Key Findings
Georgia is the #2 most fraud-targeted state in America per capita. ScamVerify™ analysis of 9.7 million FTC phone complaint records reveals 306,594 complaints from 119,518 unique scam numbers across 10 Georgia area codes. The state ranks 7th nationally by total volume but punches far above its weight by population: the FTC Consumer Sentinel ranked Georgia #3 per capita for fraud (2,108 per 100,000 residents) and #2 per capita for identity theft (517 per 100,000) in 2024. Only Florida outranks Georgia across both measures.
Atlanta dominates. Four Atlanta metro area codes (470, 770, 678, 404) generate 174,303 complaints, 57% of the state total. AARP ranked the 404 area code #1 in the nation for robocalls per capita with 55 spam calls per person per month. The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center reported $420 million in cybercrime losses from Georgia in 2024, a 40% increase year over year, with elder fraud victims losing $174 million alone.
All 10 Georgia Area Codes: Ranked by Complaints
| Rank | Area Code | Region | Numbers | Complaints | Per # | In-State % | Nat'l Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 470 | Atlanta | 18,205 | 48,833 | 2.7 | 52.7% | #22 |
| 2 | 770 | Atlanta Suburbs | 18,721 | 47,697 | 2.5 | 79.9% | #26 |
| 3 | 706 | Augusta | 17,482 | 42,971 | 2.5 | 76.1% | #43 |
| 4 | 678 | Atlanta Metro | 15,234 | 40,075 | 2.6 | 75.3% | #65 |
| 5 | 404 | Atlanta | 14,471 | 37,698 | 2.6 | 74.1% | #78 |
| 6 | 912 | Savannah | 9,458 | 24,587 | 2.6 | 62.3% | #186 |
| 7 | 229 | South Georgia | 9,972 | 24,255 | 2.4 | 53.4% | #190 |
| 8 | 478 | Macon | 7,388 | 18,396 | 2.5 | 70.3% | #234 |
| 9 | 762 | Augusta (overlay) | 5,023 | 12,860 | 2.6 | 50.1% | #278 |
| 10 | 943 | Savannah (overlay) | 3,564 | 9,222 | 2.6 | 17.7% | #306 |
| Total | 119,518 | 306,594 | 2.6 avg | 61.2% avg |
Three Georgia area codes rank in the national top 50. The 470 (Atlanta overlay) at #22 and 770 (Atlanta suburbs) at #26 are among the most targeted in the country.
Atlanta: Four Codes, 174,303 Complaints
The Atlanta metro area dominates Georgia's scam landscape with four area codes generating 57% of all state complaints.
| Area Code | Coverage | Complaints | In-State % | Top Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 470 | Atlanta (overlay) | 48,833 | 52.7% | Debt reduction (5,701) |
| 770 | Suburbs (Marietta, Roswell) | 47,697 | 79.9% | Medical (6,443) |
| 678 | Metro (overlay) | 40,075 | 75.3% | Medical (5,402) |
| 404 | Atlanta (original) | 37,698 | 74.1% | Medical (5,611) |
| Atlanta Total | 174,303 |
The 470 area code stands apart from the other three Atlanta codes. It has the lowest in-state targeting (52.7% vs. 74-80% for 770/678/404) and is dominated by debt reduction robocalls (5,701 complaints at 84.8% robocall rate). The established codes (770, 678, 404) are dominated by medical scams, with 770 alone having 6,443 medical complaints. This split suggests two distinct scam ecosystems targeting Atlanta: debt reduction operations using 470 for nationwide campaigns, and medical fraud operations using established codes for neighbor spoofing against local residents.
AARP data shows Atlanta's 404 area code receives approximately 55 robocalls per person per month, the highest rate of any area code in the country.
The 404 Scam Ring: Sequential Number Block
ScamVerify's database reveals a scam ring operating within the 404 area code.
| Phone Number | Complaints | Primary Category |
|---|---|---|
| (404) 806-4812 | 451 | Impersonation |
| (404) 806-4811 | 279 | Impersonation |
| Combined | 730 |
These two sequential numbers (404-806-4811 and 404-806-4812) generate 730 combined complaints, both dominated by government/business impersonation. Sequential numbering from the same prefix is a hallmark of organized VoIP-based scam operations that acquire number blocks in bulk.
Medical Scams and the Fraud Per Capita Crisis
Georgia's top scam categories mirror its demographic vulnerability.
| Rank | Scam Category | Complaints | Robocall % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Medical and prescriptions | 35,295 | 60.7% |
| 2 | Government/business impersonation | 28,250 | 64.9% |
| 3 | Debt reduction | 23,424 | 78.4% |
| 4 | Warranties and protection plans | 6,546 | 58.4% |
| 5 | Charities | 3,063 | 58.7% |
| 6 | Home security and alarms | 2,102 | 65.7% |
| 7 | Home improvement and cleaning | 1,955 | 28.8% |
| 8 | Vacation and timeshares | 1,854 | 26.2% |
Medical scams lead Georgia at 35,295 complaints, concentrated in Atlanta's suburban area codes. Home security scams rank 6th with 2,102 complaints, an unusually high ranking that does not appear in the top 8 for any other state in our series. The 28.8% robocall rate for home improvement suggests these calls predominantly use live operators, not automated dialers.
The FTC Consumer Sentinel ranked Georgia #3 per capita for fraud at 2,108 complaints per 100,000 residents in 2024, behind only Florida and Delaware. Georgia was #2 per capita for identity theft at 517 per 100,000. Only Florida and Georgia exceed both 2,000 fraud and 500 identity theft complaints per 100,000 residents.
