Decoding the “00120 Country Code”: A Complete Guide to Identifying and Stopping Spoofed Calls and Phone Scams

The “00120 Country Code” Mystery: Unraveling the Truth Behind the Number

 

When an unfamiliar number like “00120” appears on a caller ID, it naturally raises suspicion and prompts a search for its origin. The immediate conclusion is that this sequence of digits must represent a foreign country. However, the search for the “00120 country code” leads to a dead end for a simple reason: no such country code exists. The appearance of this number is not an indicator of a call from a specific, albeit obscure, nation. Instead, it is a clear signal of modern telecommunication manipulation, most commonly associated with caller ID spoofing and fraudulent international calls.

The query for a “00120 country code” is fundamentally a question of security. It stems from a need to assess the threat level of an unsolicited and unusual call. Understanding why this number is illegitimate is the first step toward recognizing the real dangers it represents.

 

Deconstructing the Number

 

A typical international phone number is composed of an international access prefix (or exit code) and a country code. Analyzing “00120” through this lens reveals its invalidity:

• The “00” Prefix: The digits 00 are the most common International Access Prefix, a standard recommended by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). This prefix, also known as an “exit code,” is dialed at the beginning of a number to signal to the local telephone network that the call is destined for another country. It is used by the vast majority of countries, including all of Europe, most of Africa, the Middle East, and South America.
• The “120” Sequence: Following the exit code, one would expect a valid country code. However, 120 is not assigned to any country or territory. Furthermore, within the North American Numbering Plan (NANP), which includes the United States, Canada, and numerous Caribbean nations, area codes (formally Numbering Plan Area codes) are structured so they cannot begin with a 0 or a 1. This rule makes

  120 an invalid area code within the system most familiar to U.S. residents.

 

The Real Culprits: Spoofing and Scams

 

Since “00120” is not a legitimate code, its appearance on a caller ID is the result of deception. The two most likely explanations are:

1. Caller ID Spoofing: This is the most probable cause. Spoofing is a technique where a caller deliberately falsifies the information transmitted to a caller ID display to disguise their identity. Scammers use internet-based phone technology (VoIP) to input any string of numbers they wish, including nonexistent ones like “00120,” to confuse or entice the recipient into answering.
2. International Scam Calls: The call may originate from an international location where scammers are using routing methods that result in a garbled or incorrectly displayed number. The 00 prefix suggests an international origin, but the subsequent digits are fabricated.

Ultimately, a call from “00120” should be treated not as a call from an unknown country, but as a direct indicator of a potential scam. The rest of this report will provide the necessary context on how the global phone system works, how scammers exploit it, and what practical steps can be taken to protect against these threats.

 

A Caller’s Roadmap: How International and North American Calling Really Works

 

To understand how scammers manipulate phone numbers, it is essential to first grasp the fundamental structure of the global and North American telephone networks. The numbers displayed on a caller ID are governed by a set of international standards and regional plans that, while designed for connectivity, contain seams that criminals can exploit.

 

The Global Standard: International Dialing

 

Making a call from one country to another involves two key components that are often confused but serve distinct purposes:

• International Access Prefix (Exit Code): This is the code dialed first to tell your local phone system you are making an international call. For callers in the United States and any other country within the North American Numbering Plan, the exit code is 011. For most of the rest of the world, including Europe, the ITU-recommended standard of

  00 is used. On mobile phones, the plus symbol (

  +) serves as a universal substitute for the exit code; the mobile network automatically translates it into the correct prefix for the country from which the call is being made.
• Country Code: This is the one- to three-digit code that identifies the destination country. For example, the United Kingdom’s country code is 44, Mexico’s is 52, and India’s is 91. The United States, along with all other NANP members, shares the country code 1.

The table below lists the exit codes for several major countries and regions, illustrating the global variance.

Table 1: Common International Exit Codes

 

The North American System: A Deep Dive into the NANP

 

The North American Numbering Plan (NANP) is an integrated telephone system established in 1947 that includes 25 regions across 20 countries, primarily in North America and the Caribbean. All member territories share the country code

+1, which was designed to simplify direct-dialing between them.

