956 Area Code Scam Report
South Texas
Updated Jun 28, 2026 · FTC complaint data
The 956 area code covers South Texas and ranks #271 out of all U.S. area codes for scam call complaints. The FTC has logged 20,299 complaints from 11,433 unique phone numbers in the 956 prefix. The FCC independently recorded another 653 complaints, meaning people are reporting these numbers to multiple federal agencies.
But here is what makes 956 distinctive: 72.3% of victims are Texas residents, and 43% of victims have a 956 number themselves. This is a textbook neighbor spoofing pattern. Scammers fake a 956 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.
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956 Area Code at a Glance
20,299
1.8 per number avg
653
independent federal source
72.3%
target Texas residents
#271
of all U.S. area codes
Why Scammers Spoof 956 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 956 because it is a large, recognizable Texas area code. When your phone rings and shows a 956 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 956 numbers:
- 72.3% of victims are in Texas, confirming local targeting
- 43% of victims have a 956 number themselves, meaning scammers match the victim's own area code
- The remaining 28% of complaints come from all 50 states, showing these numbers also appear in broader campaigns
What 956 Scam Calls Are About
Not all 956 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 78.8%, meaning 8 out of 10 calls are robots. Computer & technical support follows at 75.6%. If your phone rings from a 956 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
1,956 complaints
71.1%
robocall rate
Medical & prescriptions
1,863 complaints
61.7%
robocall rate
Reducing your debt (credit cards, mortgage, student loans)
1,186 complaints
70.1%
robocall rate
Warranties & protection plans
1,154 complaints
78.8%
robocall rate
Energy, solar, & utilities
324 complaints
63.9%
robocall rate
Computer & technical support
176 complaints
75.6%
robocall rate
Most Reported 956 Numbers
These 956 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 956 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 956 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
956 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 20,299 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 72.3%. 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 956 number on ScamVerify™, we cross-reference these sources in real time along with carrier intelligence and community reports.
- FTC Do Not Call Registry - 20,299 complaints from 956 numbers. Consumers file these when they receive unwanted calls, especially from numbers on the Do Not Call list.
- FCC Consumer Complaints - 653 complaints from 956 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.