The 622 Area Code: Unraveling the Mystery, Exposing Scams, and Securing Your Phone

Introduction: Why Are You Searching for the 622 Area Code?

 

Receiving a call from an unfamiliar number, particularly one with a peculiar or unrecognized area code like 622, often triggers a moment of hesitation. In an era where unsolicited calls are a daily nuisance, this caution is not just warranted; it is a critical first step in personal security. The act of searching for information about the “622 area code” is a proactive measure to understand a potential threat. This report is designed to provide a definitive answer to that query and, more importantly, to address the underlying security concerns that prompted the search in the first place.

This analysis serves a dual purpose. First, it will deliver a clear, fact-based explanation of the 622 area code, clarifying its official designation and addressing the common points of confusion that lead many Americans to investigate it. Second, this report will use the “622” query as a gateway to a much broader and more critical investigation into the landscape of modern telecommunications fraud. It will delve into the technology of caller ID spoofing, provide a comprehensive encyclopedia of the most prevalent phone and text scams, and offer an actionable playbook for defense. By the end of this report, the initial question about a single area code will be answered, and readers will be equipped with the knowledge to navigate the complexities of phone security, transforming potential vulnerability into empowered awareness.

 

Part I: Decoding the 622 Area Code: Fact vs. Fiction

 

To understand the nature of calls involving the number 622, it is essential to first distinguish between its official, designated use and its appearance in other contexts. This section provides the factual foundation for the 622 area code, establishing its true identity before exploring the reasons it frequently appears in searches related to suspicious calls in the United States.

 

Section 1: The Official 622 Area Code: A Canadian Special Service Code

 

The area code 622 is an official Numbering Plan Area (NPA) within the North American Numbering Plan (NANP), the integrated telephone numbering system that serves the United States, Canada, and several Caribbean nations. However, its assignment is specific and unique: the 622 area code is designated exclusively for non-geographical use in Canada. This means that, unlike area codes tied to a specific city or region like New York’s 212 or Atlanta’s 404, the 622 code is not associated with any particular physical location.  

The purpose of the 622 area code is to provide numbering resources for special telecommunications services that are, by their nature, not tied to a fixed geographic spot. These include advanced technologies such as cellular satellite services and ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network). The need for such codes arose as telecommunications technology evolved beyond traditional landlines. Services that operate nationwide, like satellite phones or certain mobile data networks, require a numbering system that is not limited by geography, allowing them to function “from coast to coast”.  

The history of the 622 code reflects this technological shift. It was officially put into service on March 23, 2015, becoming the 381st area code in the NANP. Its creation was part of a forward-thinking plan by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), which approved a new block of non-geographic codes in the 6YY format (e.g., 622, 633, 644) to meet the growing demand for numbers associated with these new technologies. Area code 622 was the first in this series to be activated.  

A key technical detail that distinguishes 622 is its designation as an “Easily Recognizable Code” (ERC). Within the NANP, codes where the second and third digits are identical (like 622, 800, or 888) are specifically reserved for special services. This structure makes them memorable and signals their unique, often non-geographic, function. As demand for these services has continued to grow, an overlay was introduced. On May 15, 2023, area code 633 was added to the same service area as 622 to provide additional numbering capacity, forming an overlay complex.  

 

Section 2: The Source of Confusion: Is 622 a US Area Code?

 

For an audience in the United States, the central point of confusion must be addressed directly: there is no “622 area code” assigned to any city, state, or territory within the US. A call that appears to originate from a “622 area code” is either an international call from Canada, a call where the number has been deliberately faked—a practice known as spoofing—or, most commonly, a misunderstanding of the structure of a standard American phone number.  

This misunderstanding arises from a crucial distinction in the NANP format, which is typically represented as (NPA) NXX-XXXX.

• NPA (Numbering Plan Area): This is the three-digit area code, which can be geographic (like 415 for San Francisco) or non-geographic (like 800 for toll-free service).  
• NXX (Central Office Code): This is the three-digit prefix that follows the area code. It historically identified a specific telephone exchange within that area code’s region.  

While 622 is a Canadian NPA, the number sequence “622” is also widely used as a standard NXX prefix within numerous American area codes. This is the primary reason a person in the US might receive a legitimate call from a number containing “622.”

A clear example can be found in Tennessee. The block of numbers formatted as 931-622-XXXX is assigned to the rate center of Waverly, TN. These numbers are not part of a “622 area code” but are instead numbers with the “622” prefix inside the 931 area code. Records show these prefixes have been active for years, with assignments to carriers like “NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC – GA” and “BANDWIDTH.COM CLEC, LLC – TN” dating back to at least 2005.  

