Key Findings
Area code 313 (Detroit, Michigan) has a 3.1 complaints-per-number ratio, matching 202 Washington DC as one of the highest reuse rates of any area code in America. ScamVerify™ analysis of 9.7 million FTC records reveals 38,925 complaints from 12,578 unique scam numbers, ranking #71 nationally. But the raw rank understates 313's significance: the 3.1 ratio means scammers extract far more complaints per number before cycling, indicating aggressive automated operations.
Debt reduction is the #1 category at 7,439 complaints with an 87.4% robocall rate, placing 313 in the same nationwide debt campaign tier as 502 Louisville (89.2%), 518 Albany (92.7%), and 315 Syracuse (92.5%). Only 56.2% of complaints come from Michigan residents, confirming that nearly half of all 313 scam calls reach people in other states. Michigan's legislature responded in January 2026 by unanimously passing Senate Bills 351-355, banning caller ID spoofing with fines up to $75,000 for targeting vulnerable residents.
The 3.1 Complaints-Per-Number Ratio
| Area Code | Location | Complaints | Numbers | Per # | Pattern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 202 | Washington DC | 47,839 | 13,413 | 3.6 | Government impersonation |
| 313 | Detroit MI | 38,925 | 12,578 | 3.1 | Debt reduction |
| 332 | NYC | 12,744 | 4,384 | 2.9 | Debt reduction |
| 872 | Chicago | 13,276 | 4,419 | 3.0 | Medical |
| National avg | 2.5 |
The 3.1 ratio means each 313 scam number averages 24% more complaints than the national average before being reported, blocked, or cycled. This indicates automated operations that dial at high volume and rotate numbers less frequently, either because 313 numbers generate enough trust to avoid early blocking or because the operations prioritize throughput over stealth.
Debt Reduction: 87.4% Automated
| Rank | Scam Category | Complaints | Robocall % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Debt reduction | 7,439 | 87.4% |
| 2 | Medical and prescriptions | 3,183 | 64.7% |
| 3 | Government/business impersonation | 2,627 | 65.9% |
| 4 | Warranties and protection plans | 640 | 58.4% |
| 5 | Charities | 355 | 45.1% |
| 6 | Energy, solar, and utilities | 329 | 55.0% |
| 7 | Vacation and timeshares | 262 | 70.2% |
| 8 | Home improvement and cleaning | 262 | 59.9% |
Debt reduction accounts for 19.1% of all 313 complaints at 87.4% robocall rate. For every 100 debt calls from a 313 number, approximately 87 are pre-recorded messages. The remaining 13 use live operators for follow-up.
Vacation and timeshare scams have an unusual 70.2% robocall rate, higher than in most area codes where timeshare calls are predominantly live-operator. One 313 number, (313) 380-9580, has 102 complaints that are 100% categorized as timeshare, an unexpected finding for a Detroit area code with no tourism industry.
The 313-380-9 Scam Ring
ScamVerify identified a concentrated scam ring block that stands out for its high per-number complaint rate.
| Block | Numbers | Complaints | Avg/Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| 313-514-9xxx | 189 | 910 | 4.8 |
| 313-514-8xxx | 97 | 472 | 4.9 |
| 313-547-1xxx | 85 | 435 | 5.1 |
| 313-380-9xxx | 14 | 406 | 29.0 |
| 313-547-8xxx | 48 | 198 | 4.1 |
The 313-380-9 block has just 14 numbers averaging 29.0 complaints each, over 11 times the national average. This is the most concentrated scam ring per number in the 313 area code. It includes (313) 380-9673 (126 complaints), (313) 380-9580 (102 complaints, 100% timeshare), and (313) 380-9728 (100 complaints).
The 313-514-9 block is the largest by number count: 189 sequential scam numbers generating 910 complaints, indicating an industrial-scale VoIP operation.
Top 10 Most Reported 313 Phone Numbers
| Rank | Phone Number | Complaints | Primary Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | (313) 444-6004 | 149 | Medical, dropped calls |
| 2 | (313) 725-9910 | 146 | Mixed |
| 3 | (313) 380-9673 | 126 | Mixed |
| 4 | (313) 373-3000 | 110 | Debt reduction (62.7%) |
| 5 | (313) 380-9580 | 102 | Timeshare (100%) |
| 6 | (313) 380-9728 | 100 | Mixed |
| 7 | (313) 524-2620 | 100 | Impersonation |
| 8 | (313) 552-8353 | 94 | Dropped calls (robocaller) |
| 9 | (313) 524-9870 | 90 | Mixed |
| 10 | (313) 241-4836 | 87 | Mixed |
Three of the top 10 are from the 313-380-9 scam ring block (#3, #5, #6). (313) 373-3000 is a debt reduction operation with 69 of 110 complaints in that category. (313) 380-9580 is a pure timeshare scam number, the only one of its kind in a Detroit area code.
