What Is a Frederick County Reverse Phone Lookup?
A number of online services carry out a phone number lookup. Typically, these services answer questions like "who called me?" or "who is this number signed up to?" While there are free phone number lookup services, the details accessible through these services are plain. At best, a searcher can expect to see details like the registered phone number owner's name and city.
On the other hand, the information obtainable through paid reverse phone search services are typically more in-depth. Name and city, a searcher can also expect to see info like the unknown caller's public records and social media profiles.
What You Can Do With Reverse Phone Search
A reverse phone search can help you recognize unidentified callers, which works for spotting scam callers. Another use for this service is finding information about lost contacts or when you forget the name of someone who gave you their phone number.
What Are Frederick County Area Codes?
Frederick County area codes are the unique 3 digits that start every phone number belonging to a person, company, or government office in Frederick County. A normal Frederick County phone number starts with 540 or 703, the area codes assigned to the county by the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA).
NANPA introduced area codes to streamline long-distance phone calls. Today, all North American phone numbers have area codes. These digits differentiate towns and cities as numbering plan areas, or NPAs, for the purpose of making phone calls.
Although the NANPA assigns area codes in North America, the Virginia State Corporation Commission oversees the assignment of area codes to towns in Virginia. There are currently 2 area codes that cover Frederick County.
Area Code 540
Phone numbers that start with 540 tend to belong to somebody in Frederick County. Nevertheless, Frederick County is among several counties under the 540 NPA. A number beginning with 540 may also belong to somebody in a bordering municipality under the same NPA.
Area Code 703
Phone numbers that begin with 703 may also be registered to someone in COUNTY. However, this county also shares the 703 NPA with several other counties. So, it is most likely that a number beginning with 703 may even belong to an individual in another municipality.
What Are the Best Cell Phone Providers in Frederick County
The best cell phone plan to pick in Frederick County is based on the user's geographic location and the service provider's phone coverage. Telephone service is normally much better in the cities than in the hills and the rural regions. The 3 main phone service providers in Frederick County are AT&T, Verizon Wireless, and T-Mobile.
Phone service companies in Frederick County have varying coverage levels. AT&T gives the best phone coverage, followed by Verizon Wireless. T-Mobile has the least range amongst these major operators, but it is not far from the others.
Major phone service companies also rent out their technology to smaller-sized Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs). In turn, MVNOs utilize this technology to offer cheaper phone plans in Frederick County.
VoIP Phone Service in Frederick County
Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a service that lets a user make calls utilizing the internet instead of regular lines or radio waves.
The service works like a regular phone line and has all the call features a user would normally get from a traditional phone company as well as state-of-the-art call management. VoIP calls are also faster, clearer, more secure, and several times cheaper than regular calls.
What Are Frederick County Phone Scams?
A phone scam is when a person uses a phone call to trick another individual to send money or share delicate important information over the phone.
In Frederick County, phone scams generally happen when a person gets an unsolicited call. The unknown caller uses various tactics to persuade, trick, or intimidate a person into sending money or revealing sensitive details about themselves.
Many phone scams are random, but scams can be targeted when the scammer has some information about the unsuspecting victim.
What Are Frederick County Robocalls and Spam Calls?
Robocalls are automated calls from tools made to reach numerous individuals at once and cheaply.
Political organizers and telemarketers trying to reach a mass audience were the typical users of robocalls. These entities generally work off a phone list to obtain votes or market an item to a number of people at once.
When it comes to scammers, the goal is to reach numerous potential victims at the same time. Nevertheless, scammers do not always have the similar database that campaigners and legitimate telemarketers have. So, they often use tools to make up random numbers and call those numbers automatically.
How to Spot Frederick County Phone Scams
Understanding how to detect and prevent scam calls can help safeguard personal privacy and money. For starters, think about using spam call detectors on smartphones.
These detectors cross-check inbound calls with a database of well-known scam callers and automatically stop the call. Although efficient, these apps are less successful against spoofed caller IDs or when the caller is a human impostor. In this case, looking out for typical warnings can help identify a phone scam.
Signs of a Phone Scam
The first warning is when the caller pretends to be a government official or a company's staff. Legit employees of public or private companies do not usually call out of the blues. Instead, they mail letters first and call as a last option.
Another red flag is when the caller requests money or specific details like full name, social security number, banking information, and passwords. A genuine official or company employee does not require this in-depth information to assist you.
And most of all, keep an eye out for threats or implied urgency during calls. These are scare tactics used to con a person into providing sensitive details.
How to Report Frederick County Phone Scams
Scam calls violate federal laws. If you have received or fallen for a phone scam in Frederick County, report the scam as quickly as you can. Doing this helps public agencies hold scammers liable and, sometimes, recover the stolen money. Public agencies that assist Frederick County residents to fight phone scams include:
Frederick County Sheriff’s Office
The Frederick County Sheriff's Office is the county's primary law enforcement agency. Residents should file reports of phone scams with the Sheriff's Office by calling (540) 662-6168. Alternatively, residents can go to the law enforcement agency's building during business hours.
1080 Coverstone Drive
Winchester, VA 22602
Phone: (540) 662-6168
Virginia State Corporation Commission
The Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) is the state agency in charge of consumer protection in Virginia. Residents who have complaints about their phone service or scams may file a complaint with the Commission. The agency also maintains a resource page for spotting and avoiding common scams in Virginia. Persons affected by phone scams may file an online complaint or call (804) 371-9967.
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
The FTC is the federal agency charged with consumer protection. The FTC set up the National Do Not Call Registry to protect residents from unwanted calls from telemarketers and businesses.
Adding your number to this registry prohibits telemarketers from reaching you in the first place. For additional information on call-blocking and avoiding scams, browse through the FTC resource page. Interested persons may also report scams and robocalls to the FTC by calling 1 (888) 382-1222.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
The FCC moderates interstate and international communications in the U.S. and also protects consumers from illegal or scam calls. Tips on avoiding unwanted robocalls and phone scams are readily available on the FCC website. Victims of robocall or phone spoofing scams can submit complaints with the FCC.