Similarly, in Georgia, the number block 470-622-XXXX is assigned to the Atlanta Northeast rate center. These prefixes are used by a variety of modern telecommunications providers, including “LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS, LLC – GA,” “CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS – GA,” and “ONVOY, LLC – GA,” with many of these assignments activated in 2019.  

Therefore, a user in the United States receiving a call from a number like 931-622-1234 or 470-622-5678 is not receiving a call from a “622 area code.” They are receiving a call from the 931 area code (Tennessee) or the 470 area code (Georgia). The user’s suspicion, however, is often justified. The search for “622 area code” is frequently driven by a need to verify an unknown number in an environment where fraudulent calls are common. This confusion serves as the critical link between the technical facts of numbering plans and the practical reality of phone scams. To further clarify, other international uses, such as the +34 622 code in Spain, are entirely separate from the NANP and irrelevant to calls received within the US.  

The following table provides a clear, side-by-side comparison to resolve this common point of confusion.

Table 1: Deconstructing “622”: Area Code vs. Prefix

 

Part II: The Broader Threat Landscape: Why You Searched for This Number

 

The impulse to investigate an unfamiliar phone number is a rational response to a modern problem. The telecommunications system, once a trusted utility, has become a primary vector for fraud. Understanding the technologies that enable this fraud and the tactics scammers employ is essential for anyone using a phone today. This section explores the “why” behind the search—the pervasive threat of phone scams that makes every unknown call a potential risk.

 

Section 3: Caller ID Spoofing: The Technology Behind Scam Calls

 

The single most important technology enabling the modern scam call epidemic is Caller ID spoofing. This is the practice where a caller deliberately falsifies the information transmitted to a recipient’s caller ID display to disguise their true identity. A scammer operating from a call center anywhere in the world can manipulate the data to make it appear they are calling from a local number, a trusted government agency, or a familiar company.  

A particularly deceptive tactic is “neighbor spoofing.” In this scenario, scammers use software to display a phone number that is very similar to the recipient’s own, often sharing the same area code and first three digits of the phone number (the NXX prefix). This is done to exploit a psychological bias: people are more likely to answer a call that appears to be local. This directly explains why a user might become suspicious of, and subsequently search for, a prefix like “622” if it matches their own or is common in their local calling area.  

The proliferation of spoofing is a direct result of the shift in telecommunications technology. The original phone system was built on physical switches, where a phone number was intrinsically tied to a physical line and location, making Caller ID a reliable indicator of origin. However, the rise of modern digital services, particularly  

Voice over IP (VoIP), decoupled the phone number from a physical line. With VoIP, a phone number is essentially a piece of configurable data. This allows users—and scammers—to easily specify the number they wish to display, breaking the foundational trust of the Caller ID system. This technological vulnerability was exploited on a massive scale, leading to an explosion of illegal robocalls and sophisticated impersonation scams that plague consumers today.  

It is important to note that spoofing itself is not always illegal. The Truth in Caller ID Act of 2009 established the legal framework in the United States, making it illegal to transmit misleading or inaccurate caller ID information specifically “with the intent to defraud, cause harm, or wrongly obtain anything of value”. There are legitimate uses for this technology. For example, a doctor calling a patient from her personal mobile phone can legally spoof the call to display her office’s main number, protecting her privacy while providing a recognizable contact for the patient. The illegality is determined by the caller’s intent.  

For individuals who find their own number being used by scammers—a frustrating situation where they receive angry calls from people who were targeted by a scammer spoofing their number—the advice from federal agencies is straightforward. If you answer these calls, explain that your number is being spoofed and you did not make the call. It can also be helpful to record a voicemail message explaining the situation. Fortunately, scammers tend to cycle through numbers very quickly, so it is likely they will stop using a particular number within a few hours or days.  

 

Section 4: A Comprehensive Guide to Modern Phone & Text Scams

 

Phone scams are not random acts; they are carefully crafted social engineering campaigns designed to manipulate human psychology. By understanding the common narratives and tactics, consumers can recognize the patterns and protect themselves. This section serves as an encyclopedia of the most prevalent scams.

 

Subsection 4.1: Impersonator Scams: The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

 

Impersonator scams are effective because they leverage the victim’s trust in or fear of authority. Scammers pretend to be from an organization you know to bypass skepticism.  

