Key Findings
Wisconsin received an estimated 515 million robocalls in 2019 alone, with 147.9 million targeting the Milwaukee 414 area code (YouMail data). ScamVerify™ analysis of 9.7 million FTC phone complaint records reveals 154,317 complaints from 63,873 unique scam numbers across 5 Wisconsin area codes. Spam calls in the state increased 82.53% year over year (CallerSmart data), with September 2025 as the peak month at 17.19% of all annual spam.
Wisconsin became one of the first states to criminalize caller ID spoofing when Wisconsin Statute 100.523(2) took effect on April 1, 2025. Penalties range from $100 to $10,000 per violation for knowingly transmitting misleading caller ID with intent to defraud. Debt reduction robocalls are the #1 category statewide at 15,643 complaints with an 84.6% robocall rate, followed closely by medical scams at 14,648 and impersonation at 14,132. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP) received 11,800 written complaints in 2025 and recovered $4.2 million for consumers. The Wisconsin Bankers Association reported $107 million in fraud losses statewide, with $32.8 million in Q3 2025 alone.
All 5 Wisconsin Area Codes: Ranked by Complaints
| Rank | Area Code | Region | Numbers | Complaints | Per # | In-State % | Nat'l Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 920 | Green Bay / NE Wisconsin | 15,216 | 35,733 | 2.3 | 56.7% | #119 |
| 2 | 262 | SE Wisconsin / Waukesha | 14,654 | 34,859 | 2.4 | 57.8% | #126 |
| 3 | 608 | Madison | 11,933 | 30,190 | 2.5 | 70.4% | #162 |
| 4 | 715 | Northern Wisconsin | 11,791 | 29,312 | 2.5 | 70.2% | #169 |
| 5 | 414 | Milwaukee | 10,279 | 24,223 | 2.4 | 67.9% | #201 |
| Total | 63,873 | 154,317 | 2.4 avg | 64.6% avg |
The most surprising finding: Milwaukee's 414 ranks last among Wisconsin area codes despite being the state's largest city (population 577,000). Green Bay's 920 leads with 35,733 complaints, 47% more than Milwaukee. The two suburban/outstate area codes (920 and 262) have the lowest in-state targeting (56-58%), indicating they are used heavily for out-of-state spoofing campaigns.
Milwaukee: Not What You Would Expect
Milwaukee's 414 area code has the fewest complaints of any Wisconsin area code, a counterintuitive result for the state's largest city.
| Area Code | Coverage | Complaints | In-State % | #1 Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 414 | Milwaukee | 24,223 | 67.9% | Medical (2,808) |
| 262 | Waukesha / SE WI suburbs | 34,859 | 57.8% | Debt (4,449) |
| Milwaukee Metro | 59,082 |
The Milwaukee metro (combining 414 and 262) generates 59,082 complaints, 38.3% of the state total. But the split reveals different scam ecosystems. Milwaukee proper (414) leads with medical scams (2,808 at 69.6% robocall rate) and has higher in-state targeting (67.9%), indicating neighbor spoofing against Milwaukee residents. The suburban 262 leads with debt reduction (4,449 at 87.6% robocall rate) and lower in-state targeting (57.8%), functioning more as an out-of-state campaign launchpad.
CBS58 reported that the 414 area code receives 2x the national average of scam calls per user, approximately 2 per day. We Energies customers in the Milwaukee area lost $20,000+ in October 2025 alone to utility disconnection scams. Wisconsin Public Service (WPS) customers in northern Wisconsin lost $10,000+ in a single week from the same type of campaign.
Green Bay and Northeast Wisconsin: The Surprise Leader
The 920 area code (Green Bay, Appleton, Oshkosh, Sheboygan) leads Wisconsin with 35,733 complaints from 15,216 scam numbers, ranking #119 nationally.
| Metric | 920 Green Bay | 414 Milwaukee |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints | 35,733 | 24,223 |
| In-State % | 56.7% | 67.9% |
| #1 Category | Debt (5,305, 87.7% robocall) | Medical (2,808, 69.6% robocall) |
| #2 Category | Impersonation (2,921) | Impersonation (2,349) |
The 920 area code's 56.7% in-state targeting rate and dominant debt reduction category (5,305 at 87.7% robocall rate) match the nationwide debt campaign pattern seen in 502 Louisville (46.1% in-state, 89.2% debt robocall) and 518 Albany (36%, 92.7%). Scammers chose 920 numbers for bulk automated dialing, not for targeting Green Bay residents specifically.
