Key Findings
Alabama ranks #4 nationally for robocalls per person at 286 robocalls per person annually, receiving an estimated 1.26 billion robocalls per year (WhistleOut 2026). The top 5 states for robocalls per person are all in the Deep South: Louisiana (#1, 350), Mississippi (#2, 314), Georgia (#3, 293), Alabama (#4, 286), and Tennessee (#5, 274). ScamVerify™ analysis of 9.7 million FTC phone complaint records reveals 118,108 complaints from 50,108 unique scam numbers across 5 Alabama area codes.
Medical scams lead at 15,206 complaints, followed by impersonation at 13,217 and debt reduction at 9,252. The 49-state AG coalition lawsuit against Avid Telecom revealed that the company sent 147 million illegal robocalls specifically to Alabama numbers as part of 24.5 billion total calls, 8.4 million of which spoofed government and law enforcement agency numbers. Alabama has an additional vulnerability that few other states share: it leads the nation in SNAP/EBT fraud, with 26,000+ stolen claims totaling $10 million in losses. In March 2026, fraudulent texts claiming to be from the nonexistent "Alabama Department of Vehicles" hit thousands of residents in two counties, highlighting how scammers invent fake government agencies to exploit consumer trust.
All 5 Alabama Area Codes: Ranked by Complaints
| Rank | Area Code | Region | Numbers | Complaints | Per # | In-State % | Nat'l Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 205 | Birmingham | 15,029 | 36,151 | 2.4 | 58.6% | #112 |
| 2 | 256 | Huntsville / Northern AL | 14,033 | 32,725 | 2.3 | 64.1% | #139 |
| 3 | 334 | Montgomery | 8,937 | 20,883 | 2.3 | 65.5% | #226 |
| 4 | 251 | Mobile | 8,450 | 19,927 | 2.4 | 57.7% | #235 |
| 5 | 659 | Alabama (overlay) | 3,659 | 8,422 | 2.3 | 36.4% | #313 |
| Total | 50,108 | 118,108 | 2.4 avg | 56.5% avg |
Birmingham's 205 leads the state with 36,151 complaints at national rank #112. The statewide average of 56.5% in-state targeting is among the lowest in our full series, indicating Alabama area codes are heavily used for out-of-state campaigns. The 659 overlay has just 36.4% in-state targeting, the lowest of any Alabama code.
Birmingham: Impersonation Capital
Birmingham's 205 is the only Alabama area code where government/business impersonation outranks medical scams.
| Area Code | Coverage | Complaints | In-State % | #1 Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 205 | Birmingham | 36,151 | 58.6% | Impersonation (4,973, 66.0% robocall) |
| 256 | Huntsville | 32,725 | 64.1% | Medical (4,114, 51.3% robocall) |
Birmingham's impersonation dominance (4,973 complaints) is driven by its position as Alabama's financial center and the concentration of federal agencies at the Robert J. Vance Federal Building. Debt reduction is the #2 category at 2,737 complaints (79.4% robocall rate) and warranties rank #4 at 1,058 (74.5%).
Huntsville (256) has medical as its top category at 4,114 complaints with a lower robocall rate (51.3%), meaning nearly half use live operators. Huntsville's proximity to Redstone Arsenal and NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center may contribute to the elevated charities category (510 complaints at 54.5% robocall rate), potentially targeting military-affiliated residents.
The Deep South Pattern
Alabama is part of a regional scam corridor. All five states with the highest robocalls per person are in the Deep South.
| Rank | State | Robocalls/Person | Total Robocalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisiana | 350 | 1.62 billion |
| 2 | Mississippi | 314 | 930 million |
| 3 | Georgia | 293 | 3.22 billion |
| 4 | Alabama | 286 | 1.26 billion |
| 5 | Tennessee | 274 | 1.97 billion |
This regional concentration is not coincidental. The Deep South has higher poverty rates, larger elderly populations, and lower broadband adoption, creating conditions where phone-based scams remain the primary attack vector. Voice-over-IP infrastructure in the region also provides low-cost number pools across multiple area codes.
