Key Findings
Massachusetts packs 9 area codes into the sixth-smallest state by area, creating the highest area-code-to-square-mile density in the country and ideal conditions for neighbor spoofing. ScamVerify™ analysis of 9.7 million FTC phone complaint records reveals 148,586 complaints from 59,048 unique scam numbers across 9 Massachusetts area codes.
The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center reported $338.87 million in losses from 14,254 Massachusetts victims in 2024. Massachusetts ranks #2 per capita nationally for tech support scam losses, with losses surging from $1.2 million in 2019 to $50 million+ in 2024 (Boston Globe). Energy and utility scams rank #4 at 5,958 complaints, elevated by Eversource and National Grid impersonation campaigns. In one documented case, scammers ran a sophisticated tag-team operation where one caller impersonated Eversource while another impersonated Direct Energy, transferring the victim back and forth until $900 was extracted. Spam calls in Massachusetts increased 84.77% year over year (Hiya data) with a 500% growth in spam and fraud calls over the past several years.
All 9 Massachusetts Area Codes: Ranked by Complaints
| Rank | Area Code | Region | Numbers | Complaints | Per # | In-State % | Nat'l Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 508 | Worcester | 11,621 | 28,985 | 2.5 | 71.4% | #146 |
| 2 | 617 | Boston | 10,583 | 25,718 | 2.4 | 72.1% | #175 |
| 3 | 978 | Lowell/North Shore | 8,709 | 23,065 | 2.6 | 63.5% | #197 |
| 4 | 781 | North/South Shore | 5,944 | 14,601 | 2.5 | 63.0% | #263 |
| 5 | 413 | Western MA | 5,402 | 13,793 | 2.6 | 61.5% | #269 |
| 6 | 339 | South Shore (overlay) | 4,843 | 11,931 | 2.5 | 37.3% | #287 |
| 7 | 774 | Worcester (overlay) | 4,631 | 11,746 | 2.5 | 49.6% | #289 |
| 8 | 857 | Boston (overlay) | 4,420 | 11,455 | 2.6 | 42.6% | #293 |
| 9 | 351 | Lowell (overlay) | 2,895 | 7,292 | 2.5 | 43.5% | #317 |
| Total | 59,048 | 148,586 | 2.5 avg | 56.1% avg |
The statewide average of 56.1% in-state targeting is the lowest of any state in our full series, even below Colorado (62.1%). Massachusetts area codes are disproportionately used for out-of-state campaigns.
Boston: Financial District Impersonation
Boston's two area codes serve the city that is home to Fidelity Investments, State Street, John Hancock, and dozens of other financial institutions.
| Area Code | Coverage | Complaints | In-State % | #1 Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 617 | Boston | 25,718 | 72.1% | Impersonation (3,035) |
| 857 | Boston (overlay) | 11,455 | 42.6% | Impersonation (1,558) |
| Boston Total | 37,173 |
The established 617 has 72.1% in-state targeting with energy/utility scams (1,616 complaints) ranking #4 - unusually high for a city area code. The overlay 857 drops to 42.6% in-state with debt reduction at 84.5% robocall rate. Boston Police tracked $9 million+ in crypto scam losses in 2024 alone. The FBI's Boston field office reported New England losses (MA/ME/NH/RI) totaling $446.7 million in IC3 complaints.
Massachusetts State Police reported approximately 100 scam calls in a single day to the Boston Barracks in August 2025, where callers posed as "Internet Crime Complaint Center" troopers and told victims their identity was being used in crimes in China, then transferred them to "Shanghai Police." Reports came from as far as Indiana.
Energy Scams: The Eversource Factor
| Rank | Scam Category | Complaints | Robocall % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Government/business impersonation | 15,771 | 67.9% |
| 2 | Debt reduction | 14,040 | 79.4% |
| 3 | Medical and prescriptions | 9,489 | 50.0% |
| 4 | Energy, solar, and utilities | 5,958 | 49.7% |
| 5 | Charities | 2,240 | 52.8% |
| 6 | Warranties and protection plans | 1,766 | 61.0% |
| 7 | Home improvement and cleaning | 1,299 | 40.4% |
| 8 | Tech support | 1,028 | 52.1% |
Energy and utility scams at 5,958 complaints represent 4.0% of Massachusetts' total, the third-highest utility scam concentration after New Jersey (5.2%) and Pennsylvania (4.8%). The 49.7% robocall rate means roughly half use live operators.
The Eversource tag-team scam documented by the Boston Globe represents a new level of sophistication: one caller impersonates Eversource, then "transfers" the victim to someone impersonating Direct Energy. The two scammers pass the victim back and forth, each referencing what the other said, until the victim pays $900. National Grid impersonation campaigns target the same area.
The #1 most reported Massachusetts number, (617) 469-2300, has 322 complaints with 267 (82.9%) categorized as energy and utility scams, confirming Eversource/National Grid impersonation as a significant Boston-area threat.