• Government Impersonators: This is one of the most common and feared types of scams. Callers will claim to be from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Social Security Administration (SSA), the FBI, or a local law enforcement agency like the county sheriff’s office. The core tactic is intimidation. They will claim you owe back taxes, that your Social Security number has been compromised and used in a crime, or that there is a warrant for your arrest. The goal is to create panic and a sense of urgency, pressuring the victim to pay a fake fine or fee immediately to avoid dire consequences like arrest or deportation. Real government agencies will not initiate contact by phone to demand immediate payment or threaten arrest.  
• Corporate Impersonators: Scammers frequently pose as representatives from large, trusted companies. A common example is the Amazon scam, where a robocall or live agent claims there has been a suspicious, large purchase on your account and asks you to press 1 or call a number to cancel it. Another is the  

  Apple support scam, where a message claims your account has been compromised and you must call a support advisor.  

  Utility company scams are also prevalent, where a scammer spoofs the number of your local power or water company and threatens to shut off your service within the hour if you don’t make an immediate payment, often demanding payment via untraceable methods like gift cards or payment apps.  
• Financial Institution Impersonators: This is a particularly insidious scam where criminals spoof the phone number of your bank’s fraud department. They may already have some of your personal information from a previous data breach, which they use to sound legitimate. They will read off fake fraudulent charges and then, under the guise of securing your account, trick you into reading back a two-factor authentication (2FA) code sent to your phone or transferring money into a “secure” account that they control.  

 

Subsection 4.2: Financial & “Too Good to Be True” Scams

 

These scams prey on financial vulnerability or the allure of easy money.

• Debt Relief and Credit Repair: Scammers target individuals with poor credit, promising to lower credit card interest rates, repair credit scores, or get student loans forgiven—all for a significant upfront fee. In reality, they take the fee and provide no service, often leaving the victim in a worse financial position.  
• Prize and Lottery Scams: The classic advance-fee fraud. A caller informs the victim they have won a lottery, sweepstakes, or a major prize (like a car or vacation). The catch is that to receive the prize, the victim must first pay for taxes, shipping, or processing fees. Once the fee is paid, the prize never materializes, and the scammer disappears.  
• Bogus Job Opportunities: A newer and rapidly growing scam is the “task scam.” It often begins with an unsolicited text or message offering a simple, high-paying, work-from-home job, such as rating products or “optimizing” apps. To begin working or to withdraw their supposed earnings, the victim is told they must first pay a small amount of their own money. This amount escalates, but the promised earnings can never be withdrawn, and the victim’s money is lost.  
• Investment and Cryptocurrency Scams: These often start with a “wrong number” text or social media contact that develops into a fake friendship or romance. The scammer will eventually claim to be a highly successful investor, often in cryptocurrency, and offer to share their secrets. They guide the victim to a sophisticated-looking but entirely fake investment website or app. Any money “invested” is simply stolen by the scammer.  

 

Subsection 4.3: The “One-Ring” or “Wangiri” Scam

 

This international scam is built entirely on exploiting human curiosity. The name “Wangiri” is Japanese for “one and cut”.  

The mechanics are simple: a scammer using an autodialer calls a large list of numbers but hangs up after just one ring, ensuring the call is missed. The number that appears on the caller ID is often an international premium-rate number, but it is deliberately chosen to look like a domestic US area code. Many of these codes are for Caribbean nations that are part of the NANP, such as 809 (Dominican Republic), 268 (Antigua), 876 (Jamaica), and 649 (Turks & Caicos).  

The scammer’s goal is for the victim to see the missed call and, out of curiosity, call the number back. When they do, they are connected to a premium-rate service that immediately begins charging them a high connection fee plus exorbitant per-minute rates. The scammer’s objective is to keep the victim on the line for as long as possible, often using long recorded messages or hold music to prolong the call and maximize the fraudulent charges, which then appear on the victim’s phone bill.  

 

Subsection 4.4: Phishing via Text (Smishing): The New Frontier

 

As people have become warier of scam calls, criminals have shifted heavily to text-based phishing, or “smishing.” These messages are designed to trick recipients into clicking malicious links or divulging personal information.