Alabama's Scam Category Profile
| Rank | Scam Category | Complaints | Robocall % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Medical and prescriptions | 15,206 | 61.2% |
| 2 | Government/business impersonation | 13,217 | 64.1% |
| 3 | Debt reduction | 9,252 | 77.1% |
| 4 | Warranties and protection plans | 4,620 | 77.7% |
| 5 | Charities | 1,676 | 61.6% |
| 6 | Home security and alarms | 714 | 68.8% |
| 7 | Tech support | 689 | 60.7% |
| 8 | Lotteries and sweepstakes | 640 | 40.5% |
Warranties rank #4 with 4,620 complaints at 77.7% robocall rate, the highest automated rate of any Alabama scam category. This is more than double the warranty complaint count of most states in our series and may be driven by Alabama's strong car culture and high vehicle-per-household rates. Birmingham's 205 alone has 1,058 warranty complaints.
Charities rank #5 with 1,676 complaints at 61.6% robocall rate. The 251 Mobile area code has the highest charity scam concentration in the state (450 at 71.3% robocall rate), elevated by hurricane-related charity fraud targeting the Gulf Coast.
Alabama Power: The #1 Utility Scam
Alabama Power is the state's dominant electric utility, and its impersonation is a persistent threat.
- Scammers spoof Alabama Power's exact caller ID so the call appears legitimate
- They claim the customer's service will be disconnected in 30 to 45 minutes
- Payment is demanded via cryptocurrency, gift cards, MoneyGram, or Western Union
- Some scammers target customers who recently made a payment, claiming it failed to process
- Alabama Power confirmed they never take payments over the phone
Energy, solar, and utilities account for 945 statewide complaints at 62.6% robocall rate. Alabama Power's legitimate customer service number is 1-800-245-2244.
Alabama Leads the Nation in SNAP Fraud
Alabama has a unique vulnerability that connects to phone scam infrastructure: the state leads the nation in SNAP/EBT benefits fraud, surpassing California and New York despite having a fraction of the population.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Stolen SNAP claims (2023-2025) | 40,000+ |
| Total stolen benefits | $16.5 million |
| 2023-2025 period specifically | 26,000+ claims, $10 million |
In February 2026, the U.S. Secret Service conducted a two-day operation in Mobile, visiting 400 businesses and recovering 3 skimming devices that would have enabled an estimated $3.1 million in losses. In March 2026, two Romanian nationals were arrested in a multi-state EBT card skimming case that included Alabama. The state is rolling out chip-enabled EBT cards starting January 2026 and has blocked out-of-state and online EBT transactions.
While SNAP fraud is not directly a phone scam, the personal data stolen through EBT skimming feeds the impersonation and medical scam operations that target Alabama by phone.
Top 10 Most Reported Alabama Phone Numbers
| Rank | Phone Number | Complaints | Primary Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | (205) 460-5898 | 179 | Debt (43), impersonation (40), mixed |
| 2 | (334) 463-5728 | 138 | Medical (26), dropped calls (50) |
| 3 | (256) 918-2039 | 111 | Debt reduction (93, 83.8%) |
| 4 | (256) 454-9942 | 103 | Debt reduction (82, 79.6%) |
| 5 | (205) 502-0352 | 102 | Warranties (80, 78.4%) |
| 6 | (256) 977-0027 | 99 | Charities (82, 82.8%) |
| 7 | (251) 290-3506 | 85 | Impersonation (18), mixed |
| 8 | (205) 460-5854 | 78 | Debt (28), impersonation (6) |
| 9 | (205) 974-1977 | 75 | Tech support (13), mixed |
| 10 | (205) 432-7800 | 74 | Mixed |
(205) 460-5898 and (205) 460-5854 form a sequential pair (205-460-58xx) from Birmingham with 257 combined complaints, consistent with organized VoIP block acquisition. (256) 918-2039 and (256) 454-9942 from Huntsville are dedicated debt reduction lines at 83.8% and 79.6% concentration. (256) 977-0027 is a dedicated charity scam line at 82.8%, and its sequential neighbor (256) 977-0007 has 66 complaints at 97% charities concentration, revealing an organized charity fraud operation.
The Fake Department of Vehicles Scam
In March 2026, thousands of residents in two Alabama counties received fraudulent text messages claiming to be from the "Alabama Department of Vehicles", threatening prosecution for unspecified violations.
There is no such agency as the "Alabama Department of Vehicles." Alabama uses the Department of Revenue for vehicle registration and titling. The scam exploited the assumption that every state has a "DMV" equivalent with that specific name. Tuscaloosa's municipal court alone received 50+ calls in one week from confused residents.
