What are Bucks County Area Codes?
Bucks County area codes are the three digits that begin all 10-digit Bucks County telephone numbers. Area codes identify specific geographic regions known as Numbering Plan Areas (NPAs). These three-digit codes are assigned under the North American Numbering Plan (NANP). Bucks County currently has five active area codes. These are:
Area Code 215
Put into service in 1947, area code 215 is a Pennsylvania telephone area code that serves Bucks County and parts of other counties in Pennsylvania. The locations in Buck County within the 215 NPA include Doylestown, Dublin, Warrington, Quakertown, and Langhorne.
Area Code 610
Split from 215 in 1994, the 610 Pennsylvania area code extends over many counties in the state. Places served by area code 610 in Bucks County include Ferndale, Durham, and Bedminster.
Area Code 484
Area code 484 is a Pennsylvania telephone code that overlays the 610 NPA. It covers all the locations served by the area code 610.
Area Code 267
An overlay for the 215 NPA, area code 267 came into service in 1999. It covers the same locations in Bucks County as the 215 NPA.
Area Code 445
Area code 445 overlays Pennsylvania area codes 267 and 215. It was put into service in 2018. All the cities in Bucks County covered by the 215/267 overlay are also served by area code 445.
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) manages area code administration in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
What are the Best Cell Phone Plans in Bucks County?
A survey conducted by the CDC in 2018 revealed that an increasing number of households had adopted wireless telephony services in Pennsylvania. According to the report, an estimated 43.4% of the adult demographic used cellular phones as their only means of telecommunication. This figure was in contrast to the 4.3% of them that used landlines solely for their telephony services. The report also recorded a similar trend among minors (under 18 years) in the state.
Bucks County residents use Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) to place phone calls to places within and outside the county. VoIP uses broadband internet connections to deliver voice and video messages in real-time while offering cheaper rates than traditional telephony services.
All four major phone carriers (AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile) provide cellular phone services in Bucks County. They provide decent coverage especially in the major cities within the county. In Doylestown, T-Mobile has the best coverage of 92% followed by Sprint at 84%. Verizon covers about 72% of the city while AT&T offers 60% coverage.
What are Bucks County Phone Scams?
Bucks County phone scams are deceptive practices perpetrated against Bucks County residents using telephone services. Phone scams are committed in various sophisticated ways and targeted at swindling innocent individuals. Bucks County residents can retrieve information on the identities of unknown callers who attempt to cheat them using reverse phone number lookups.
At the forefront of protecting Bucks County residents against phone scams is the Bucks County Department of Consumer Protection (BDCP). Residents can call the BDCP on (215) 348-6124 to report incidents of phone scams. The Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General (POAG) also informs and educates residents on avoiding scams. It encourages residents to sign up for receiving scam alerts that will keep them informed of the latest phone scams.
Prevalent Bucks County phone scams include:
What are COVID-19 Scams?
Scammers are preying on Bucks County residents' fears about the coronavirus pandemic to steal their monies and identities. With many jobs lost and businesses closing down due to the crisis’s negative impact, fraudsters are taking advantage of the uncertainties to defraud people. There is a wide range of scams exploiting the coronavirus pandemic and targeting Bucks County residents. These include the ones in which:
- Scammers call to offer vaccines and cures for coronavirus. There is currently no recognized and approved vaccine or cure for the virus.
- Scammers claim to be from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and offer speedy processing of stimulus checks. In the process, they will ask their targets to provide personal information such as social security numbers and bank details. These records are used to commit financial and identity thefts.
- Scammers contact unsuspecting residents via phone calls to sell phony COVID-19 test kits and treatments. They will ask targets to send money to them to cover kits delivery, medications, and mailing of test results.
Scam callers always request payments in irregular forms such as wire transfers, gift cards, cash, and cryptocurrencies. The Bucks County Department of Consumer Protection (BDCP) warns residents to be aware of coronavirus-related scams. Victims of these scams can report to the BDCP online or call the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on 1 (888) 382-1222.
What are IRS Tax Scams?
Do not panic if you receive a phone call from someone who claims to be an agent of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). You may be able to verify the caller's identity by performing a reverse cell phone lookup. Fraudsters are contacting Bucks County residents in this way with the aim of stealing their money and personal information. They will inform targets that they have outstanding taxes and threaten them with arrests. They will then ask targets to pay the taxes immediately by gift cards and wire transfer to avoid arrest. They also attempt to obtain confidential information such as social security numbers, credit card numbers, and birthdates during their calls.
It is best to terminate such calls and contact the IRS on 1 (800) 829-1040 to verify the callers’ claims. The IRS warns that it does not initiate contact with residents by phone. It will also not threaten arrest or request payment over the phone. Even if you have reasons to believe that you owe taxes, do not pay over the phone. File IRS tax scams complaints with the FTC online. Victims can also notify the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General by calling (717) 787-3391.
What are Charity Scams?