• Fake Package Delivery: Perhaps the most common smishing attack involves a text message, appearing to be from the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), FedEx, or another carrier, claiming there is a problem with a package delivery. The message will state that an address needs to be confirmed or a small “redelivery fee” must be paid and will include a link. This link leads to a convincing but fake website designed to harvest credit card numbers and other personal data.  
• Fake Bank Fraud Alerts: These texts mimic legitimate fraud alerts from a bank, stating there has been “suspicious activity” or a large, unauthorized purchase on the victim’s account. The message urges the recipient to click a link to verify the transaction or call a phone number. The link leads to a fake bank login page, and the phone number connects to the scammer posing as a fraud department agent.  
• Bogus Toll Notices: A growing scam involves texts that appear to be from state toll authorities like Florida’s SunPass or California’s FasTrak. The message claims the recipient has an unpaid toll balance and threatens penalties if it’s not paid immediately via the provided link. The link, of course, leads to a fake payment portal designed to steal financial information.  
• “Wrong Number” Scams: This scam begins with an innocuous text that seems to be a simple mistake, such as “Hello” or “Are you free for coffee?”. A courteous person might reply to let the sender know they have the wrong number. This is exactly what the scammer wants. They will use the reply to strike up a conversation, build a rapport over days or weeks, and then pivot to a more lucrative scam, typically a romance or investment fraud scheme.  

The following table breaks down the core components of these common scams, providing a quick-reference guide to help identify fraudulent calls in real time.

Table 2: Anatomy of a Modern Phone Scam

 

Part III: Your Defense Plan: Taking Control and Protecting Your Assets

 

While the threat landscape is vast and constantly evolving, consumers are not helpless. A combination of government programs, device features, and personal vigilance can create a robust defense against the majority of unwanted calls and scams. This section provides a practical, multi-layered strategy for taking control of your phone.

 

Section 5: Proactive Defense: How to Block Unwanted Calls and Texts

 

An effective defense strategy involves several layers of protection, from broad national registries to specific settings on your personal device.

 

The First Line of Defense: The National Do Not Call Registry

 

The National Do Not Call Registry is a free service managed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that allows consumers to opt out of receiving most telemarketing calls. Its primary purpose is to stop sales calls from  

legitimate companies that are required by law to honor the list. Consumers can register their home or mobile phone numbers online at DoNotCall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222.  

However, it is crucial to understand the registry’s limitations. It will not stop calls from illegal scammers, as they operate outside the law and simply ignore the list. Furthermore, the registry does not prohibit calls from political organizations, charities, or companies with which you have an existing business relationship. While it is a good foundational step to reduce unwanted legitimate sales calls, it should not be considered a complete solution for stopping scams.  

 

Device-Level Blocking: Your Personal Gatekeeper

 

Modern smartphones provide powerful built-in tools for managing unwanted calls.

• For iPhone Users: The most direct way to block a number is from the Phone app. By navigating to the “Recents” tab, tapping the “i” (information) icon next to the offending number, and scrolling down, a user can select “Block this Caller”. A more powerful, proactive feature introduced in iOS 13 and later is  

  “Silence Unknown Callers”. This can be enabled in Settings > Phone. When active, any call from a number that is not in your contacts, recent outgoing calls, or Siri Suggestions will be silenced, sent directly to voicemail, and will appear in your recents list without your phone ever ringing. This is highly effective at eliminating spam calls, but it has one potential drawback: you could miss an important call from a number you don’t have saved, such as a doctor’s office or a service technician.  
• For Android Users: The process for blocking a number is similar. From the Phone app’s “Recents” list, a user can tap the number and then select the option to “Block” or “Report spam”. Most Android devices also have a native  

  “Caller ID and spam protection” feature that can be enabled in the Phone app’s settings. This feature uses Google’s data to identify and flag suspected spam and scam calls as they come in.  

 

Carrier and Third-Party Tools: Advanced Protection

 

For an even higher level of protection, users can leverage tools offered by their mobile carriers and third-party developers.

• Carrier Tools: Major carriers like AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile offer their own spam-blocking services, many of which are free. These services use network-level analytics to identify and block or label suspicious calls before they even reach your phone. T-Mobile, for example, offers its “Scam Block” feature, which can be easily activated by dialing #662# from a T-Mobile phone.  
• Third-Party Apps: A robust market of third-party call-blocking apps exists for both iOS and Android. Apps like Nomorobo, Hiya, and others maintain vast, constantly updated databases of known spam and scam numbers. When a call comes in, the app cross-references the number with its blacklist and can either block the call automatically or display a warning label like “Spam Likely” on the screen, giving the user the information needed to ignore the call.  

No single tool is a panacea. The most effective approach combines these layers: register on the Do Not Call list to handle legitimate telemarketers, enable device-level or carrier-level filtering to automatically silence the majority of robocalls, and use manual blocking for any unwanted calls that manage to slip through.

 

Section 6: Responding to an Attack: What to Do If You’ve Been Contacted or Scammed

 

Even with the best defenses, a suspicious call or text may get through. The response in that moment is critical.

