Key Findings
Area code 516 (Nassau County, Long Island) ranks #13 nationally with 55,101 FTC complaints from 20,402 unique scam numbers. ScamVerify™ analysis reveals a scam profile unlike any other top-15 area code: lottery, prizes, and sweepstakes scams rank #4 with 3,328 complaints, the highest lottery scam count of any individual area code in the country. No other area code in the national top 25 has lottery as a top-4 category.
The data paints a picture of a wealthy suburban target zone. Nassau County has a median household income of approximately $120,000, among the highest in the nation. Debt reduction leads overall with 8,936 complaints at 88.5% robocall rate, but it is the lottery scam anomaly that distinguishes 516 from every other high-volume area code. The 50% in-state targeting rate (the lowest of any established Long Island code) means half of all 516 scam calls reach recipients outside New York, confirming nationwide spoofing. In February 2026, a 92-year-old Central Islip man was scammed out of $250,000+ through a Publishers Clearing House impersonation, leading to two arrests.
The Lottery Scam Anomaly
| Rank | Scam Category | Complaints | Robocall % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Debt reduction | 8,936 | 88.5% |
| 2 | Government/business impersonation | 4,289 | 60.8% |
| 3 | Medical and prescriptions | 3,739 | 40.7% |
| 4 | Lotteries, prizes, and sweepstakes | 3,328 | 56.4% |
| 5 | Energy, solar, and utilities | 778 | 38.7% |
| 6 | Warranties and protection plans | 735 | 55.5% |
| 7 | Home improvement and cleaning | 441 | 63.7% |
| 8 | Vacation and timeshares | 228 | 41.7% |
Area code 516's 3,328 lottery complaints account for 6% of all complaints with identified subjects, a proportion that is 3 to 5 times higher than other top-15 area codes. For comparison, 614 Columbus has just 383 vacation/timeshare complaints as its most distinctive category, and 202 DC has 1,208 lottery complaints despite being a government impersonation code.
The 56.4% robocall rate for lottery scams means roughly half use live operators. Live-operator lottery scams are particularly effective against elderly victims because the caller can respond to questions and build rapport. The FBI reported that lottery and sweepstakes scams cost Americans $350 million in 2024, with the average elder fraud loss at $83,000 per victim.
Nassau County's affluence makes it a high-value target: scammers promising a large prize find more success in communities where people believe they have enough assets to be "selected" for a reward, and where victims have the financial means to pay upfront "fees."
The $250,000 Publishers Clearing House Scam
In February 2026, Suffolk County Police arrested Oral Durloo and Brandon Nairne for scamming a 92-year-old Central Islip man out of more than $250,000 through a Publishers Clearing House impersonation. The victim believed he had won a sweepstakes prize and paid repeated "processing fees" over an extended period. Both were charged with Grand Larceny in the 2nd Degree.
This case exemplifies the lottery scam pattern in the 516 area: elderly victims in high-income communities targeted by fake prize notifications demanding upfront payments. The NYS Gaming Commission has issued alerts about fake lottery prize scams, and AG Letitia James warned of "Phantom Hacker" three-phase scams targeting seniors' retirement savings, with over $1 billion stolen nationally since 2024.
Massive Scam Infrastructure: 516's Number Blocks
ScamVerify detected unusually large scam number blocks within 516.
| Block | Numbers | Complaints | Avg/Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| 516-508-7xxx | 97 | 840 | 8.7 |
| 516-440-9xxx | 89 | 755 | 8.5 |
| 516-963-4xxx | 68 | 718 | 10.6 |
| 516-549-8xxx | 60 | 520 | 8.7 |
| 516-895-9xxx | 45 | 418 | 9.3 |
| 516-893-6xxx | 86 | 379 | 4.4 |
| 516-566-0xxx | 23 | 336 | 14.6 |
The scale is striking. The 516-508-7 block has 97 scam numbers, more than any single block found in our analysis of 202 DC (123 numbers in 202-980-3), 407 Orlando (32 in 407-946-6), or 502 Louisville. The 516-440-9 block has 89 numbers and 516-893-6 has 86. This concentration of large number blocks suggests industrial-scale VoIP operations cycling through Long Island number pools.
