Key Findings
Area code 614 (Columbus, Ohio) ranks #9 nationally with 70,078 FTC complaints from 26,972 unique scam numbers. ScamVerify™ analysis places it as the highest-ranked area code in Ohio and one of only three Ohio codes in the national top 25 (alongside 513 Cincinnati at #16 and 216 Cleveland at #17).
What makes 614 distinctive is the combination of two unusual characteristics. First, 84.9% of complaints come from Ohio residents, the highest in-state targeting rate of any area code in the national top 20. This is not a spoofing-for-export operation like Syracuse (35.3%) or DC (0%). Scammers using 614 numbers are specifically targeting Ohioans. Second, medical and prescription scams are the #2 category with 4,377 complaints, elevated by Columbus's concentration of healthcare institutions including Ohio State's Wexner Medical Center, the largest employer in the Columbus metro.
Scam Category Breakdown
| Rank | Scam Category | Complaints | Robocall % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Government/business impersonation | 6,086 | 70.5% |
| 2 | Medical and prescriptions | 4,377 | 61.0% |
| 3 | Debt reduction | 1,857 | 64.6% |
| 4 | Energy, solar, and utilities | 1,471 | 75.3% |
| 5 | Warranties and protection plans | 552 | 52.9% |
| 6 | Home improvement and cleaning | 400 | 46.3% |
| 7 | Vacation and timeshares | 383 | 19.6% |
| 8 | Home security and alarms | 328 | 75.0% |
Government impersonation leads at 6,086 complaints with a 70.5% robocall rate. Medical scams follow closely at 4,377. Combined, impersonation and medical account for 15% of all 614 complaints with categorized subjects. Energy and utility scams (1,471 complaints at 75.3% robocall rate) are also elevated, likely reflecting scammers impersonating AEP Ohio and Columbia Gas.
In March 2026, the Ohio Department of Aging warned of a Golden Buckeye phone scam targeting seniors. Callers posed as representatives of Ohio's Golden Buckeye Card program requesting Social Security numbers. The same month, Ohio AG Dave Yost warned of text scams referencing "Franklin County Municipal Court" with AI-generated seals containing garbled text, traced to overseas operations.
The 84.9% In-State Targeting Rate
Area code 614's in-state targeting rate tells a fundamentally different story from other high-volume area codes.
| Area Code | Location | Complaints | In-State % | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 202 | Washington DC | 47,839 | 0.0% | Pure nationwide spoofing |
| 315 | Syracuse NY | 72,672 | 35.3% | Nationwide debt campaigns |
| 407 | Orlando FL | 48,399 | 68.7% | Mix of local + national |
| 614 | Columbus OH | 70,078 | 84.9% | Local targeting |
Nearly 85% of 614 scam calls reach Ohio residents. This means scammers are choosing 614 specifically because it is effective for neighbor spoofing within Ohio. The Columbus metro's 2.1 million residents recognize 614 as their area code, making them far more likely to answer a call displaying it.
Among Ohio's 12 area codes, only 330 Akron (85.6%) and 937 Dayton (85.6%) have higher in-state rates. The overlay code 380 (Columbus overlay) has just 62.3% in-state targeting, confirming the established 614 code is the preferred tool for local-targeting campaigns while the newer 380 is used more for out-of-state operations.
The Medical Scam Ecosystem
Columbus is home to Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center, one of the largest academic medical centers in the country and the largest employer in the Columbus metropolitan area. Nationwide Children's Hospital, OhioHealth, and Mount Carmel Health System also operate major facilities in the 614 area code. This concentration of healthcare institutions makes medical-themed spoofed calls exceptionally plausible.
Medical scam callers typically claim to represent Medicare, a health insurance marketplace, or a pharmacy offering discounted prescriptions. When the call displays a 614 number and the recipient lives in Columbus, the association with the local healthcare ecosystem strengthens the pitch.
In January 2026, a North Ridgeville, Ohio doctor was sentenced to 64 months in federal prison for a $14.5 million Medicare fraud scheme involving telemedicine companies. He billed Medicare for services on patients he never examined. Cases like this illustrate the broader medical fraud ecosystem that generates the scam calls targeting Ohio's 614 area code. Ohio Medicaid providers also faced fraud charges in March 2026 for $578,000 in overbilling and phantom services.
For full state context on Ohio's medical scam problem (42,161 complaints statewide, #1 category), see ScamVerify's Ohio Phone Scam Report 2026.