Chippewa Falls (in the 715 area code) recorded a 57% year-over-year jump in robocalls in 2025, one of the highest local increases in the state.
Wisconsin's Scam Category Profile
| Rank | Scam Category | Complaints | Robocall % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Debt reduction | 15,643 | 84.6% |
| 2 | Medical and prescriptions | 14,648 | 60.1% |
| 3 | Government/business impersonation | 14,132 | 67.7% |
| 4 | Warranties and protection plans | 3,336 | 75.0% |
| 5 | Charities | 1,507 | 39.3% |
| 6 | Energy, solar, and utilities | 1,246 | 64.8% |
| 7 | Tech support | 999 | 67.1% |
| 8 | Home improvement and cleaning | 853 | 36.2% |
The top three categories are tightly clustered (15,643 / 14,648 / 14,132), separated by less than 11%. Debt reduction leads with the highest robocall rate (84.6%), confirming automated campaign dominance. Charities rank #5 with 1,507 complaints at just 39.3% robocall rate, meaning most charity scam calls use live operators.
DATCP's 2025 annual report confirmed telemarketing as the #2 consumer complaint category with 1,283 written complaints covering phishing, spoofing, imposter scams, robocalls, harassment, and Do Not Call violations.
The We Energies Scam Crisis
We Energies and Wisconsin Public Service (WPS) utility scams reached crisis levels in late 2025.
- We Energies customers lost $20,000+ in October 2025 from callers threatening immediate disconnection
- WPS customers lost $10,000+ in one week from the same disconnection threat pattern
- Scammers demand payment via prepaid debit cards, Zelle, or cryptocurrency
- We Energies partnered with law enforcement on a viral awareness campaign in November 2025
- Energy and utility scams statewide: 1,246 complaints at 64.8% robocall rate
We Energies confirmed they never threaten disconnection by phone or demand payment through prepaid cards. Their legitimate customer service number is 1-800-242-9137.
Wisconsin's New Spoofing Law
Wisconsin Statute 100.523(2), effective April 1, 2025 (created by 2023 Wisconsin Act 243), makes it illegal to knowingly transmit misleading caller ID information with intent to defraud.
| Penalty | Amount |
|---|---|
| Minimum per violation | $100 |
| Maximum per violation | $10,000 |
In a separate action, AG Josh Kaul joined 50 other attorneys general in sending warning letters to the FCC about telecommunications companies allowing robocalls to reach consumers. The 49-state AG coalition sued Avid Telecom for 24.5 billion illegal robocalls, 7.5 billion of which targeted Do Not Call Registry numbers. State Sen. Sarah Keyeski introduced legislation in January 2026 making deepfake harassment a misdemeanor and deepfake fraud a felony.
Top 10 Most Reported Wisconsin Phone Numbers
| Rank | Phone Number | Complaints | Primary Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | (608) 371-6666 | 868 | Impersonation (92), dropped calls (230) |
| 2 | (715) 759-3028 | 117 | Mixed |
| 3 | (262) 216-1808 | 112 | Robocaller (100%) |
| 4 | (715) 227-9514 | 93 | Mixed |
| 5 | (414) 261-0879 | 85 | Tech support (14), mixed |
| 6 | (414) 251-0504 | 80 | Mixed |
| 7 | (262) 447-6049 | 74 | Impersonation (100%) |
| 8 | (715) 752-0006 | 72 | Mixed |
| 9 | (715) 286-9348 | 69 | Robocaller (100%) |
| 10 | (920) 503-8794 | 65 | Robocaller (97%), dropped calls |
(608) 371-6666 from Madison is the most reported number in all of Wisconsin with 868 complaints, more than 7x the #2 number. It is a multi-category operation with 230 dropped calls and 92 impersonation complaints. (262) 447-6049 is a dedicated impersonation line with 100% of its 74 complaints in that category. Three numbers from the 715 area code (Northern Wisconsin) appear in the top 10, consistent with the area's elevated robocall activity.
The Toll Road Text Scam
Wisconsin has no toll roads, yet in March through June 2025, massive waves of fraudulent text messages claimed recipients had unpaid tolls. The texts impersonated the Wisconsin DOT and included links to fake payment portals mimicking WI government URLs. Multiple waves arrived with increasing sophistication, initially from out-of-state numbers and later mimicking Wisconsin DMV formatting.
