Norfolk City Reverse Phone Lookup

What are Norfolk City Area Codes?

Area codes were first used in 1947 following the development of the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) by AT&T and Bell Laboratories in the 1940s. 86 codes were initially created to help automate calls through the telephony system that previously relied heavily on human operators for switching and connecting calls. As the population grew, more area codes were created. Area codes helped identify the origins and destination of telephone calls. You can find the area code of any geographical area in the United States by using an area code lookup tool online

Currently, only area code 757 serves Norfolk City.

Area Code 757

Area code 757 covers roughly 7,360,001 unique phone numbers and 1,450,584 individuals, serving Newport News, Suffolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake Cities. It was created from area code 804 and was first put in service on July 1, 1996. In 2019, the State Corporation Commission (SCC) announced a plan for an overlay area code, with the current pool of numbers in the 757-area code projected to run out sometimes in 2021.

In early 2020, the SCC announced that the overlay area code will be 948 which will make ten-digit dialing mandatory in 757/948. However, the implementation of the area code 948 has been delayed with a new projection for the 757-code estimating number run-out in the second quarter of 2023. The new 948 area code will relieve future exhaustion of phone numbers in the Norfolk City area. Under the SCC's relief plan, the 948-area code will be phased into the existing 757 area code region, hence, existing phone numbers with the 757 area codes will not be changed.

What are the Best Cell Phone Plans in Norfolk City?

Norfolk City residents desire three main features in a cell phone plan - enough minutes to cover all their calls, sufficient text messages, and data to use while on the go. If you happen to fall within that group, then you need a plan that has everything you need. However, even if a cell phone plan has everything you desire, it is of no use if the provider's coverage is not available or is weak in your area.

America's four Major Network Operators (MNOs) all offer good coverages in Norfolk City. They offer plans such as individual plans, family plans, and no contract plans. In Norfolk City, Verizon offers the best overall coverage at 96%. AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint's coverages are put at 92%, 84%, and 78% respectively. Although family plans are popular offerings from the MNOs, other small carriers also offer cell phone plans with no-commitment plans - an increasingly popular choice. MVNOs typically run on the MNOs' networks and lease minutes and data wholesale from them.

Norfolk City phone users also use VoIP as an option for telephony communications. VoIP refers to Voice over Internet Protocol, a technology that digitizes calls and makes calls possible over the internet or IP networks. VoIP service providers in Norfolk City charge less for long-distance and international calls, and many of them have flat rate packages that will help keep costs down. Residents are also opting for VoIP plans due to several other service features such as caller ID, remote access voicemail, call forwarding, and voicemail to email.

Phone users growing adoption of wireless telephony (VoIP and cellular telephony) in Norfolk and Virginia is evidenced in a recent survey conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics in 2018. The survey revealed that of residents in Virginia above the age of 18, 49.1% used wireless-only telephony service, while 4.9% used landline-only telephone service. Among individuals under the age of 18, 62.3% used wireless telephony exclusively, while 2.3% used landline-only telephony service.

What are Norfolk City Phone Scams?

Norfolk City residents sometimes receive phone calls from suspicious parties who try to steal sensitive information or wrongfully obtain money. These illicit activities often involve the use of robocalls, live calls, or text messages to lure or pressure residents into forfeiting money or personal information. Every year, Norfolk County residents lose thousands of dollars to the activities of scammers through telephone scams. Scams target people of all backgrounds, ages, and income levels. Norfolk City residents may use free reverse phone lookup tools to ascertain the true origins of suspicious phone numbers.

What are Norfolk City Law Enforcement Impostor Scams?

Law enforcement scams are the most common scams in the City. Here, a caller claims to be an employee of a government body such as the local police department, Sheriff's Office, or the FBI. The caller may present a fake badge number and even spoof the office or an officer's phone number using caller ID spoofing to appear as a legitimate caller. Targets are usually told to pay fees to avoid being arrested for fictitious offenses. Payments are required through wire transfers, prepaid debit cards, or gift cards. Phone lookup applications can help uncover the true identities of scam callers.

What are Norfolk City Stimulus Check Scams?

Scammers often try to take advantage of federal payments to obtain personal information, including Social Security numbers and bank account information from people under the guise of directly depositing stimulus payments. The new COVID-19-relief legislation currently provides a maximum $600 payment for qualifying individuals in the United States to help weather the economic crisis. Norfolk City residents have reported having received calls from unsolicited persons claiming to represent reputable government agencies wanting to help get the checks paid directly into their bank accounts. In return, these persons have asked for bank account information or money. Obtained bank account information is used to steal money while any transferred funds end up in scammers' pockets. To help 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 Norfolk City Utility Scams?

The perpetrators of utility scams call their targets to demand immediate payments of past due utility bills. They impersonate reputable utility businesses such as power, gas, and TV service providers. These crooked persons claim that utility services will be disconnected within a short period if payments are not made. Norfolk City utility scammers give various directions for payment: prepaid money cards from Walgreen’s or CVS, electronic funds transfers through the “MoneyPak” payment system, routing and check numbers from residents' bank accounts, or credit/debit card numbers. Payments made through these methods are usually difficult to trace or refund. You can use a reverse cell phone lookup tool to verify if a caller’s identity matches the name given.

