What are York County Area Codes?
As established by the North American Numbering Plan (NANP), an area code differentiates one Numbering Plan Area (NPA) from another within a state. The first set of three-digit numbers that begin all 10-digit telephone numbers are the area codes. York County area codes distinguish each telephone service area or NPA in the county. The county covers two area codes. These are:
Area Code 717
Area code 717 is a Pennsylvania telephone area code that was put into service in 1947. It designates an NPA that covers several counties in the state, including York County. York County communities under the 717 NPA include York, Delta, Stewartstown, Hanover, Dillsburg, Red Lion, and Glen Rock.
Area Code 213
Area code 213 overlayed the 717 NPA in 2017. All York County locations within the 717 NPA are also covered by area code 213.
As approved by the FCC, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) manages Pennsylvania area codes, including those of York County.
What are the Best Cell Phone Plans in York County?
A large number of Pennsylvania households have embraced wireless-telephony services. However, the adoption rate has been slow-paced among adults compared to many other states of the nation. The 2018 CDC survey on the phone usage trends among Pennsylvanians revealed that about 4.3% of the total adult population solely used landlines. However, 43.4% of the adult population had adopted cell phones as their sole means of telecommunication.
Besides the four principal national carriers, several Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) also provide telephony services in York County. The primary phone carriers offer varying network coverage and strength by location in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. York City, for instance, enjoys a 92% coverage from both AT&T and Verizon. T-Mobile claims 76% cover of the city, while Sprint provides a spread of 70%. An MVNO's network coverage is typically at par with the national carrier on whose infrastructure it operates.
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services route voice calls over broadband internet connections at a relatively lower cost than other telephony services. York County residents and businesses can enjoy much clearer phone conversations using VoIP services. Besides voice calls, VoIP also supports video calling and messaging services.
What are York County Phone Scams?
York County phone scams are thefts perpetrated against county residents using telephone services. Phone scammers use live calls, text messages, and robocalls as a means of stealing money and valuable information from county residents. York County residents can report cases of phone scams to the York County Sheriff's Office (YCSO). The Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General (POAG) is the primary consumer protection agency in the commonwealth that educates residents on preventing phone scams. The following are some of the commonly occurring phone scams in York County:
What are COVID-19 Contact Tracing Scams?
Contact tracing helps identify people who have been in contact with other persons who have tested positive for COVID-19. It is an effort put in place by the government to limit the spread of the coronavirus. Scammers pretend to be legitimate contact tracers and call York County residents to get personal information and payments. The callers will notify targets of their exposure to persons with COVID-19 and tell them to self-isolate. They will ask them to monitor possible symptoms and request personal details, such as social security information and passwords.
If anyone claims to be a contact tracer and requests your social security number or other details unrelated to COVID-19, such a caller is a scammer. You will most likely become a victim of identity theft if you share this information with such a caller. While real contact tracers may ask for a few personal information, none will include information unrelated to COVID-19. If you receive this type of call, end it and verify the caller's inquiry by contacting the Pennsylvania Department of Health (PDH) on 1 (877) 724-3258. The PDH is warning all residents to be alert to these scams. York County residents can file complaints with the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General (POAG) if they fall prey to contact tracing scams. Residents can also call the York County Sheriff's Office (YCSO) on (717) 771-9601 to file their reports.
What are Lottery Scams?
Pennsylvania Lottery officials warn residents to beware of extortions by individuals claiming to be with lottery companies. In these scams, the callers inform targeted York County residents they have won fake prizes. The callers then instruct the victims to pay taxes and other fees to facilitate the quick processing of the winnings. Lottery scammers favor wired transfers and payment by credit cards. Some targeted persons might not have even entered such lottery games and still fall victim. If you receive such a call, performing a reverse phone number lookup can confirm the caller's true identity. Claiming prizes from lottery games does not require paying upfront fees for taxes and processing of the winnings. York County residents who get suspicious calls can report them to lottery officials at 1 (800) 692-7481 or by email. You can report incidents of lottery scams online to the FTC or call 1 (888) 382-1222.
What are Arrest Warrant Scams?