A standard NANP number is a 10-digit sequence with a specific structure: NPA-NXX-XXXX.

• NPA (Numbering Plan Area): The three-digit area code that identifies a specific geographic region (e.g., 212 for Manhattan).
• NXX (Central Office Code): The three-digit prefix that identifies a specific telephone exchange within that area.
• XXXX (Subscriber Number): The unique four-digit number assigned to a specific line.

Because all NANP members fall under the +1 country code, calling between them—for instance, from the United States to Canada or Jamaica—is treated like a domestic long-distance call. The dialing format is simply 1 + Area Code + Phone Number.

This convenience, however, creates a significant security vulnerability. U.S. consumers are conditioned to view any number with a three-digit area code as domestic. They may recognize 204 as Manitoba, Canada, but are far less likely to know that 876 is the area code for Jamaica, 473 is for Grenada, or 809 is for the Dominican Republic. Scammers operating from these Caribbean nations can place calls to the U.S. that appear on caller ID as a standard 10-digit number, indistinguishable from a call originating in another state. This bypasses the initial mental red flag that a call from a clearly international code like +57 (Colombia) or +91 (India) would raise, thereby lowering the target’s defenses and making them more susceptible to engagement. The very system designed for ease of use has been turned into a tool of deception.

The following table is a crucial security resource, listing the non-U.S. countries and territories that are part of the NANP and use area codes that can be mistaken for domestic U.S. numbers.

Table 2: Non-U.S. Countries and Territories in the North American Numbering Plan (+1 Country Code)

 

The Masked Menace: A Comprehensive Analysis of Caller ID Spoofing

 

Caller ID spoofing is the engine that drives a vast number of modern phone scams. It is the practice of deliberately falsifying the name and/or number transmitted to a recipient’s caller ID display, allowing criminals to masquerade as someone else entirely. Understanding this technology is key to recognizing the threat.

 

How Spoofing Works: The Technology Behind the Deception

 

While once the domain of those with expensive, specialized equipment, spoofing is now remarkably simple and cheap due to two primary technologies:

1. Voice over IP (VoIP): The proliferation of internet-based phone services is the single biggest enabler of spoofing. VoIP systems, including many commercially available services and open-source software platforms like Asterisk, allow a user to easily configure the outbound caller ID information. A scammer in a call center anywhere in the world can make their calls appear to come from a local U.S. number, a government agency, or even the recipient’s own phone number.
2. ISDN PRI Circuits: For decades, specialized digital phone lines known as ISDN Primary Rate Interface circuits have allowed for caller ID manipulation. These were traditionally used by large organizations, law enforcement, and collection agencies for legitimate operational reasons.

 

Common Spoofing Tactics

 

Scammers employ several distinct spoofing strategies to maximize their chances of success:

• Neighbor Spoofing: This is the most common tactic. Scammers spoof a phone number that matches the area code and often the first three digits (the NXX prefix) of the victim’s own number. This creates a false sense of local familiarity, increasing the likelihood that the victim will answer, believing the call could be from a neighbor, a local business, or their child’s school.
• Legitimate Business/Government Spoofing: To add a layer of authority to their impersonation scams, criminals will spoof the actual, publicly listed phone number of a trusted entity. They might make a call appear to come from a well-known bank, a major tech company, the IRS, or a local police department to make their fraudulent claims more believable.
• Spoofing Your Own Number: In a particularly jarring tactic designed to cause confusion and alarm, a scammer can make the call appear to come from the victim’s own name and phone number.

 

The Law vs. The Scammer: The Truth in Caller ID Act

 

In the United States, the primary legislation governing this practice is the Truth in Caller ID Act. It is crucial to understand that this law does not make all spoofing illegal. There are legitimate, legal applications, such as a doctor calling a patient from a personal mobile phone while displaying the clinic’s office number to protect their privacy.

The Act makes it illegal to transmit misleading or inaccurate caller ID information with the intent to defraud, cause harm, or wrongly obtain anything of value. Violations can result in substantial penalties, including fines of up to $10,000 for each offense.

