Key Findings
Area code 513 (Cincinnati, Ohio) ranks #16 nationally with 52,696 FTC complaints from 19,459 unique scam numbers. It is one of three Ohio area codes in the national top 25, alongside 614 Columbus (#9) and 216 Cleveland (#17). ScamVerify™ analysis reveals Cincinnati as a medical scam epicenter: medical and prescriptions is the #1 category with 6,436 complaints, and the most-reported phone number in all of Ohio is a Cincinnati number with 2,129 complaints.
Cincinnati's 74.3% in-state targeting rate confirms that scammers using 513 numbers are specifically targeting Ohioans. The healthcare ecosystem anchored by Cincinnati Children's Hospital, UC Health, and TriHealth makes medical-themed spoofed calls especially plausible. In a jarring example, Mercy West Hospital in Monfort Heights reported that patients were being called every 10 to 20 minutes by robocallers impersonating healthcare providers, clogging emergency communication lines.
Medical Scams: Cincinnati's Top Threat
| Rank | Scam Category | Complaints | Robocall % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Medical and prescriptions | 6,436 | 63.4% |
| 2 | Government/business impersonation | 3,396 | 60.2% |
| 3 | Debt reduction | 1,377 | 56.9% |
| 4 | Energy, solar, and utilities | 1,080 | 60.6% |
| 5 | Warranties and protection plans | 586 | 60.9% |
| 6 | Home improvement and cleaning | 505 | 56.6% |
Medical scams lead by 89% over impersonation, a wider gap than in 614 Columbus (where impersonation leads). The 63.4% robocall rate means about a third of medical scam calls use live operators who can respond to patient questions, making them harder to detect.
Cincinnati's position in Ohio's medical scam landscape is significant. Ohio statewide has 42,161 medical complaints, the #1 category. Cincinnati contributes 15.3% of the state total from a single area code, the highest concentration of any Ohio city. For full state context, see ScamVerify's Ohio Phone Scam Report.
The Mercy West Hospital robocall crisis illustrates the downstream impact. Scammers impersonating healthcare providers called patients every 10-20 minutes, extracting personal information while overloading hospital phone systems. The FCC identified health insurance and Medicare/Medicaid as top-5 robocall categories nationally for 2025.
The Most-Reported Number in Ohio
Five of Ohio's top 10 most-reported phone numbers use the 513 area code, dominated by a single extraordinary outlier.
| Rank | Phone Number | Complaints | Primary Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | (513) 696-1920 | 2,129 | Impersonation, mixed |
| 2 | (513) 831-2600 | 690 | Mixed |
| 3 | (513) 860-0470 | 382 | Mixed (charities) |
| 4 | (513) 891-6802 | 198 | Unknown |
| 5 | (513) 829-2800 | 139 | Mixed (charities) |
| 6 | (513) 266-3339 | 124 | Unknown |
| 7 | (513) 970-7852 | 81 | Mixed |
| 8 | (513) 450-5326 | 78 | Mixed (charities) |
| 9 | (513) 676-9726 | 77 | Impersonation, dropped calls |
| 10 | (513) 676-9746 | 73 | Impersonation |
(513) 696-1920 has 2,129 complaints, making it the most-reported phone number in all of Ohio and one of the highest complaint counts for any single number in the country. With 1,238 complaints classified as "other" and 103 as impersonation, this is a high-volume multi-category scam operation.
Numbers #9 and #10 form a sequential pair (513-676-9726 and 513-676-9746) with a combined 150 complaints, both showing impersonation as a significant category. Multiple 513 numbers in the top 10 have elevated charities complaints (#3 with 16, #5 with 10, #8 with 6), an unusual pattern suggesting a charity fraud operation targeting the Cincinnati area.