Scammers take advantage of holiday seasons and times of emergencies and disasters to perpetrate charity scams. Some charity scams involve impersonating legitimate charities by spoofing the targets’ caller IDs. In others, scammers use similar-sounding names to fake affiliations with popular charities and fraudulently solicit on their behalf. Scammers will ask that you donate money towards a cause and request that you pay by gift cards. In some instances, they will ask for cash donations and have you mail them to addresses that they will provide.
While donating to charities is never wrong, Bucks County residents should ensure they verify their genuineness before sending money. Applications that offer suspicious phone number lookup services can find available information on the identities of persons engaging in charity scams. If you believe you are a victim of a charity scam, file reports online with the BDCP or call (215) 348-6060. You can also file a complaint with the Bucks County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) by calling (215) 348-6124.
What are Debt Collection Scams?
Debt collection scams have been around for some time now but they have taken a new twist in their determination to cheat Bucks County residents. It is possible to avoid these phone scams by running reverse phone lookups on the phone numbers of unknown callers making claims. In this scam, fraudsters will pretend to be calling from the Office of the Attorney General to collect unpaid loans or debts. The targets will be threatened with legal actions and arrest if they do not pay within a specified period, usually hours. Debt collection scammers typically demand payment by wire transfer and prepaid cards.
The Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General (POAG) alerts residents never to send money to persons claiming to represent them and requesting payment of debts. It is not in the jurisdiction of the POAG to place such calls. Residents who receive such calls or are victims can report to the POAG by calling (717) 787-3391.
What are Robocalls and Spam Calls?
Robocalls deliver pre-recorded messages to selected phone numbers using auto-dialers. Scammers defraud and steal confidential information of innocent individuals with illegal robocalls and spam calls. Spam calls may attempt to sell fake products and services to people over the phone. More than 50% of phone scams reported yearly in Bucks County are perpetrated by spam calls. To avoid robocall scams, the following are the best courses of action:
- Check unknown numbers with applications that offer reverse phone lookup services to know if they are robocalls.
- End phone calls once you realize they are robocalls. It is also generally advised not to answer calls from unknown phone numbers and let them go to voicemail.
- Use the built-in call-blocking function of your cell phone to block unsolicited calls. As an alternative, ask your phone company to block robocall numbers for you.
- Report robocalls to the FTC online or by calling 1 (888) 382-1222, and spoofed robocalls to the FCC on 1 (888) 225-5322 or online.
- Add your phone number to Pennsylvania Do Not Call List and the DNC Registry. Only illegal robocalls will come through your phone after 31 days of registration.
How Can You Spot and Report Bucks County Phone Scams?
Identifying the telltale signs of phone scams is vital in preventing fraud. Search engines that offer phone number search services have proven useful in identifying phone scammers over time. It is also important to know how phone scammers run their cons. The FTC provides information on how to block unwanted phone calls to fight this scourge. Signs to look for when determining whether a caller is a phone scammer include:
- Scammers try to terrify their targets with threats and frightful news. It is a ploy to manipulate targets into doing their bidding.
- Scammers will pretend to be law enforcement agents to accuse targets with made-up charges. To drop the allegations, they will request that their targets pay fines immediately to avoid arrest.
- Persons who claim to be with the government and then ask you to provide personal information, which the government already has, are scammers.
- If unknown persons attempt to sell their products to you over the phone and ask that you disclose credit card numbers for payment, hang up. Chances are they are out to scam you.
- Scammers will call to inform their targets that they have won prizes in competitions they did not enter.
Bucks County residents can avoid phone scams by looking out for these signs during phone calls, especially with unknown persons. However, persons who fall victim to phone scams in the county can report their encounters to the following government agencies:
Bucks County Department of Consumer Protection - The BDCP is a consumer protection agency that mediates residents' complaints against businesses and deceptive practices in Bucks County. The BDCP also investigates complaints in collaboration with law enforcement agencies. Phone scams victims can file reports with the BDCP online or by email. The BDCP is also reachable by phone at (215) 348-6060.
Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General - Persons who may have fallen victim to phone scams in Bucks County can file complaints online with the Attorney General’s Office or by calling (717) 787-3391. It manages a platform on which residents can sign up to receive the latest phone scams alerts.
Bucks County Sheriff's Office - Residents of Bucks County can file complaints of phone scams with the BCSO at:
Bucks County Justice Center
100 North Main Street
Floor B2
Doylestown, PA 18901
Phone: (215)-348-6124
The BCSO is the primary law enforcement agency in Bucks County and it investigates cases of phone scams reported by county residents. Residents of Bucks County can also contact their local police departments.
Federal Trade Commission - The FTC is the principal consumer protection agency in the United States. It encourages residents to add their phone numbers to the DNC Registry to prevent robocall scams. Persons who have fallen victim to Bucks County phone scams can file complaints with the FTC online or call 1 (888) 382-1222.