Top 10 Most Reported 614 Phone Numbers
| Rank | Phone Number | Complaints | Primary Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | (614) 697-0667 | 205 | Debt reduction, mixed |
| 2 | (614) 707-5180 | 106 | Impersonation |
| 3 | (614) 647-3948 | 88 | Mixed |
| 4 | (614) 954-7712 | 88 | Mixed |
| 5 | (614) 512-9285 | 84 | Mixed |
| 6 | (614) 502-5143 | 82 | Impersonation (63.4%) |
| 7 | (614) 870-1353 | 79 | Mixed |
| 8 | (614) 957-8319 | 79 | Mixed |
| 9 | (614) 914-1414 | 76 | Timeshare (100%) |
| 10 | (614) 914-1413 | 75 | Timeshare (100%) |
An unexpected finding: numbers #9 and #10 form a timeshare scam pair. (614) 914-1414 and (614) 914-1413 are sequential numbers with a combined 151 complaints, 100% categorized as vacation and timeshare scams. Columbus is not a tourism hub, confirming these calls target Ohioans using a local area code to pitch out-of-state timeshare offers.
(614) 502-5143 is a government impersonation line with 52 of 82 complaints (63.4%) in that category. The Columbus-area Franklin County Municipal Court scam (March 2026) demonstrates how locally spoofed impersonation calls exploit residents' trust in calls from their own area code.
614 vs. Other Ohio Area Codes
| Area Code | Region | Complaints | Nat'l Rank | Top Category | In-State % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 614 | Columbus | 70,078 | #9 | Impersonation | 84.9% |
| 513 | Cincinnati | 52,696 | #16 | Medical | 74.3% |
| 216 | Cleveland | 52,214 | #17 | Debt reduction | 67.4% |
| 330 | Akron | 48,046 | #24 | Medical | 85.6% |
Columbus leads Ohio by a significant margin: 70,078 complaints vs. Cincinnati's 52,696 (#16) and Cleveland's 52,214 (#17). Each of Ohio's major metros has a different dominant scam type (impersonation in Columbus, medical in Cincinnati, debt in Cleveland), suggesting distinct scam operations targeting each city.
Columbus's per-number ratio of 2.6 is consistent with Ohio's statewide average but below the national outliers like 202 DC (3.6) and 332 NYC (2.9). The 84.9% in-state rate combined with the #9 national ranking means 614 is one of the most heavily locally-targeted area codes among all high-volume codes in the country.
What Columbus Residents Can Do
- Check any suspicious 614 number on ScamVerify's phone lookup before calling back. We have 26,972 known scam numbers in the 614 area code.
- Report scam calls to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the Ohio AG at OhioProtects.org or 800-282-0515.
- Be skeptical of medical and Medicare calls from 614 numbers. Medical scams are the #2 category with 4,377 complaints. Medicare never calls to sell plans, and legitimate healthcare providers do not cold-call to offer prescription discounts.
- Verify utility communications. AEP Ohio and Columbia Gas never threaten immediate disconnection by phone. Energy/utility scams have 1,471 complaints in 614 at a 75.3% robocall rate.
- Watch for Franklin County court scams. In 2026, scammers sent texts and calls referencing Franklin County Municipal Court with AI-generated seals. The court confirmed it never contacts residents by phone to collect fines.
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FAQ
Why does area code 614 rank so high nationally?
Columbus's 614 ranks #9 among all U.S. area codes with 70,078 FTC complaints. Three factors drive this. First, the Columbus metro (2.1 million population) provides a large target pool for neighbor spoofing, and 614's 84.9% in-state rate confirms scammers are specifically targeting Ohioans. Second, Ohio ranks #2 per capita nationally for DNC complaints (FTC FY 2024). Third, Columbus's healthcare concentration makes medical-themed scam calls particularly effective, contributing to the 4,377 medical complaints in the 614 area code.
Is the 614 area code mostly used for local scam targeting?
Yes. The 84.9% in-state targeting rate is the highest of any area code in the national top 20. By comparison, Syracuse (315) has 35.3% and DC (202) has 0%. This means 614 scam numbers are predominantly used for neighbor spoofing within Ohio, not for nationwide campaigns. The newer Columbus overlay code 380 has a lower 62.3% in-state rate, indicating it is used more for out-of-state campaigns.
What types of scams are most common from 614 numbers?
Government/business impersonation leads with 6,086 complaints (70.5% robocall rate), followed by medical/prescriptions at 4,377 (61%) and debt reduction at 1,857 (64.6%). Energy and utility scams (1,471 complaints) are also elevated. In March 2026, specific campaigns impersonating Franklin County Municipal Court and the Golden Buckeye Card program targeted Columbus-area residents.
Are calls from 614 numbers safe to answer?
Area code 614 is a legitimate area code serving Columbus and Central Ohio since 1947. Many legitimate businesses, hospitals, and government offices use 614 numbers. However, with 26,972 known scam numbers in our database, unsolicited calls from unknown 614 numbers should be treated with caution. Let unknown calls go to voicemail and verify using ScamVerify's phone lookup before returning calls.
How does 614 connect to Ohio's broader scam problem?
Columbus is one of three Ohio metros in the national top 25 (614 at #9, 513 Cincinnati at #16, 216 Cleveland at #17). Ohio ranks #2 per capita for DNC complaints nationally. Medical scams are the #1 category statewide (42,161 complaints), and 614 contributes 4,377 of those. For full state analysis, see ScamVerify's Ohio Phone Scam Report 2026.