What are Norfolk City Fake Check Scams?

Charity scams are quite rampant after disasters and life-changing events, such as pandemics, earthquakes, hurricanes, and wildfires. Scammers typically try to take advantage of the kindness and generosity of residents during those times of need and extreme hardship. However, residents should be cautious about where their donations go when approached by charitable organizations. In a charity scam, the scammer uses a name that closely resembles that of a respected or legitimate charitable organization. This is done to earn your trust. The scammers seek donations typically through wire transfers which can be difficult to retrieve. Scrutinize charities with consumer advocates or friends to find out how much of your donation will go to the charity's programs, if any at all. Reverse phone number lookup applications can prevent residents from falling victim to phone scams.

What are Robocalls and Spam Calls?

Robocalls are telephone calls that are used to deliver pre-recorded messages via auto-dialers. An auto-dialer is an electronic device or software that can store thousands of telephone numbers and can automatically dial them. Robocalls are annoying and can be quite intrusive considering the unsolicited nature of the calls. Robocalls are useful for telemarketers to publicize their products and services to a wide audience. A political party can also use robocalls as a campaign tool.

Although robocalls have several legitimate uses, a large portion of the robocalls received by Norfolk City residents is initiated by scammers hoping to prey on individuals by obtaining sensitive information for identity thefts. Reverse phone number lookup can help residents identify robocalls and stop scammers in their tracks.

Norfolk County residents can take the following steps to avoid robocalls:

• Do not answer. If you are unfamiliar with a phone number, do not hesitate to let the call go directly to voicemail.
• Hang up. Do not press any numbers. Scammers usually ask you to press a number to speak with a live operator. Pressing the number indicates to the scammer that the line is active, which in turn means that more robocalls can be made to the phone line. If you press the button to speak to a live operator, the operator who doubles as the scammer will eventually ask for money or say they will remove you from their list, which ends up being untrue.
• Do not call any number or go directly to a website that you are directed to on the call. Always do your research and verify any number, persons, or website online, rather than relying on any information you are given.
• Report robocalls online to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or call the FTC on 1 (888) 382-1222. The more complaints are filed, the more the FTC can help stop robocalls and share the information in the public space and with law enforcement agencies.
• Subscribe to the FTC's Consumer alerts.
• Contact your phone service provider if it has call-blocking tools that you can use to block unwanted calls on your phone.
• Install a third-party call-blocking app, such as Hiya, Nomorobo, and Truecaller
• Register your number in the National Do Not Call Registry.

How to Spot and Report Norfolk City Phone Scams?

Many scams take place over the phone, sometimes with the bait of possible "grand prizes" or other ways of keeping you on the line. Fraudsters often try to extract sensitive information from their targets, such as bank account information, PINS, passwords, and Social Security numbers, or may try to sell them offers with no intention of actually delivering and every intention of taking their money. However, if you know how to protect yourself, you can avoid being defrauded.

The following are telltale signs of phone scams:

• The caller demands that you make payment in a specific way: Scammers are often looking to obtain money through services that are difficult to trace. If a caller demands payment by reloadable cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfer, you may be on the call to a scammer.
• The caller threatens you: If a caller claims to represent a trusted business or government agency but threatens to fine, arrest, or revoke your license, then you are on the call to a scammer.
• The caller tries to coerce you into making an immediate decision: If a caller claims to work for a reputable organization and refuses to allow you to consider your options before making a decision, it is a massive red flag that such caller is likely to be a scammer. Hang up immediately and take time to consider your decision.
• The caller demands private information: Any caller who requires you to provide your PIN, password, bank account information, date of birth, Social Security number, and any other personal information over the phone, is not likely to have genuine intentions. Hang up immediately.
• The caller says you have been selected as the winner in a competition: If any caller claims you have won in a contest you did not sign up, be wary. That is a strong sign of a scam. Even if you did enter the contest, do not pay upfront in order to access your winnings for whatever reasons.

Norfolk City residents may also use services that conduct reverse phone number lookups by address, name, and phone number to reduce the odds of falling victims to phone scams. Local, state, and federal institutions are also committed to combating phone scams and aid residents. These include:

• The Norfolk City Sheriff’s Office: If you have received a call from a scammer, you can contact  Norfolk City Sheriff's Office at (757) 664-4951.
• Norfolk Police Department: You can report a scam call to the Norfolk Police Department by calling (757) 664-3277.
• The Virginia Attorney General’s Office:  To report a scam, you can file a complaint online to the Attorney General’s Office or use the downloadable printable complaint form. For further assistance, you can call the Office's Consumer Protection Hotline at (800) 552-9963 if calling from Virginia, or (804) 786-2042 if calling from the Richmond area or from outside Virginia. The Office's business hours are between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
• 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.