Top 10 Most Reported Massachusetts Phone Numbers
| Rank | Phone Number | Complaints | Primary Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | (617) 469-2300 | 322 | Energy/utilities (82.9%) |
| 2 | (413) 732-7111 | 242 | Mixed (charities, dropped calls) |
| 3 | (978) 444-5700 | 209 | Debt reduction, mixed |
| 4 | (781) 335-1212 | 165 | Unknown |
| 5 | (339) 212-0288 | 132 | Mixed |
| 6 | (413) 848-4693 | 130 | Medical (24.6%), mixed |
| 7 | (781) 566-8000 | 120 | Mixed |
| 8 | (617) 788-8600 | 114 | Home security (33.3%) |
| 9 | (508) 552-2018 | 113 | Mixed |
| 10 | (978) 552-6250 | 111 | Medical (36.9%) |
(617) 469-2300 is a dedicated utility impersonation line: 267 of 322 complaints are energy/utilities. (617) 788-8600 focuses on home security scams (38 of 114 complaints). (978) 552-6250 from Lowell targets medical scam victims with 41 of 111 complaints for medical and prescriptions. Two numbers use the 413 Western MA area code, suggesting scam activity extends well beyond the Boston metro.
Neighbor Spoofing: 9 Codes in a Small State
| Highest In-State | % | Lowest In-State | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 617 Boston | 72.1% | 339 South Shore overlay | 37.3% |
| 508 Worcester | 71.4% | 857 Boston overlay | 42.6% |
| 978 Lowell | 63.5% | 351 Lowell overlay | 43.5% |
| 781 North Shore | 63.0% | 774 Worcester overlay | 49.6% |
Massachusetts has the most dramatic established/overlay split of any state. Established codes average 66.5% in-state, while overlay codes average 43.3%, a 23-point gap. The 339 South Shore overlay at just 37.3% in-state is dominated by debt reduction at 2,626 complaints (86% robocall rate), functioning as a nationwide automated campaign code.
The geographic density compounds the problem: Massachusetts covers only 10,565 square miles (compared to Arizona's 113,990) with 9 area codes. Every square mile of Massachusetts has more area codes available for spoofing than almost anywhere else in the country.
Massachusetts vs. Other States
| State | Area Codes | Complaints | IC3 Losses | Unique Angle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 5 | 170,624 | $48.78M (one case) | India call center takedown |
| Massachusetts | 9 | 148,586 | $338.87M | #2 tech support losses per capita |
| Colorado | 4 | 149,471 | N/A | 105% spam increase |
| Indiana | 7 | 143,882 | N/A | #1 robocall increase |
Massachusetts' $338.87 million in FBI IC3 losses from 14,254 victims is a hard federal number. AG Andrea Campbell's office issued a Consumer Advocacy Report in March 2026 and implemented junk fee regulations (effective September 2025) mandating upfront cost transparency. New York's SilverShield tool launched in January 2026, and Massachusetts seniors can use it as well for AI-powered scam assessment.
What Bay Staters Can Do
- Check any suspicious number on ScamVerify's phone lookup before calling back. Massachusetts has 59,048 known scam numbers in our database.
- Report scam calls to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the MA AG at mass.gov/ago or 617-727-8400.
- Verify utility calls directly. Eversource (1-800-592-2000) and National Grid (1-800-322-3223) never threaten disconnection by phone or use tag-team transfer tactics. If you are transferred between two "representatives" discussing your account, hang up.
- Be skeptical of tech support calls. Massachusetts ranks #2 per capita for tech support scam losses ($50M+ in 2024). Microsoft, Apple, and your bank will never call unsolicited about account problems.
- Report crypto scams to the FBI. Boston PD tracked $9M+ in crypto losses in 2024. Report at ic3.gov.
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FAQ
How much do Massachusetts residents lose to phone scams?
The FBI's IC3 reported $338.87 million in losses from 14,254 Massachusetts victims in 2024. New England (MA/ME/NH/RI) totaled $446.7 million. FTC data shows 40,845 fraud cases with $210.3 million in losses. Tech support scam losses alone surged from $1.2 million in 2019 to $50 million+ in 2024, ranking Massachusetts #2 per capita nationally. Boston PD tracked $9 million+ in crypto losses.
Why does Massachusetts have 9 area codes for such a small state?
Massachusetts covers only 10,565 square miles but has 9 area codes due to population density (7 million+ residents) and the historical proliferation of phone numbers. This creates the highest area-code-to-square-mile density in the country, which scammers exploit: more area code options mean more effective neighbor spoofing. The overlay codes (339, 774, 857, 351) average just 43.3% in-state targeting, indicating widespread use for out-of-state campaigns.
What is the Eversource tag-team scam?
In a documented Boston-area case, scammers ran a two-person operation: one caller impersonated Eversource while another impersonated Direct Energy. They "transferred" the victim between themselves, each referencing what the other said, until the victim paid $900. This represents a new level of sophistication beyond simple utility disconnect threats. Eversource confirmed they never threaten disconnection by phone.
What types of scams target Massachusetts the most?
Government/business impersonation leads with 15,771 complaints (67.9% robocall rate), followed by debt reduction at 14,040 (79.4%), medical at 9,489 (50%), and energy/utility at 5,958 (49.7%). Tech support (1,028) is elevated relative to state size, and charities (2,240) rank #5. The top reported phone number is a utility scam line with 322 complaints (82.9% energy/utilities).
How do I report a scam call in Massachusetts?
Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the Massachusetts AG at mass.gov/ago or 617-727-8400. For tech support scams, also report to the FBI at ic3.gov. For utility impersonation, contact Eversource at 1-800-592-2000 or National Grid at 1-800-322-3223.
