903 Area Code Scam Report
East Texas
Updated Jul 19, 2026 · FTC complaint data
The 903 area code covers East Texas and ranks #151 out of all U.S. area codes for scam call complaints. The FTC has logged 44,690 complaints from 24,893 unique phone numbers in the 903 prefix. The FCC independently recorded another 1,024 complaints, meaning people are reporting these numbers to multiple federal agencies.
But here is what makes 903 distinctive: 68.7% of victims are Texas residents, and 54% of victims have a 903 number themselves. This is a textbook neighbor spoofing pattern. Scammers fake a 903 caller ID because people in the Texas 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.
Got a call from a 903 number?
Tell Ava what happened and she checks it against 45,714 federal complaints and real-time carrier data, then tells you exactly what you are dealing with.
903 Area Code at a Glance
44,690
1.8 per number avg
1,024
independent federal source
68.7%
target Texas residents
#151
of all U.S. area codes
Why Scammers Spoof 903 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 903 because it is a large, recognizable Texas area code. When your phone rings and shows a 903 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 903 numbers:
- 68.7% of victims are in Texas, confirming local targeting
- 54% of victims have a 903 number themselves, meaning scammers match the victim's own area code
- The remaining 31% of complaints come from all 50 states, showing these numbers also appear in broader campaigns
What 903 Scam Calls Are About
Not all 903 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.
Computer & technical support scams have the highest automation rate at 79.2%, meaning 8 out of 10 calls are robots. Reducing your debt (credit cards, mortgage, student loans) follows at 78.6%. If your phone rings from a 903 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
4,226 complaints
71.1%
robocall rate
Medical & prescriptions
4,187 complaints
55.7%
robocall rate
Reducing your debt (credit cards, mortgage, student loans)
3,780 complaints
78.6%
robocall rate
Warranties & protection plans
2,743 complaints
77%
robocall rate
Energy, solar, & utilities
498 complaints
44.2%
robocall rate
Computer & technical support
346 complaints
79.2%
robocall rate
Most Reported 903 Numbers
These 903 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 903 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 903 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 Texas Scam Call Cluster
903 does not exist in isolation. The entire Texas metro shares five area codes, and scammers rotate through all of them. Combined, these codes account for 44,690 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 68.7%. 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
82,596 complaints
66.7% target Texas
817
Fort Worth, TX
79,366 complaints
82.9% target Texas
512
Austin, TX
76,100 complaints
80% target Texas
281
Houston, TX
71,174 complaints
82.7% target Texas
210
San Antonio, TX
70,898 complaints
79% target Texas
972
Dallas Suburbs, TX
70,622 complaints
80.4% 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 903 number on ScamVerify™, we cross-reference these sources in real time along with carrier intelligence and community reports.
- FTC Do Not Call Registry - 44,690 complaints from 903 numbers. Consumers file these when they receive unwanted calls, especially from numbers on the Do Not Call list.
- FCC Consumer Complaints - 1,024 complaints from 903 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.