Neighbor Spoofing Analysis
| Highest In-State | % | Lowest In-State | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 334 Montgomery | 65.5% | 659 Overlay | 36.4% |
| 256 Huntsville | 64.1% | 251 Mobile | 57.7% |
| 205 Birmingham | 58.6% |
Alabama's statewide average of 56.5% in-state targeting is the lowest in our full Batch 4 series and among the lowest of any state we have analyzed. Even Birmingham (205) has just 58.6% in-state targeting. Mobile (251) at 57.7% in-state is being used for both local Gulf Coast targeting and out-of-state campaigns.
Alabama vs. Other States
| State | Area Codes | Complaints | Robocalls/Person | Unique Angle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | 5 | 137,749 | 258 | #7 fraud, 20.4% seniors |
| Alabama | 5 | 118,108 | 286 (#4) | #4 robocalls/person, SNAP fraud leader |
| Tennessee | 7 | 183,370 | 274 (#5) | #2 per capita complaints |
| Georgia | 10 | 306,594 | 293 (#3) | #2 per capita fraud |
AG Steve Marshall joined the 49-state AG coalition suing Avid Telecom, which sent 147 million illegal robocalls to Alabama numbers. The AG's Consumer Protection Hotline (1-800-392-5658) handles complaints, and the University of Alabama issued a campus-wide scam warning in March 2026 after faculty received fake benefits texts and students received spoofed UAPD calls with fake arrest warrants.
What Alabamians Can Do
- Check any suspicious number on ScamVerify's phone lookup before calling back. Alabama has 50,108 known scam numbers in our database.
- Report scam calls to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the AL AG at 1-800-392-5658 or alabamaag.gov.
- Alabama Power never threatens disconnection by phone. They never take payments over the phone or demand cryptocurrency, gift cards, or wire transfers. Verify at 1-800-245-2244.
- There is no "Alabama Department of Vehicles." Any text from that entity is a scam. Alabama uses the Department of Revenue for vehicle matters. Contact them at revenue.alabama.gov if uncertain.
- Protect your EBT card. Alabama is rolling out chip-enabled EBT cards. Never share your PIN by phone. Report SNAP fraud to Alabama DHR at 1-334-242-1310.
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FAQ
Why does Alabama rank #4 for robocalls per person?
Alabama receives 286 robocalls per person annually (1.26 billion total), ranking #4 behind Louisiana (350), Mississippi (314), and Georgia (293). All top-5 states are in the Deep South. Higher poverty rates, larger elderly populations, and lower broadband adoption in the region mean phone-based scams remain the primary attack vector. The 49-state AG lawsuit against Avid Telecom revealed 147 million illegal robocalls were sent specifically to Alabama numbers.
What is the Alabama Power scam?
Scammers spoof Alabama Power's exact caller ID and threaten service disconnection within 30-45 minutes unless immediate payment is made via cryptocurrency, gift cards, MoneyGram, or Western Union. Some scammers target customers who recently made a payment, claiming it failed to process. Alabama Power confirmed they never take payments over the phone. Their legitimate number is 1-800-245-2244.
What is the fake Alabama Department of Vehicles scam?
In March 2026, thousands of residents in two Alabama counties received texts from the "Alabama Department of Vehicles" threatening prosecution. This entity does not exist. Alabama uses the Department of Revenue for vehicle registration. Tuscaloosa's municipal court received 50+ calls in one week from confused residents. This is part of a nationwide smishing campaign also hitting South Carolina, Kentucky, and Wisconsin.
What types of scams are most common in Alabama?
Medical and prescriptions lead with 15,206 complaints (61.2% robocall rate), followed by government impersonation at 13,217 (64.1%) and debt reduction at 9,252 (77.1%). Warranties are elevated at 4,620 (77.7% robocall), and charities rank #5 at 1,676 (61.6%), with hurricane-related charity fraud concentrated in the Mobile area. An organized charity fraud operation was identified in the 256-977 number block.
How do I report a scam call in Alabama?
Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the Alabama AG at 1-800-392-5658 or alabamaag.gov. For Alabama Power scams, call 1-800-245-2244. For SNAP/EBT fraud, contact Alabama DHR at 1-334-242-1310. AG Steve Marshall issues periodic consumer alerts and his office participates in the multistate Avid Telecom enforcement.
