1-877 scam calls: how to handle a toll-free number you don't know
Quick answer
A call from a 1-877 number can be a real business or a scammer, because caller ID can be faked. Don't give details or pay on an unexpected call. Hang up, look up the company's real number yourself and report scam calls to the FTC and FCC.
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How it works
Scam callers choose numbers that look trustworthy. The FCC says spoofing lets a caller show any name or number, so a toll-free number on your screen proves nothing.
The caller or recording usually says there is a problem: a charge, an account, a package or a warranty. They ask you to press a key, call back, share details or pay. The FCC says pressing a button to "stop getting calls" is a known tactic to find live numbers, and that a request for payment by gift card is a scam.
The number shown may also be a real company's number that scammers are spoofing, so the company isn't always the one calling.
Red flags
- An unexpected call or voicemail about a charge or problem
- A prompt to press a button or call back right away
- A request for payment by gift card
- A request for personal or financial details
- Pressure to act today
- A toll-free number that appears on caller ID but won't connect when you call back
Example message
This is an important message about a charge on your account. To dispute it, press 1 now or call us back at [phone number] before your account is suspended.
What to do
- 1
Hang up and don't press anything
Don't answer questions or press buttons, even to opt out.
- 2
Look up the real number
If the caller says they're from a company or agency, call back using a number from your bill or the official website.
- 3
Don't pay by gift card or share codes
The FCC says a request for gift cards means it's a scam.
- 4
Block and report
Ask your carrier about call-blocking tools, and report the number and the caller ID shown to the FTC and FCC.
- 5
If you shared details, protect your accounts
Change passwords and call your bank on the number on your card. Our guide on what to do after a data breach covers more.
Report it
Check if your details are exposed with Serus
Scammers find your number and address on data brokers and people-search sites. Serus removes them.
Why you got it
Robocallers and scam call centers dial from lists of numbers. Yours can be on one because of people-search sites and breached data.
Serus finds where your phone number, address and email are listed on people-search sites and other data brokers and files removal requests, and it alerts you when your details turn up in a breach. That won't stop every message, but it gives scammers less to work with.
Frequently asked
Is a 1-877 number always a scam?
No. Many real businesses use toll-free numbers. The number can also be spoofed, so verify through an independent source.
Should I call a 1-877 number back?
Not if you don't know who it is. Look up the company's number yourself instead.
What should I include in a report?
The FCC asks for the number that was dialed, the caller ID shown, the date and time and what the caller said.
Is the FCC number on the call real?
The FCC has warned that its own number has been spoofed in robocalls. It doesn't call to ask for money.
Sources
Something wrong or out of date? Tell us and we'll re-check it.