The golden rule is do not engage. The safest action is to not answer calls from numbers you do not recognize. If you answer by mistake, hang up immediately. Do not speak, and especially do not follow any automated prompts to “press 1 to speak to an operator” or “press 9 to be removed from our list.” Any interaction, even speaking a single word like “hello,” confirms to the scammer’s autodialer that your number is active and belongs to a real person, which can lead to your number being targeted for even more calls.  

Under no circumstances should you ever provide personal or financial information in response to an unsolicited call or text. This includes your Social Security number, bank account or credit card numbers, passwords, or the verification codes sent for two-factor authentication.  

 

How to Report Fraud: Holding Scammers Accountable

 

Reporting scams is not just about seeking personal recourse; it is a vital civic action that contributes to a national defense system. Individual complaints are aggregated by federal agencies to identify trends, track scam operations, and build law enforcement cases. By reporting, a victim transitions from a passive target to an active participant in the fight against fraud.  

• Federal Trade Commission (FTC): The FTC is the lead agency for collecting reports on scams, fraud, and identity theft. The official reporting portal is ReportFraud.ftc.gov. While the FTC cannot resolve individual complaints, every report is entered into the Consumer Sentinel Network, a secure database accessible to thousands of law enforcement agencies across the country and around the world. This data is indispensable for investigating and prosecuting fraudulent operations.  
• Federal Communications Commission (FCC): The FCC handles complaints related to telecommunications, including unwanted calls, illegal robocalls, and caller ID spoofing. The official complaint portal is fcc.gov/complaints. These complaints provide the FCC with the data needed to enforce the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and the Truth in Caller ID Act, informing policy decisions and enforcement actions against violators.  

If you have lost money to a scammer, the first and most urgent step is to contact your financial institution. Call your bank or credit card company immediately to report the fraudulent transaction, freeze your accounts, and dispute the charges. If you paid with a gift card, contact the issuing company and report the fraud; they may be able to freeze the funds. After contacting your financial institution, file a detailed report with both the FTC and your local police department.

 

Section 7: The Future of Phone Security: The SHAKEN/STIR Framework

 

In response to the technological problem of spoofing, the telecommunications industry and regulators have developed a technological solution: the SHAKEN/STIR framework. This acronym stands for Secure Handling of Asserted information using toKENs (SHAKEN) and Secure Telephony Identity Revisited (STIR).  

In simple terms, SHAKEN/STIR is a digital verification system designed to restore trust in Caller ID. It works by having the originating phone service provider attach a cryptographic “signature” to a call, attesting that the call is legitimate and from the number it claims to be from. When the call reaches the recipient’s provider, that provider checks the signature. If the signature is valid, the call goes through normally. If the signature is missing or invalid (as would be the case with most spoofed calls), the provider can flag the call with a label like “Spam Likely” or block it from reaching the consumer altogether.  

The ultimate goal of this framework is to make it significantly more difficult and expensive for scammers to effectively spoof caller ID information, thereby reducing the volume of fraudulent calls that reach consumers. While implementation is now widespread across major carriers, the system is not yet foolproof, and scammers are continually working to find new loopholes. Nonetheless, SHAKEN/STIR represents the most significant technological step forward in the fight against illegal robocalls and a long-term strategy to rebuild the integrity of the telephone network.

 

Conclusion: From Confusion to Control

 

 

The journey that begins with a simple search for the “622 area code” often reveals a complex and intimidating world of telecommunications fraud. This report has sought to demystify that world, providing clear, factual answers and actionable strategies.

The key takeaways are straightforward. The official 622 area code is a non-geographic, special-purpose code for Canada, and the confusion among US consumers typically arises from the use of “622” as a standard telephone prefix within various American area codes. This initial query, however, is a symptom of a larger, valid concern: the relentless barrage of scam calls enabled by caller ID spoofing technology. These scams are not random but are sophisticated psychological operations designed to exploit fear, trust, and curiosity.

Yet, consumers are far from powerless. A multi-layered defense—combining the National Do Not Call Registry with powerful device-level settings like “Silence Unknown Callers” and carrier-provided tools—can create a formidable barrier against unwanted calls. When a suspicious call does get through, the principles of non-engagement and vigilance are paramount. Furthermore, the act of reporting fraud to the FTC and FCC is a critical contribution to the collective, data-driven effort to combat these criminal enterprises. With technological advancements like the SHAKEN/STIR framework gradually restoring integrity to the network, the future of phone security is improving.

Ultimately, knowledge is the most effective defense. By seeking to understand that initial, suspicious call, the reader has already taken the most important step. Moving forward with an understanding of the scammers’ tactics and an awareness of the available tools transforms a consumer from a potential victim into an empowered and secure user, capable of navigating the digital landscape with confidence and control.