513 vs. Ohio's Other Major Area Codes
Ohio is the only mid-size state with three area codes in the national top 25. Each has a distinct profile.
| Area Code | City | Complaints | Nat'l Rank | #1 Category | In-State % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 614 | Columbus | 70,078 | #9 | Impersonation (6,086) | 84.9% |
| 513 | Cincinnati | 52,696 | #16 | Medical (6,436) | 74.3% |
| 216 | Cleveland | 52,214 | #17 | Debt (5,290) | 67.4% |
| 330 | Akron | 48,046 | #24 | Medical (5,186) | 85.6% |
Cincinnati and Cleveland are nearly tied in total volume (52,696 vs. 52,214) but have opposite scam profiles. Cincinnati leads with medical (6,436 at 63.4% robocall), while Cleveland leads with debt reduction (5,290 at 86.1% robocall). Cincinnati's debt complaints (1,377) are less than a quarter of Cleveland's, suggesting different scam operations target each city.
The in-state targeting rates tell a geographic story. Columbus (84.9%) and Akron (85.6%) are hyper-local targeting zones. Cleveland (67.4%) is used more for out-of-state campaigns. Cincinnati (74.3%) falls in between, indicating a mix of local targeting and broader spoofing.
Energy and Utility Scams
Energy and utility scams rank #4 in 513 with 1,080 complaints at 60.6% robocall rate. Duke Energy Cincinnati and Cincinnati Gas & Electric impersonation campaigns drive this category. The pattern mirrors the Duke Energy fraud documented in ScamVerify's North Carolina report, where Duke serves both states.
What Cincinnati Residents Can Do
- Check any 513 number on ScamVerify's phone lookup before calling back. We have 19,459 known scam numbers in the 513 area code.
- Report the call to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the Ohio AG at OhioProtects.org or 800-282-0515.
- Medicare never calls to sell plans. Cincinnati's 6,436 medical scam complaints confirm this area code is a top target. Legitimate Medicare communications arrive by mail, and enrollment assistance is available through medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
- Report hospital robocall interference. If your healthcare provider's phone lines are being clogged by robocalls (as happened at Mercy West), report to the FCC at fcc.gov.
- Watch for charity scams. Multiple 513 top numbers show elevated charity fraud. Verify any charity at give.org before donating by phone.
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FAQ
Why is Cincinnati a medical scam hotspot?
Area code 513 has 6,436 medical and prescription complaints, the #1 category and the highest medical complaint count of any Ohio area code. Cincinnati's healthcare ecosystem (Cincinnati Children's, UC Health, TriHealth) makes medical-themed calls plausible. Ohio ranks #2 per capita nationally for DNC complaints, and medical scams lead the state at 42,161 complaints. Cincinnati contributes 15.3% of that total from a single area code.
What is the most-reported phone number in Ohio?
(513) 696-1920 from Cincinnati has 2,129 FTC complaints, the most of any number in Ohio. It operates across multiple scam categories with 1,238 complaints classified as "other" and 103 as government impersonation. Five of Ohio's top 10 most-reported numbers use the 513 area code.
How does 513 compare to 614 (Columbus) and 216 (Cleveland)?
All three rank in the national top 25 (614 at #9, 513 at #16, 216 at #17), but each has a different dominant scam type. Columbus leads with impersonation, Cincinnati with medical, and Cleveland with debt reduction at an 86.1% robocall rate. Cincinnati's in-state targeting (74.3%) falls between Columbus's hyper-local 84.9% and Cleveland's nationwide-leaning 67.4%. For the full analysis, see ScamVerify's Ohio Phone Scam Report and 614 Columbus deep dive.
Are the hospital robocalls in Cincinnati a widespread problem?
Yes. Mercy West Hospital in Monfort Heights reported patients receiving robocalls every 10-20 minutes from scammers impersonating healthcare providers. These calls extract personal information and clog emergency phone lines. The FCC ranked health insurance and Medicare/Medicaid among the top-5 robocall categories for 2025, and Cincinnati's concentration of healthcare institutions makes it a prime target.
How do I report a scam call from 513?
Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the Ohio AG at OhioProtects.org or 800-282-0515. Ohio's SB 235 (2022) criminalizes caller ID spoofing with enhanced penalties for targeting elderly or disabled residents. For medical scam calls specifically, also report to Medicare's fraud hotline at 1-800-HHS-TIPS.