Do not panic if you receive a call from an unknown person claiming an arrest warrant was issued in your name. These scam callers impersonate deputies of the York County Sheriff's Office (YCSO) to cheat county residents out of their money. It is surprising that people who have done nothing wrong also fall for this scheme after being threatened with jail. The scammers will inform targeted persons that warrants are out for their immediate arrests. They will then demand a certain amount of money from them to avoid arrest and jail. The callers are often aggressive, and in most instances, have their way with ignorant residents. Their preferred means of receiving payment are prepaid cards, wire transfers, or arranging meetings to collect cash. They may keep victims on the phone until they pay to dissuade them from talking to other people. The YCSO urges residents to terminate such phone calls as it does not solicit money in exchange for clearing arrest warrants. Deputies will come to your doorstep if there is indeed a warrant for your arrest. Residents who are victims of these scams can register their complaints with the YCSO by calling (717) 771-9601.
What are Utility Scams?
If you are contacted by a purported representative of your local utility provider to pay a delinquent bill by a prepaid card or wire transfer, it is a scam. Phone number search applications can return such a caller's identity and address. Although legitimate utility companies offer various ways to pay bills, they will never insist on payment via such insecure channels. In this scam, the callers threaten to disconnect services to targeted residents if they fail to comply promptly. Legitimate utility service companies notify customers with delinquent accounts about debts and disconnections by mail. They will never call and immediately threaten disconnections, as is usually observed in fraudsters' schemes. If you receive a suspicious phone call, hang up and call your utility service provider on the number provided on your monthly utility bill. York County residents who believe they may be victims of utility scams can report their encounters to the FTC by calling 1 (888) 382-1222. They can also file reports with the York County Sheriff's Office at (717) 771-9601.
What are Robocalls and Spam Calls?
Robocalls are phone calls that deliver pre-taped messages. It is a phone service that supports information dissemination to a mass audience with minimal human effort. Despite its various legitimate use, fraudsters had adopted robocalls in extorting York County residents. Robocall scams are hard to trace because they render their perpetrators anonymous. However, using a reverse phone lookup service can differentiate between a robocall and a live call. To prevent robocall scams, you can take the following actions:
- End a phone call once you know it is one of those unsolicited calls trying to sell something.
- Contact your phone company to block any encountered robocall from subsequent calls. You can also block them using some third-party call-blocking applications available for cell phones.
- Report any robocall you get to the FTC by calling 1 (888) 382-1222 or online.
- Subscribe to the DNC Registry and Pennsylvania Do Not Call List to reduce the influx of unwanted calls. Dial 1 (888) 382-1222 from the phone number you intend to register on the DNC Registry.
- Harness the guides provided by the FTC on how to block unwanted calls.
How Can You Spot and Report York County Phone Scams?
Phone scammers use various tricks to access York County residents' personal information and cheat them out of their money. Residents are encouraged never to send money over the phone to unknown callers, especially by such random means as prepaid cards. Even if they claim to be with familiar organizations or the government, do not share personal information. If noticed, there are many warning signs that can prevent residents from falling victim to phone scams. You can tell if a phone call is a scam by keeping your eyes out for the following during a call:
- If the caller poses as a government agent and threatens arrest for not promptly yielding to demands, it is a scam.
- If an unknown person requests personal information in a call you did not initiate, it is most likely a scam. In most instances, they claim to represent government agencies.
- Fraudsters typically request payment via channels that are hard to trace. They favor gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrencies, and cash for receiving payments.
- If the caller has a heavy accent or uses poor grammar, odds are it is a scam.
- If you get an unwanted call despite joining the DNC Registry and Pennsylvania Do Not Call List, it is a potential scam.
Many government agencies are making efforts to subdue phone scams to the barest minimum. They educate York County residents with scam alerts while also accepting complaints of perpetrated phone scams for investigations. Some of these agencies are:
York County Sheriff's Office - The YCSO releases scam alerts to educate residents on current phone scams and how to avoid them. It also investigates reported cases of phone scams. You can register a phone scam incident with the YCSO in-person at 45 N. George Street, York, PA 17401, or call (717) 771-9601.
Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General - York County residents can file complaints of phone scams online with the Attorney General’s Office or by calling (717) 787-3391. You can sign up for phone scams alerts to stay informed of the current scams.
Federal Trade Commission - The FTC is a chief consumer protection agency in the United States. It manages the DNC Registry, a database of phone numbers exempt from telemarketers' unsolicited calls. Residents can file phone scam complaints with the FTC by calling 1 (888) 382-1222 or online.
Federal Communications Commission - The FCC oversees all forms of communications in the United States. It initiates and implements policies to protect consumers and combat the menace of phone scams. Residents can report spoofed live calls or robocall scams online to the FCC.