313 in the Michigan Context
Detroit's 313 leads Michigan but with a fundamentally different profile from suburban area codes.
| Area Code | Region | Complaints | Per # | In-State % | #1 Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 313 | Detroit | 38,925 | 3.1 | 56.2% | Debt (87.4% robocall) |
| 248 | Oakland/Suburbs | 33,065 | 2.6 | 81.4% | Medical |
| 231 | NW Michigan | 31,868 | 2.7 | 59.0% | Debt (88.6% robocall) |
| 586 | Macomb | 24,587 | 2.8 | 75.7% | Medical |
The 313/248 split reveals two scam ecosystems. Detroit (313) is a nationwide debt robocall launchpad: low in-state targeting (56.2%), high debt robocall rate (87.4%), high per-number ratio (3.1). The suburbs (248, 586) are local targeting zones: high in-state (75-81%), medical scams dominant, normal per-number ratios.
DTE Energy impersonation is a persistent Detroit-area threat. Callers display spoofed DTE numbers and threaten immediate disconnection. DTE's pending $574 million rate hike request (+$13.50/month) creates customer confusion that scammers exploit. DTE's $100 million EPA fine for Zug Island pollution (February 2026) generates additional scammer opportunity through fake "settlement" calls.
For full Michigan state context, see ScamVerify's Michigan Phone Scam Report.
Michigan's Anti-Spoofing Legislation
In January 2026, the Michigan Senate unanimously passed Senate Bills 351-355, a bipartisan package that:
- Bans caller ID spoofing in Michigan
- Imposes fines up to $75,000 for targeting vulnerable residents
- Crafted with AG Dana Nessel's office
The bills are now in the House. If signed, Michigan would have some of the strongest state-level anti-spoofing penalties in the country, directly targeting the type of operations that exploit the 313 area code.
What to Do If You Get a Scam Call From a 313 Number
- Check any 313 number on ScamVerify's phone lookup before calling back. We have 12,578 known scam numbers in the 313 area code.
- Report the call to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the MI AG at michigan.gov/ag or 877-765-8388.
- Hang up on debt reduction robocalls. The 87.4% robocall rate means nearly 9 in 10 debt calls from 313 are pre-recorded and illegal. No legitimate debt relief company uses pre-recorded messages.
- Verify DTE Energy communications. DTE never threatens immediate shutoff by phone. Call DTE directly at 1-800-477-4747.
- Watch for AI voice cloning. AG Nessel reissued a March 2026 alert about scammers cloning voices from social media to impersonate family members. Use a family code word for verification.
Check this number now
Enter any U.S. phone number to check it against millions of federal complaints and real-time carrier data.
FAQ
Why does 313 have such a high complaints-per-number ratio?
Detroit's 313 has 3.1 complaints per number, matching 202 Washington DC (3.6) as one of the highest in the country. This indicates automated operations that reuse numbers aggressively before cycling. The 87.4% debt robocall rate confirms near-total automation. Scammers extract more mileage from each 313 number because automated systems prioritize call volume over number rotation.
Is 313 used for nationwide scam campaigns?
Yes. The 56.2% in-state targeting rate means nearly half of all 313 scam calls reach people outside Michigan. This places 313 in the same "nationwide launchpad" category as 502 Louisville (46.1%) and 518 Albany (36%). Debt reduction robocalls from 313 numbers target recipients across the country using Detroit as a spoofing disguise.
How does 313 compare to other debt-dominant area codes?
313's debt profile (7,439 complaints, 87.4% robocall, 56.2% in-state) closely resembles 502 Louisville (11,920, 89.2%, 46.1%) and 518 Albany (23,003, 92.7%, 36%). All three are mid-market area codes exploited for nationwide automated debt campaigns. The difference is 313's 3.1 per-number ratio, which is significantly higher and indicates more aggressive number reuse.
What is the Michigan anti-spoofing legislation?
Senate Bills 351-355 passed the Michigan Senate unanimously in January 2026. They ban caller ID spoofing with fines up to $75,000 for targeting vulnerable residents. Crafted with AG Nessel's office, the bills are currently in the House. If signed, Michigan would have among the strongest state-level anti-spoofing penalties in the country.
What is the 313-380-9 scam ring?
ScamVerify identified 14 sequential numbers in the 313-380-9 prefix averaging 29.0 complaints per number (over 11x the national average). The block includes a pure timeshare scam number (102 complaints, 100% timeshare) - unusual for Detroit. The adjacent 313-514-9 block has 189 numbers, the largest VoIP scam block found in the 313 area code. For full analysis, see ScamVerify's Michigan Phone Scam Report.
