Key Findings
Area code 518 (Albany/Capital District, New York) ranks #10 nationally with 63,812 FTC complaints from 26,055 unique scam numbers. Together with 315 Syracuse (#8 with 72,672), Albany forms the Upstate New York debt robocall corridor, two mid-size city area codes that rank higher than Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, or Miami for total scam complaints.
ScamVerify™ analysis reveals an almost entirely automated operation: debt reduction accounts for 23,003 complaints at a 92.7% robocall rate, the second-highest debt robocall rate of any area code behind only Syracuse's 92.5%. Only 36% of 518 complaints come from New York residents. The remaining 64% reach people in other states who receive calls displaying an Albany area code. Area code 518 exists in scammers' playbooks as a nationwide debt robocall launchpad, not a tool for targeting Capital District residents.
The Upstate NY Spoofing Twins
Syracuse (315) and Albany (518) operate as a matched pair, the two highest-ranked non-toll-free area codes in the state of New York.
| Metric | 315 Syracuse | 518 Albany |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints | 72,672 | 63,812 |
| National Rank | #8 | #10 |
| Unique Numbers | 27,442 | 26,055 |
| Per Number | 2.6 | 2.4 |
| In-State % | 35.3% | 36.0% |
| Debt Complaints | 26,023 | 23,003 |
| Debt Robocall % | 92.5% | 92.7% |
| Overlay Code | 680 (16.5% in-state) | 838 (19.9% in-state) |
The parallels are remarkable. Both have approximately 35-36% in-state targeting. Both have debt reduction as the dominant category with 92-93% robocall rates. Both have overlay codes (680 and 838) with sub-20% in-state targeting rates used almost exclusively for out-of-state campaigns. And both are mid-size cities (Albany metro ~880K, Syracuse metro ~650K) that should not rank in the national top 10 by population alone.
ScamVerify's 315 Syracuse deep dive identified concentrated scam ring blocks in 315-208 and 315-215. The 518 data suggests the same infrastructure extends to Albany.
For the full New York state picture, including NYC's 8 area codes and the Upstate vs. Downstate spoofing divide, see ScamVerify's New York Phone Scam Report.
Debt Reduction: 92.7% Automated
| Rank | Scam Category | Complaints | Robocall % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Debt reduction | 23,003 | 92.7% |
| 2 | Government/business impersonation | 3,982 | 75.0% |
| 3 | Medical and prescriptions | 2,524 | 52.0% |
| 4 | Lotteries, prizes, and sweepstakes | 861 | 60.0% |
| 5 | Warranties and protection plans | 697 | 72.6% |
| 6 | Energy, solar, and utilities | 499 | 63.3% |
Debt reduction accounts for 36% of all 518 complaints at a 92.7% robocall rate. This means for every 100 debt reduction calls from a 518 number, approximately 93 are pre-recorded messages. The remaining 7 use live operators for follow-up conversations after the victim presses a button to "speak with a representative."
The FTC ranked debt reduction as the #1 DNC complaint category nationally with 446,243 complaints in FY 2025. The 518 area code contributes a disproportionate share of that total despite Albany being the 84th largest metro area in the United States.
Government impersonation is the #2 category at 3,982 complaints with a 75% robocall rate, higher than the 518 national average for impersonation. Albany's role as the New York State capital adds plausibility to calls claiming to be from state government agencies, particularly the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance.
The 36% In-State Rate: Nationwide Spoofing Machine
| Area Code | Location | In-State % | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 614 | Columbus OH | 84.9% | Local targeting |
| 513 | Cincinnati OH | 74.3% | Mostly local |
| 480 | Phoenix AZ | 71.1% | Mix local/national |
| 516 | Long Island NY | 50.0% | Equal split |
| 518 | Albany NY | 36.0% | Nationwide campaigns |
| 315 | Syracuse NY | 35.3% | Nationwide campaigns |
| 202 | Washington DC | 0.0% | Pure impersonation |
Albany's 36% in-state rate places it firmly in the "nationwide campaign" category alongside Syracuse. Nearly two-thirds of all 518 scam calls reach people outside New York. A resident of Texas receiving a call from a 518 number has no connection to Albany. The number is simply the disguise for an automated debt reduction robocall.
The overlay code 838 (Albany overlay, 17,239 complaints) has just 19.9% in-state targeting with debt reduction at 7,922 complaints (94.6% robocall rate). Its sole purpose is nationwide automated campaigns.
New York State Police issued a spoofing warning in May 2025 about scammers impersonating law enforcement and government agencies using local Upstate area codes. The proposed NY RING Act would require carriers to display real-time STIR/SHAKEN verification status on caller ID.