Despite these legal protections, the plague of scam calls continues to grow. This is due to a fundamental asymmetry in enforcement. The technologies that enable spoofing are global, accessible, and inexpensive. A large percentage of scam calls targeting Americans originate from call centers in other countries. While the FCC can pursue and penalize a domestic violator, its jurisdiction and practical ability to take action against a fraudulent operation in another country are severely limited. This creates a low-risk, high-reward environment for international criminals, who can easily target U.S. consumers while remaining largely beyond the reach of U.S. law enforcement. This jurisdictional gap explains why regulations alone have been insufficient to stop the flood of malicious spoofed calls.

 

The Modern Scammer’s Playbook: An In-Depth Guide to Common Phone Scams

 

Phone scammers are sophisticated social engineers who exploit basic human emotions like fear, greed, and empathy. By understanding their most common scripts and tactics, consumers can build a strong defense against them.

 

Impersonation Scams (Leveraging Fear & Authority)

 

• Government & IRS Scams: The caller poses as an agent from the IRS, Social Security Administration, or another government body. They claim the victim owes back taxes or has a problem with their Social Security number and threaten immediate arrest, deportation, or fines if a payment is not made instantly, often via gift card or wire transfer.

  Red Flag: Government agencies like the IRS initiate contact through official mail, not with threatening phone calls demanding immediate, untraceable payment.
• Law Enforcement & Jury Duty Scams: The scammer impersonates a local police officer or court official, claiming the victim missed jury duty and a warrant has been issued for their arrest. To avoid being arrested, the victim must pay an immediate “fine”.

 

Deceptive Prize & Greed Scams

 

• Lottery & Sweepstakes Scams: The caller enthusiastically announces that the victim has won a large cash prize, a car, or a vacation. The catch is that to claim the prize, the victim must first pay a fee for “taxes,” “shipping,” or “processing”.

  Red Flag: Legitimate prizes and lotteries never require the winner to pay a fee to collect their winnings. This scam is heavily associated with calls from the Jamaican area code

  876.
• “One-Ring” (Wangiri) Scam: The victim’s phone rings just once from an international number and then disconnects. The scammer hopes curiosity will compel the victim to call back. The number is an international premium-rate line, and the victim is billed exorbitant per-minute charges for the duration of the call. This tactic is often linked to area codes like

  232 (Sierra Leone) and others that can be mistaken for U.S. codes.

 

Relationship & Empathy Scams

 

• Grandparent/Relative in Need Scam: A scammer calls an older person and pretends to be their grandchild or another close relative. They create a frantic story about being in an accident, arrested, or stranded in a foreign country and desperately needing money sent immediately via wire transfer or gift cards. They often plead, “Please don’t tell Mom and Dad,” to prevent the victim from verifying the story. Modern variations of this scam may use AI-powered voice cloning to make the impersonation more convincing.
• Charity Scams: Scammers exploit generosity by posing as representatives of fake charities, often capitalizing on recent natural disasters or appealing to support for veterans or sick children.

 

Technical & Financial Deception Scams

 

• Tech Support Scams: This scam often begins with a fake pop-up error message on a computer that freezes the browser and instructs the user to call a “support” number. The scammer, posing as a technician from Microsoft or Apple, convinces the victim their computer is infected with viruses, gains remote access, and then charges a fee to “fix” nonexistent problems, or worse, steals personal and financial data from the computer.
• Bank & Credit Card Scams (Vishing): The victim receives a call or an automated message (a “voice phishing” or “vishing” attack) claiming to be from their bank’s fraud department. The message reports suspicious activity on their account and asks them to verify their identity by providing their account number, PIN, or password.
• “Can You Hear Me?” Scam: The call opens with a simple question like “Can you hear me?” The scammer’s goal is to record the victim saying the word “Yes,” which they can then edit to make it sound like the victim agreed to fraudulent charges.
• Extended Car Warranty Scams: These are among the most common robocalls. The automated message warns that the victim’s car warranty is about to expire and urges them to purchase an “extended warranty,” which is often overpriced, offers poor coverage, or is entirely worthless.

