What are Iredell County Area Codes?
The Bell System created the North American Numbering Plan in the 1940s. Part of the plan included the use of area codes to replace the cumbersome call operations system which required human operators to connect calls across the existing telephony communications system. Area codes were formed as three-digit prefixes added to seven-digit telephone numbers to route calls through the different geographical areas that were created. Each geographical area has its own area code. Hence, using area codes helped to automate calls and removed the reliance on human operators in connecting calls. You can find the area code of any geographical area in the United States by using an area code lookup tool online.
Three area codes currently serve Iredell County – Area code 704, 980, and 336.
Area Code 704
Area 704 is one of the original 86 area codes created by AT&T and the Bell System in 1947. It initially served the whole of North Carolina. Area code 704 was split in 1998 to create area code 828. In 2001, area code 980 was created to serve as an overlay to the 704-area code. Locations within the 704-area code include Charlotte, Concord, Gastonia, Huntersville, Kannapolis, Salisbury, and Indian Trail.
Area Code 980
Area code 980 was first used on April 1, 2001, and was created from area code 704. It is an overlay for area code 704 and serves the same area.
Area Code 336
Created from area code 910, area code 336 was first used on December 15, 1997. In 2019, area code 743 was created to serve as an overlay to area code 336. It serves Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point, Burlington, Thomasville, Asheboro, and Kernersville.
What are the Best Cell Phone Plans in Iredell County?
Hordes of North Carolina phone users now primarily use wireless telephony service instead of landline telephony service. A 2018 survey conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics revealed that 57.3% of North Carolina residents aged 18 and above used wireless telephony service exclusively, while 4.5% used landline-only telephony service. Estimates from the survey also revealed that among residents below the age of 18, 69.0% used wireless telephony service exclusively, while 2.6% used landline-only telephony service.
While considering the cell phone plans on offer from the various Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and the Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) in Iredell County, you should look to choose a wireless provider that has good coverage in your local area. All four major MNOs have decent coverage in Iredell County. In the county seat of Statesville, Verizon has the best overall coverage with a score of 99%. T-Mobile's coverage is rated 74%, while AT&T and Sprint both have a coverage score of 50%.
The MVNOs in Iredell County typically offer niche-based plans and services to customers. These smaller carriers purchase data and minutes from the MNOs while also running on their infrastructure. An MVNO's coverage is as good as the coverage of the parent MNO.
Iredell County residents can also avail themselves of the VoIP phone plans on offer from the VoIP service providers in the county. VoIP is short for Voice over Internet Protocol, a technology that refers to services that deliver voice communications and multimedia sessions using Internet protocols. With a VoIP phone plan, consumers receive a set of standard features that is usually more generous when compared to other types of phone service available in Iredell County. Many VoIP plans include caller ID, call waiting, unlimited nationwide calling, call blocking, conference calling, and sometimes even unlimited calls to selected international destinations. VoIP phone plans are typically the most affordable options.
What are Iredell County Phone Scams?
Iredell County phone scams are illicit activities of fraudsters perpetrated through telephone calls, robocalls, and text messages to wrongfully obtain sensitive private information or extort money from Iredell County residents.
Scammers use every trick possible to get targets to interact with them. They now have the technology to mimic an official telephone number, so it comes up on your caller ID display. This can trick you into thinking the caller is really from a trusted organization, such as a law enforcement agency, bank, and utility company. By using this technology to trick targets into answering their calls, they can then proceed to use other gimmicks or threats to coerce them into cooperating. Iredell County residents may use free reverse phone lookup tools to ascertain the true origins of suspicious phone numbers.
Common phone scams in Iredell County include law enforcement impersonation scams, social security scams, tech support scams, and Medicare scams.
What are Iredell County Law Enforcement Impersonation Scams?
Scammers in Iredell County are impersonating local law enforcement and court officials to obtain personal information from residents. In the law enforcement impersonation scam, residents receive calls informing them of missed jury duties. At other times, a scammer makes up some type of story which ultimately leads to the target needing to pay a fine or fee.
These calls are difficult for real law enforcement agencies to investigate due to the con artists' use of technology. These con artists can spoof actual numbers which make their numbers appear official and legitimate. Phone lookup applications can help unmask the real identities of phone scammers.
What are Iredell County Social Security Scams?
A social security scam begins with a call from someone pretending to be an employee of the Social Security Administration (SSA). The caller says that your Social Security account has been frozen pending some type of investigation. The suspension on your account is supposedly for suspicious activities linked with your SSN or account.
To reactivate your account, you are required to provide your name, Social Security number, date of birth, and apply for a new PIN for the account. By providing these details, you have armed the caller with enough information to steal your identity and perpetrate fraud. In other instances, social security scammers demand payments to fix the issues linked to targets’ accounts. Payments are typically required through wire transfers, reloadable cards, or gift cards.
Note that the SSA does not ask people for their Social Security number. They also do not threaten your benefits or ask you to pay anything. You can use free reverse phone number lookup tools online to find out who called and who a number is registered to.
What are Iredell County Medicare Scams?
Medical beneficiaries are the targets in this scam. Here, con artists contact targets informing them that they are due refunds as a result of vague changes in Medicare coverage. To obtain your refund, the scammer asks for your Medicare number and bank account information supposedly to directly deposit the funds.
The caller may also pretend to offer durable medical equipment or medical checkup at no cost to you insisting that "Medicare will cover it." The catch here is that you have to provide your Social Security number or Medicare number to verify coverage and a credit card number to cover shipping costs for the free supplies. Reverse phone number lookup applications can prevent residents from falling victim to Medicare scams.
