262 Area Code Scam Report
Area Code 262
Updated Jul 19, 2026 · FTC complaint data
The 262 area code covers Area Code 262 and ranks #138 out of all U.S. area codes for scam call complaints. The FTC has logged 48,402 complaints from 25,187 unique phone numbers in the 262 prefix. The FCC independently recorded another 1,187 complaints, meaning people are reporting these numbers to multiple federal agencies.
But here is what makes 262 distinctive: 56.3% of victims are Wisconsin residents, and 41% of victims have a 262 number themselves. This is a textbook neighbor spoofing pattern. Scammers fake a 262 caller ID because people in the Wisconsin 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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Tell Ava what happened and she checks it against 49,589 federal complaints and real-time carrier data, then tells you exactly what you are dealing with.
262 Area Code at a Glance
48,402
1.9 per number avg
1,187
independent federal source
56.3%
target Wisconsin residents
#138
of all U.S. area codes
Why Scammers Spoof 262 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 262 because it is a large, recognizable Wisconsin area code. When your phone rings and shows a 262 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 262 numbers:
- 56.3% of victims are in Wisconsin, confirming local targeting
- 41% of victims have a 262 number themselves, meaning scammers match the victim's own area code
- The remaining 44% of complaints come from all 50 states, showing these numbers also appear in broader campaigns
What 262 Scam Calls Are About
Not all 262 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 86.9%, meaning 9 out of 10 calls are robots. Warranties & protection plans follows at 84.5%. If your phone rings from a 262 number and you hear a recorded message about debt, tech support, or a government agency, it is almost certainly spoofed.
Reducing your debt (credit cards, mortgage, student loans)
5,078 complaints
86.9%
robocall rate
Calls pretending to be government, businesses, or family and friends
4,404 complaints
72%
robocall rate
Medical & prescriptions
3,277 complaints
61.8%
robocall rate
Warranties & protection plans
2,024 complaints
84.5%
robocall rate
Charities
564 complaints
50.4%
robocall rate
Computer & technical support
331 complaints
72.8%
robocall rate
Most Reported 262 Numbers
These 262 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 262 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 262 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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Describe what happened and Ava checks it against 49,589 federal complaints and live carrier data, then tells you what to do next.
The Wisconsin Scam Call Cluster
262 does not exist in isolation. The entire Wisconsin metro shares five area codes, and scammers rotate through all of them. Combined, these codes account for 48,402 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 56.3%. 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 262 number on ScamVerify™, we cross-reference these sources in real time along with carrier intelligence and community reports.
- FTC Do Not Call Registry - 48,402 complaints from 262 numbers. Consumers file these when they receive unwanted calls, especially from numbers on the Do Not Call list.
- FCC Consumer Complaints - 1,187 complaints from 262 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.