The following table highlights specific area codes—both legitimate international codes and spoofed domestic ones—that are frequently associated with particular scams.

Table 3: Scam Call “Area Code” Red Flags

 

The Business Angle: Navigating Google Listing and Voice Search Scams

 

While many phone scams target individuals, a growing and lucrative category specifically preys on small business owners by exploiting their reliance on essential digital tools. These scams often involve high-pressure tactics and target high-value keywords related to local business marketing.

 

The Google Business Profile (GBP) Scam

 

The Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is a free tool that allows businesses to manage their appearance on Google Search and Maps. Its importance for local customer acquisition has made it a prime target for scammers.

The scam typically unfolds through robocalls with messages like:

• “Your Google Business Profile has not been registered with Google.”
• “Your Google listing has been flagged for review and may be suspended.”
• “If your listing is not showing up properly, customers will not be able to contact you.”

The caller, often falsely claiming to be a “Google partner,” will then offer to “verify,” “fix,” or “register” the business’s listing for a fee. These calls create a false sense of urgency, pressuring a business owner who fears losing their online visibility into paying for a service that is, and always has been, free. Google has taken legal action against companies perpetrating these schemes but acknowledges that fraudulent calls falsely claiming an association with Google are widespread.

 

The Voice Search Registration Scam

 

A newer variant of this business-focused fraud is the “voice search registration” scam. As consumers increasingly use voice assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant to find local businesses, scammers have created a new fictitious service to sell.

Callers will pressure business owners with claims that their business is “not listed on Alexa” or needs to be “registered for voice search immediately” to avoid being missed by customers. They offer to perform this “registration” for a one-time or recurring fee. This is entirely fraudulent. Voice search optimization is a legitimate marketing activity, but it is achieved by maintaining an accurate and detailed Google Business Profile and optimizing a business’s website content for conversational queries—not by paying for a nonexistent registration service.

These scams reveal a strategic shift in criminal tactics. They weaponize the very digital tools that are lifelines for small businesses. By targeting the knowledge gap between the critical importance of these platforms and the technical expertise of the average business owner, scammers manufacture a crisis (“your listing will be deleted!”) and sell a simple, paid “solution.” This preys on an owner’s instinct to protect their livelihood, turning free marketing tools into instruments of extortion.

 

Building Your Digital Defenses: A Practical Guide to Stopping Unwanted Calls

 

While scammers are persistent, a combination of user behavior, technology, and official reporting can create a formidable defense against unwanted calls. The most effective strategy is a layered one, starting with the simplest action.

 

Rule #1: The Art of Not Answering

 

The single most powerful tactic against phone scams is to not answer calls from numbers you do not recognize. If a call is legitimate and important, the caller will leave a voicemail. Answering an unknown call, even for a second before hanging up, confirms to the scammer’s autodialer that your number is active and belongs to a real person. This can lead to your number being flagged as a potential target and sold to other scammers, resulting in an increase in unwanted calls. Furthermore, never press any buttons if an automated recording asks you to, such as “press 2 to be removed from our list.” This is a common trick used to identify live respondents.

 

Using Your Phone’s Built-in Tools

 

Modern smartphones have powerful, free features to help filter calls:

• On iPhone (iOS 13 and later): The “Silence Unknown Callers” feature automatically sends any call from a number not in your contacts, recent outgoing calls, or Siri Suggestions straight to voicemail. To enable it, go to Settings > Phone > Silence Unknown Callers and toggle it on.
• On Android: Most Android devices have “Caller ID & Spam Protection.” When enabled, it can identify and flag suspected spam calls. To enable it, open the Phone app, tap the three-dot menu for Settings, and look for Caller ID & spam. Ensure “See caller & spam ID” and “Filter spam calls” are turned on.

 

Third-Party Call-Blocking Apps

 

For an even stronger layer of protection, several third-party apps use constantly updated global databases of known scam and spam numbers to block them before they reach you. Highly-rated options include Truecaller, Hiya, and Nomorobo.