WalletHub's 2025 analysis ranked Georgia #3 most vulnerable to identity theft and fraud, noting the state lacks an identity theft passport program, data disposal laws, and a statewide cybersecurity task force.
Top 10 Most Reported Georgia Phone Numbers
| Rank | Phone Number | Complaints | Primary Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | (404) 806-4812 | 451 | Impersonation |
| 2 | (404) 806-4811 | 279 | Impersonation |
| 3 | (678) 736-5592 | 210 | Impersonation |
| 4 | (912) 361-3848 | 175 | Debt reduction (69.1%) |
| 5 | (229) 251-8668 | 113 | Mixed |
| 6 | (770) 470-2828 | 102 | Dropped calls |
| 7 | (678) 743-3240 | 94 | Mixed |
| 8 | (470) 712-6477 | 88 | Impersonation (75%) |
| 9 | (943) 218-9671 | 87 | Mixed (tech support) |
| 10 | (943) 225-2087 | 86 | Impersonation |
The 404 scam ring numbers lead the state. Four of the top 10 are impersonation scams. (912) 361-3848 from Savannah is a dedicated debt reduction line with 121 of 175 complaints for debt scams. Two numbers use the 943 area code (Savannah overlay, active since 2022), already generating 87 and 86 complaints despite the code's youth.
Georgia's Growing Attack Surface
Georgia's population reached approximately 11.18 million in 2025, growing at 1.3% annually (above the national average). U-Haul ranked Georgia among the fastest-growing states for in-migration. New residents unfamiliar with local scam patterns are more susceptible to neighbor-spoofed calls from area codes they do not recognize.
The state's large military presence also creates vulnerability. Fort Moore (formerly Fort Benning), located in the Columbus area covered by the 706 area code, has been the target of specific scam campaigns. In one documented scheme, 74 soldiers were scammed out of over $140,000 through DFAS impersonation calls targeting new recruits via peer-to-peer payment apps.
Neighbor Spoofing: Atlanta vs. Rural Georgia
| Highest In-State | % | Lowest In-State | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 770 Atlanta Suburbs | 79.9% | 943 Savannah overlay | 17.7% |
| 706 Augusta | 76.1% | 762 Augusta overlay | 50.1% |
| 678 Atlanta Metro | 75.3% | 470 Atlanta overlay | 52.7% |
| 404 Atlanta | 74.1% | 229 South Georgia | 53.4% |
Established Atlanta codes (770, 678, 404) maintain 74-80% in-state targeting. Overlay codes (943, 762, 470) range from 17.7% to 52.7%. The Savannah overlay 943 has just 17.7% in-state targeting with debt reduction comprising 43.4% of its complaints at a 90.1% robocall rate, confirming it is being used almost exclusively for nationwide automated campaigns.
What Georgians Can Do
- Check any suspicious number on ScamVerify's phone lookup before calling back. Georgia has 119,518 known scam numbers in our database.
- Report scam calls to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the Georgia AG at consumer.georgia.gov or 404-651-8600.
- Be cautious of medical and Medicare calls. Georgia's #1 scam category is medical and prescriptions (35,295 complaints). Medicare never initiates unsolicited calls to sell plans.
- Watch for utility impersonation. Georgia Power confirmed it never calls to demand payment or threaten disconnection. If you receive such a call, hang up and contact Georgia Power directly at 888-660-5890.
- Military families: verify DFAS communications. If you receive calls claiming to be from the Defense Finance and Accounting Service, verify by calling DFAS directly. Never send money through peer-to-peer payment apps based on a phone call.
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FAQ
Is Georgia the worst state for fraud?
Georgia ranks #3 per capita for fraud (2,108 per 100,000 residents) and #2 per capita for identity theft (517 per 100,000) according to FTC Consumer Sentinel 2024 data. Only Florida surpasses Georgia across both measures. By total phone scam volume, Georgia ranks 7th nationally with 306,594 FTC complaints. The FBI's IC3 reported $420 million in cybercrime losses from Georgia in 2024, a 40% increase from the prior year.
Why does Atlanta get so many robocalls?
AARP data shows Atlanta's 404 area code receives 55 robocalls per person per month, the highest rate nationally. Three factors drive this: Atlanta's four area codes give scammers extensive options for neighbor spoofing; the metro area's 6.2 million population is a large target pool; and Atlanta's fast-growing population includes new residents unfamiliar with local scam patterns. YouMail estimated Georgia received 3.3 billion robocalls in 2024 (307 per person), ranking #2 nationally per capita.
What types of scams are most common in Georgia?
Medical and prescriptions lead with 35,295 complaints (60.7% robocall rate), followed by government/business impersonation at 28,250 and debt reduction at 23,424. Georgia also has an unusually high ranking for home security scams (2,102 complaints, #6 statewide), which does not appear in the top 8 for other states in our series. Charities scams rank 5th (3,063 complaints), reflecting exploitation of Southern cultural generosity.
What is the newest Georgia area code and is it being used for scams?
Area code 943 was activated in March 2022 as a Savannah overlay. Despite being less than four years old, it already has 9,222 FTC complaints from 3,564 numbers. Its 17.7% in-state targeting rate (the lowest in Georgia) and 90.1% robocall rate for debt reduction confirm scammers adopted 943 almost immediately for nationwide automated campaigns. This mirrors the pattern seen with overlay codes in other states.
How do I report a scam call to the Georgia Attorney General?
File a complaint at consumer.georgia.gov or call the Consumer Protection Division at 404-651-8600 (or 1-800-869-1123 toll-free within Georgia). AG Chris Carr's office has secured over $1.6 billion for Georgia consumers since 2016 through enforcement actions. You should also report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
