The search for the “131 area code in USA” often leads to confusion because the sequence 131 is not a valid geographic area code within the North American Numbering Plan (NANP), which governs the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean.
The direct answer is that the 131 area code is the official local code for Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom.
If you receive a phone call from a number displaying (131) as the area code, the number is illegally spoofed and should be treated as fraudulent. This article clarifies why the code is invalid for US use and details its proper international context.
Why 131 is Not a Valid US Area Code
All area codes in the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) must adhere to the rule that the first digit (N) must be a number between 2 and 9.
| NANP Rule | Result for Code 131 |
| First Digit Rule (N) | The first digit of 131 is 1, which is prohibited for geographic area codes. |
| Valid Range | All valid US area codes begin in the 2xx range or higher (e.g., 201, 303, 415, etc.). |
| 1-Prefix Function | The digit 1 is reserved as the domestic long-distance trunk code, which is dialed before the area code in many parts of the US and Canada. |
Because it violates this foundational rule, no legitimate US phone line will ever be assigned an area code of 131.
Where the 131 Code is Actually Located
The 131 code is part of the United Kingdom’s national numbering plan (often seen domestically as ).
| Detail | Information |
| Country: | United Kingdom (UK) |
| City/Region: | Edinburgh, Scotland (The capital city and surrounding regions) |
| Time Zone: | GMT/UTC, observing British Summer Time (BST). |
| International Format: | (where 44 is the country code). |
International Dialing Rules
To call a number in Edinburgh from the United States, you must dial the full international code:
Safety Warning: Handling Unsolicited 131 Calls
Given that 131 is an invalid area code in the USA, any incoming 10-digit call that appears to be from (131) is a strong indicator of phone fraud.
- Caller ID Spoofing: Scammers use fake or unassigned numbers like 131 to bypass basic spam filters and trick recipients into answering.
- Do Not Answer: Treat calls from (131) as high-risk spam. Do not answer and do not attempt to call back. Returning a call to a spoofed number can sometimes connect you to a costly international premium-rate line.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is 131 the ZIP Code for a region in the USA?
No. ZIP Codes are five digits long. While the first three digits of some ZIP Codes in the Northeastern US start with 131 (e.g., 13101 for Kirkville, NY), the term refers to a postal zone, which is separate from telephone area codes.
If I receive an unexpected text message from 131, is it dangerous?
If you receive an unexpected text from a 3-digit number like 131, it is highly likely a system error or internal carrier message (especially if you recently switched carriers). Since the number is unassigned, it is safe to delete and ignore.
What is the US equivalent of Edinburgh’s area code?
Edinburgh’s code is 131. The US international code is 1 (or +1).
Conclusion
The 131 area code in USA does not exist. It is the geographic code for Edinburgh, Scotland. Always ignore or block any calls received from the (131) area code to protect yourself from potential fraud and spoofing attempts.