Top 10 Most Reported 516 Phone Numbers
| Rank | Phone Number | Complaints | Primary Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | (516) 825-2347 | 164 | Home improvement (98.8%) |
| 2 | (516) 566-0134 | 88 | Impersonation, mixed |
| 3 | (516) 637-5896 | 82 | Mixed |
| 4 | (516) 687-2194 | 78 | Dropped calls (robocaller) |
| 5 | (516) 562-7231 | 76 | Work from home (64.5%) |
| 6 | (516) 240-9033 | 75 | Mixed |
| 7 | (516) 846-0328 | 74 | Mixed (debt) |
| 8 | (516) 893-5326 | 68 | Impersonation (47.1%) |
| 9 | (516) 778-5511 | 67 | Debt reduction (85.1%) |
| 10 | (516) 995-9295 | 52 | Medical (100%) |
(516) 825-2347 is a dedicated home improvement scam line: 162 of 164 complaints (98.8%) are home improvement, targeting Nassau County homeowners. (516) 562-7231 is a work-from-home scam with 49 of 76 complaints in that category. (516) 995-9295 is a pure medical scam number with 100% of complaints for medical and prescriptions.
516 in the Long Island and New York Context
Long Island is served by three area codes with distinct profiles.
| Area Code | Region | Complaints | In-State % | #1 Category | Nat'l Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 516 | Nassau County | 55,101 | 50.0% | Debt (8,936) | #13 |
| 631 | Suffolk County | 39,811 | 61.9% | Debt (7,144) | #68 |
| 934 | Long Island (overlay) | 12,177 | 22.0% | Debt (5,051) | #283 |
| Long Island Total | 107,089 |
Long Island generates 107,089 combined complaints from three area codes, more than many entire states. The 516 code has exactly 50.0% in-state targeting, the mathematical midpoint: half of its scam calls target New Yorkers, half reach out-of-state recipients. The 934 overlay has just 22% in-state, confirming it is used almost exclusively for nationwide debt campaigns.
For the full New York state context, including the Upstate NY spoofing corridor (315 Syracuse, 518 Albany) and NYC's 8 area codes, see ScamVerify's New York Phone Scam Report 2026 and 315 Syracuse deep dive.
What to Do If You Get a Scam Call From a 516 Number
- No legitimate lottery requires payment to claim a prize. This is federal law. If a caller from 516 says you have won but need to pay fees, taxes, or "processing costs," it is a scam. Hang up immediately.
- Check any 516 number on ScamVerify's phone lookup before calling back. We have 20,402 known scam numbers in the 516 area code.
- Report the call to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, the NY AG at 1-800-771-7755, and the NYS Gaming Commission if it involves a fake lottery prize.
- Protect elderly family members. The $250,000 PCH scam in February 2026 targeted a 92-year-old. New York launched SilverShield in January 2026, a $5/month service allowing seniors to text or email suspicious calls for AI-powered scam assessment.
- Do not trust calls claiming you won a Publishers Clearing House prize. PCH confirms they never require winners to pay fees and legitimate notifications arrive by mail and in person, not by phone.
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FAQ
Why does Long Island (516) have so many lottery scam calls?
Area code 516 (Nassau County) has 3,328 lottery, prizes, and sweepstakes complaints, the highest count of any individual area code in the country. Nassau County's median household income of approximately $120,000 makes residents high-value targets: scammers find more success in affluent communities where victims can pay larger "processing fees." The 56.4% robocall rate means roughly half use live operators who build rapport with victims over time.
Is area code 516 used for nationwide scam campaigns?
Yes. The 50% in-state targeting rate confirms that half of all 516 scam calls reach recipients outside New York. ScamVerify identified massive number blocks within 516, including one with 97 sequential scam numbers and another with 89. These blocks indicate industrial-scale VoIP operations using Long Island numbers for nationwide debt reduction and impersonation campaigns.
How does 516 compare to other Long Island area codes?
516 (Nassau, 55,101 complaints, #13) leads Long Island, followed by 631 (Suffolk, 39,811, #68) and 934 (overlay, 12,177, #283). Combined, Long Island generates 107,089 complaints. The 516 code uniquely has lottery as a top-4 category, while 631 and 934 follow the standard debt/impersonation/medical pattern.
What happened with the $250,000 Publishers Clearing House scam?
In February 2026, two individuals were arrested for scamming a 92-year-old Central Islip man out of over $250,000 by impersonating Publishers Clearing House. The victim paid repeated "processing fees" believing he had won a sweepstakes. Both suspects were charged with Grand Larceny in the 2nd Degree. PCH confirms they never require payment to claim prizes.
How do I report a lottery scam call from 516?
Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, the NY AG at 1-800-771-7755, and the NYS Gaming Commission for fake lottery claims. If you are over 60 and have been victimized, also contact the Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-FRAUD-11. New York's SilverShield program (launched January 2026) offers AI-powered scam detection for seniors.