The Wisconsin DOT confirmed it never collects fees or notifies residents by text about unpaid tolls. DATCP issued consumer alerts about the campaign.
Neighbor Spoofing Analysis
| Highest In-State | % | Lowest In-State | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 608 Madison | 70.4% | 920 Green Bay | 56.7% |
| 715 Northern WI | 70.2% | 262 SE Wisconsin | 57.8% |
| 414 Milwaukee | 67.9% |
Wisconsin's statewide average of 64.6% in-state targeting is below the national norm of approximately 70%. The established city-center codes (608 Madison and 715 Northern WI) have the highest in-state targeting at 70%, while 920 Green Bay and 262 suburban SE Wisconsin have the lowest (56-58%), confirming their use for out-of-state debt robocall campaigns.
Wisconsin vs. Other States
| State | Area Codes | Complaints | Unique Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 11 | 264,487 | Auto warranty #1 AG complaint |
| Indiana | 7 | 143,882 | #1 robocall increase nationally |
| Wisconsin | 5 | 154,317 | New $10K spoofing law, $107M fraud |
| Minnesota | 7 | 121,047 | First-of-its-kind restitution fund |
Wisconsin's $107 million in fraud losses (Wisconsin Bankers Association) ranks among the highest in the Midwest. The FTC returned $17 million to 78,000 Wisconsin residents since 2018 through enforcement actions. AG Kaul's office participated in National Consumer Protection Week in March 2026 with specific warnings about phone scam escalation.
What Wisconsinites Can Do
- Check any suspicious number on ScamVerify's phone lookup before calling back. Wisconsin has 63,873 known scam numbers in our database.
- Report scam calls to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to DATCP at 1-800-422-7128 or datcp.wi.gov.
- Register on the Do Not Call Registry at DoNotCall.gov or 1-888-382-1222. Telemarketers have 31 days to comply after registration.
- We Energies never threatens disconnection by phone. If someone threatens to shut off your power in 30 minutes, hang up. Call We Energies directly at 1-800-242-9137.
- Wisconsin has no toll roads. Any text about unpaid tolls is a scam. Do not click the link.
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FAQ
How many scam calls does Wisconsin get?
Wisconsin received an estimated 515 million robocalls in 2019, with 147.9 million targeting the 414 (Milwaukee) area code. ScamVerify's database contains 154,317 FTC complaints from 63,873 unique scam numbers across Wisconsin's 5 area codes. Spam calls increased 82.53% year over year. DATCP received 11,800 written consumer complaints in 2025 and recovered $4.2 million for consumers.
What is Wisconsin's new caller ID spoofing law?
Wisconsin Statute 100.523(2), effective April 1, 2025, makes it illegal to knowingly transmit misleading caller ID information with intent to defraud. Penalties range from $100 to $10,000 per violation. The law was created by 2023 Wisconsin Act 243. Separately, State Sen. Sarah Keyeski introduced legislation in January 2026 making deepfake harassment a misdemeanor and deepfake fraud a felony.
Why does Green Bay (920) lead Wisconsin in scam complaints instead of Milwaukee?
Area code 920 has 35,733 complaints, 47% more than Milwaukee's 414 at 24,223. The key is the 920 area code's low in-state targeting (56.7%) and dominant debt reduction category (5,305 at 87.7% robocall rate). This matches the pattern of mid-market area codes like 502 Louisville and 518 Albany being exploited for nationwide automated debt campaigns. Milwaukee's 414 is primarily used for local neighbor spoofing (67.9% in-state) with medical scams as the top category.
What is the We Energies scam?
Scammers call customers threatening immediate power disconnection (within 30 minutes) unless payment is made via prepaid debit cards, Zelle, or cryptocurrency. We Energies customers lost $20,000+ in October 2025 alone, and WPS customers lost $10,000+ in a single week. We Energies confirmed they never threaten disconnection by phone and never demand payment through prepaid cards. Call We Energies directly at 1-800-242-9137 to verify any communication.
How do I report a scam call in Wisconsin?
Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to DATCP at 1-800-422-7128. You can also file online at datcp.wi.gov. For utility scams, contact We Energies at 1-800-242-9137 or WPS at 1-800-450-7260. AG Josh Kaul's office issues consumer alerts through doj.state.wi.us.