 

The National Do Not Call Registry: Reality vs. Expectation

 

The National Do Not Call Registry is a useful tool, but its purpose is often misunderstood. Consumers can register their phone numbers for free at donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222.

However, the registry is designed to stop unwanted sales calls from legitimate telemarketing companies that are required by law to follow the rules. It is completely ineffective against illegal scammers, especially those operating from overseas, as they have no intention of complying with the law. Therefore, while it is worth being on the list to reduce legitimate but unwanted sales calls, it should not be considered a primary defense against criminal scams.

 

Official Reporting Channels: Making Your Voice Heard

 

Reporting scams is crucial. While it may not stop the calls you are currently receiving, the data provided to federal agencies helps them track trends, identify criminal networks, and take enforcement action.

Table 4: Your Anti-Scam Reporting Dashboard

 

After the Attack: Response and Recovery

 

Falling victim to a scam can be a distressing experience, but taking swift and decisive action can help mitigate the damage. The appropriate response depends on what information or money was lost.

 

“I Paid a Scammer. Now What?” – Immediate Damage Control

 

If you have sent money to a scammer, time is critical. The method of payment determines the course of action.

• Gift Card: Immediately contact the company that issued the card (e.g., Apple, Google Play, Target). Provide the gift card number and receipt and report that it was used in a scam. Ask for the funds to be frozen or refunded. Recovery is difficult but sometimes possible if action is taken quickly.
• Wire Transfer (e.g., Western Union, MoneyGram): Contact the wire transfer company’s fraud department immediately. Provide the transaction details and request that the transfer be reversed. If the money has not yet been picked up, you may be able to stop it.
• Credit or Debit Card: Call the fraud department of your bank or credit card issuer using the number on the back of your card. Report the charge as fraudulent and request a chargeback.
• Payment App (e.g., Zelle, Venmo, Cash App): Report the fraudulent transaction directly to the app’s support team. Also, report it to the bank or credit card company linked to your account.
• Cryptocurrency: Report the transaction to the crypto exchange you used. However, be aware that cryptocurrency transactions are virtually impossible to reverse, and recovery is extremely unlikely.

 

“I Gave Out My Personal Information.” – Identity Theft Prevention

 

If you provided sensitive personal information, you must act to protect your identity.

• Social Security Number (SSN): Immediately visit IdentityTheft.gov, the federal government’s official resource. It will guide you through creating a personalized recovery plan, which includes placing a free fraud alert on your credit reports with the three major bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) and considering a credit freeze.
• Usernames and Passwords: If you gave out a password, change it immediately on that account. If you use that same password for any other accounts, change it on those as well. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on all important accounts for an extra layer of security.

 

“My Number Is Being Spoofed!” – Reclaiming Your Identity

 

Caller ID spoofing creates two victims: the person who is tricked by the scam, and the innocent person whose number is hijacked and used as the mask. If you start receiving angry calls from strangers claiming you just called them, your number is likely being spoofed by a scammer. This can be alarming, but there are steps to manage the situation.

1. Record a New Voicemail Greeting: Change your voicemail message to something like: “You have reached. If you are returning a call that you just received from this number, please be aware that my number is being actively spoofed by scammers and I did not place the call. For all other callers, please leave a message and I will get back to you.” This can quickly clear up confusion and reduce the number of angry callbacks you have to handle personally.
2. Explain Calmly: If you do answer a call from an angry person, do not engage in an argument. Calmly explain that you are also a victim and that your number has been hijacked by a spoofer.
3. Report to the FCC: File a complaint at fcc.gov/complaints. Select the “Unwanted Calls” issue and clearly state in the description that your own number is being spoofed to place fraudulent calls.
4. Be Patient: Scammers churn through numbers very quickly. It is highly likely that they will stop using your number within a few hours or, at most, a few days. Changing your phone number should be a last resort, as it is a major inconvenience and the new number could eventually be spoofed as well.

This secondary victimhood is a form of collateral damage where an innocent person’s digital identity is temporarily tarnished, potentially leading to their legitimate calls being blocked by carrier spam filters. Recognizing this dual-victim dynamic is essential to fully understanding the pervasive harm caused by spoofing.