Top 10 Most Reported 518 Phone Numbers
| Rank | Phone Number | Complaints | Primary Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | (518) 267-1793 | 159 | Mixed (dropped calls) |
| 2 | (518) 787-0095 | 133 | Unknown |
| 3 | (518) 347-7919 | 82 | Lottery/sweepstakes (100%) |
| 4 | (518) 815-3944 | 80 | Mixed |
| 5 | (518) 666-3534 | 66 | Medical (100%) |
| 6 | (518) 226-8667 | 60 | Dropped calls (robocaller) |
| 7 | (518) 782-6808 | 59 | Mixed |
| 8 | (518) 663-2818 | 59 | Mixed (impersonation) |
| 9 | (518) 519-3786 | 51 | Warranties, mixed |
| 10 | (518) 267-1792 | 50 | Dropped calls |
(518) 347-7919 is a dedicated lottery scam line: all 82 complaints are for lotteries, prizes, and sweepstakes. (518) 666-3534 is a pure medical scam number with 100% of its 66 complaints for medical and prescriptions.
Numbers #1 and #10 form a sequential pair: (518) 267-1793 (159 complaints) and (518) 267-1792 (50 complaints), with 209 combined complaints. The 518-267-17xx pair is consistent with VoIP number block acquisition.
Notably, the individual complaint counts for 518's top numbers (max 159) are lower than other top-10 area codes like 513 Cincinnati (2,129) or 480 Phoenix (558). This suggests 518 scam operations distribute their call volume across a larger pool of numbers rather than concentrating on a few, consistent with the massive 26,055 unique number count.
518 vs. Other Debt-Dominant Area Codes
| Area Code | Location | Complaints | Debt % | Debt Robocall % | In-State % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 315 | Syracuse NY | 72,672 | 35.8% | 92.5% | 35.3% |
| 518 | Albany NY | 63,812 | 36.1% | 92.7% | 36.0% |
| 502 | Louisville KY | 53,119 | 22.4% | 89.2% | 46.1% |
| 607 | Binghamton NY | 35,093 | 36.5% | 93.1% | 34.8% |
Albany is the #2 debt robocall area code nationally (behind Syracuse) but leads in robocall rate at 92.7%. Louisville (502) shares the nationwide-campaign pattern but with lower automation (89.2%) and slightly higher in-state targeting (46.1%). For the Louisville comparison, see ScamVerify's 502 deep dive.
Binghamton (607) extends the Upstate NY pattern with 35,093 complaints at 93.1% debt robocall rate and 34.8% in-state. Three of New York's 20 area codes (315, 518, 607) are being used for nationwide debt campaigns with 90%+ automation rates and under 36% in-state targeting. Combined, they generate 171,577 complaints, more than the entire state of Michigan.
What to Do If You Get a Debt Reduction Call From a 518 Number
- Hang up. No legitimate debt relief company uses pre-recorded messages. The 92.7% robocall rate for 518 debt calls means almost every one is automated and illegal.
- Check the number on ScamVerify's phone lookup before engaging. We have 26,055 known scam numbers in the 518 area code.
- Report the call to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the NY AG at 1-800-771-7755.
- Never pay upfront fees for debt relief. The FTC's Telemarketing Sales Rule prohibits debt relief companies from charging fees before settling or reducing your debt.
- The area code means nothing about the caller's location. With 36% in-state targeting, most 518 scam calls are not coming from Albany. The displayed number is spoofed VoIP.
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FAQ
Why does Albany's area code rank #10 nationally?
Albany (518) ranks #10 with 63,812 complaints despite a metro population of only ~880,000. The area code is exploited for nationwide debt reduction robocall campaigns. Only 36% of complaints come from New York residents; the remaining 64% reach other states. Mid-size area codes like 518 offer deep VoIP number inventory with less carrier scrutiny than major metro codes, making them ideal for automated spoofing operations.
What is the Upstate NY debt robocall corridor?
Syracuse (315, #8 nationally) and Albany (518, #10) operate as a matched pair for nationwide debt robocall campaigns. Both have ~36% in-state targeting, ~92-93% debt robocall rates, and overlay codes (680 and 838) with sub-20% in-state targeting. Combined with Binghamton (607), three Upstate NY area codes generate 171,577 complaints, more than many entire states. ScamVerify's 315 deep dive documents identified scam ring blocks.
Are debt reduction calls from 518 legitimate?
Almost certainly not. The 92.7% robocall rate means nearly all are pre-recorded. The FTC's Telemarketing Sales Rule prohibits debt relief companies from charging upfront fees and from using pre-recorded solicitations without prior written consent. Any unsolicited robocall from a 518 number promising to reduce your debt is violating federal law.
Does Albany's role as the state capital affect its scam profile?
Yes. Government impersonation is the #2 category for 518 with 3,982 complaints at a 75% robocall rate. Albany's status as New York's capital adds plausibility to calls claiming to represent the NYS Department of Taxation, DMV, or other state agencies. The NY State Police issued a May 2025 warning about law enforcement impersonation scams using Upstate area codes.
How does 518 compare to Syracuse (315)?
The two area codes are nearly identical in profile. Syracuse has more total complaints (72,672 vs. 63,812) and a slightly higher debt count (26,023 vs. 23,003). Albany has a marginally higher debt robocall rate (92.7% vs. 92.5%) and in-state rate (36.0% vs. 35.3%). Both serve as nationwide automated debt campaign launchpads with extensive VoIP number pools. For the Syracuse analysis, see ScamVerify's 315 deep dive.
