762 complaints
38.7%
robocall rate
Most Reported 214 Numbers
These 214 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 214 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 214 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 Dallas-Fort Worth Scam Call Cluster
214 does not exist in isolation. The entire Dallas-Fort Worth metro shares five area codes, and scammers rotate through all of them. Combined, these codes account for 319,923 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 76.2%. This suggests 817 is used almost exclusively for neighbor spoofing, while 469 sees slightly more use in broader nationwide campaigns.
469
Dallas/Fort Worth, TX
82,200 complaints
66.7% target Texas
817
Fort Worth, TX
78,886 complaints
82.9% target Texas
512
Austin, TX
75,741 complaints
80% target Texas
281
Houston, TX
70,839 complaints
82.6% target Texas
210
San Antonio, TX
70,453 complaints
79% target Texas
972
Dallas Suburbs, TX
70,148 complaints
80.3% target Texas
Where This Data Comes From
Every number on this page comes from federal complaint databases, not estimates or surveys. When you check a specific 214 number on ScamVerify™, we cross-reference these sources in real time along with carrier intelligence and community reports.
- FTC Do Not Call Registry - 63,463 complaints from 214 numbers. Consumers file these when they receive unwanted calls, especially from numbers on the Do Not Call list.
- FCC Consumer Complaints - 1,974 complaints from 214 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.