What are Iredell County Tech Support Scams?
In the new variation of the tech support scam often reported in Iredell County, residents have reported receiving unsolicited calls from persons claiming to be representatives of the support sections of reputable companies. Popularly impersonated companies include Amazon, Apple, and Goggle. These persons claim that your account has been compromised and require you to provide your username, password, and other personal information to verify your account. Once you provide the requested information, it is then used in fraudulent activities.
Typically, tech support scammers require their targets to pay off debts involving unpaid balances. They direct them to purchase gift cards from local stores and call them back so they can provide the card numbers over the phone. Many fraudsters request payments through Zelle, Venmo, Cash App, Western Union, MoneyGram, and PayPal. To verify that callers are who they say they are, you can use good reverse phone lookup tools online to quickly do a number lookup or reverse number lookup.
What are Robocalls and Spam Calls?
A robocall is an auto-dialed call that delivers a pre-recorded message. While most people often refer to a robocall as an unsolicited and unwanted auto-dialed pre-recorded message call that is likely illegal, some auto-dialed prerecorded calls are indeed legal. Legal robocalls include messages that you knowingly consent to and authorized, messages from school districts to students, parents, or employees, and messages from political campaigners and charities seeking donations.
However, many of the robocalls received by Iredell County residents are illegal auto-dialed calls from crooked individuals and telemarketers who have not obtained their consent. These are spam calls placed by fraudsters who give no heed to federal and state anti-robocall laws. Scammers often target many Iredell County citizens with robocalls in attempts to fleece them.
In 2020, over 1.7 billion robocalls were placed to North Carolina residents. Between January and March 2021, more than 545 million robocalls were received by North Carolina residents - an average of 64.4 robocalls per resident.
A phone lookup service can help determine if an incoming call is a robocall. You can also follow these guidelines to limit the scourge of robocalls:
- Confirm that you are on the national Do-Not-Call List: Although scammers may find ways around the Do-Not-Call Registry, it is still a good idea to add your number to the registry. That way, you will get fewer robocalls from companies following the 2019 Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence (TRACED). The act increases penalties and requires phone companies to validate calls before they reach you. Call (888) 382-1222 from the phone you want to register or register online at DoNotCall. Register your home and cellphone numbers or confirm those numbers are already on the list.
- Use voicemail as a weapon: One of the easiest methods to fight robocalls is to screen calls through your voicemail. Telemarketers often hang up when the call goes to voicemail.
- Use your smartphone's number-blocking feature: If you get an unsolicited call, you can block that number for good. Check your phone call settings to activate this feature. This is usually an effective option for many people.
- Ask your phone company about call-blocking services: Many phone service providers offer free call-blocking features. You may contact your provider to find out if one is included in your plan or may be purchased as an add-on service.
- Download a third-party call-blocking application: You can find one on any of the major mobile application stores. Examples include Hiya, Truecaller, and Nomorobo.
- Hang up on robocalls. If you answer a call and hear a recorded message instead of a live operator, hang up immediately. Do not follow any instructions provided on the call.
- North Carolina Department of Justice: Report suspected scams and robocalls online at or via phone to (844) 866-7626.
How to Spot and Report Iredell County Phone Scams?
There are a wide variety of phone scams circulating in Iredell County. However, most of these use similar tricks and cons in defrauding residents. Some prey on the fear of financial or legal trouble, and some take the opposite approach by trying to entice you with winnings or offers. You can spot most of these scams by using reverse number lookup tools to identify the sources of incoming calls. You may also look out for these telltale signs when you receive calls from unsolicited persons:
- The caller tries to rush you into a decision: Scammers will try to hurry you into making immediate decisions such as providing personal details. They may say they have limited-time offers or claim that your bank account is at risk if you do not give them the information they require straight away.
- The caller asks you to reveal personal details: Never give out personal or financial information such as your PIN, bank account information, credit card details, and Social Security number to unknown persons. Scammers are fond of luring targets into divulging such information during telephone contacts.
- The caller threatens you with arrests or fines: To get targets to cooperate, fraudsters posing as representatives of government agencies and private organizations often intimidate targets with deportation, fines, arrests, imprisonments, revocation of licenses, and service disconnections. It is rare for legitimate organizations to threaten people this way.
- The caller only wants to receive payment in a specific way: Fraudsters prefer to receive requested payments through cryptocurrencies, wire transfers to specific bank accounts, gift cards, and prepaid cards. If an unsolicited caller only wants to be paid through such specific methods, you may be on to a scammer.
Iredell County residents can file scam complaints with any of the following public bodies:
- The Iredell County Sheriff’s Office and local police departments: If you have received a call from a scammer, you can contact your local police department or the Iredell County Sheriff's Office at (704) 878-3180 (Statesville office) or (704) 664-7500 (Mooresville Office). In the county seat of Statesville, you can contact the Statesville Police Department at (704) 878-3406. In Mooresville, contact the Mooresville Police Department at (704) 664-3311.
- The North Carolina Attorney General’s Office: To report a scam, you can file a complaint online to the Consumer Protection Office by calling (877)-5-NO-SCAM or (919) 716-6000 (outside of North Carolina).
- Federal Communications Commission: If you receive unwanted robocalls and text messages, you can file a report online with the FCC.
- Federal Trade Commission - The FTC protects consumers from deceptive and fraudulent practices. You can file a phone scam report with the FTC by completing the online complaint form.
- Social Security Administration: If you receive a scam call or you suspect you have been a victim of a scam from the Social Security Administration, report such calls by calling the Office of the Inspector General at (800) 269-0271 or make a report online.