The 271 area code is currently an unassigned and invalid telephone area code within the North American Numbering Plan (NANP). This means no city, state, or region in the United States, Canada, or the Caribbean uses this prefix for its phone numbers.
If you have been searching for the location of the 271 area code, it’s important to understand its status. This article will explain why this code is not in use, how to handle calls that appear to come from it, and clarify the common confusion with the +27 country code.
What is the Official Status of the 271 Area Code?
As of September 2025, the 271 area code is not in service. The North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA), the authority that governs phone numbers, holds many three-digit combinations in reserve for future use or deems them invalid. The 271 code falls into this unassigned category.
Because no telecommunication provider is authorized to issue numbers with this prefix, no legitimate phone number in North America can start with 271.
What to Do If You Receive a Call from a 271 Number
Since the 271 area code is inactive, any call that appears to originate from it is, by definition, fraudulent. Scammers use a technology called “caller ID spoofing” to falsify the number that appears on your phone. They can make it look like they are calling from anywhere, including from an invalid area code like 271.
If you see an incoming call from a 271 number, you can be 100% certain it is a scam attempt.
Follow these essential security steps:
- Do not answer the call. There is no legitimate person or business that can contact you from this number.
- Never call the number back. Doing so can confirm to scammers that your phone number is active, leading to more unwanted calls.
- Never provide personal information, such as your Social Security number, bank account details, or passwords.
- Block the number immediately to prevent them from trying to call you again from that specific spoofed number.
- Report the call to the appropriate authorities, such as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the U.S., to help combat these fraudulent operations.
Is Area Code 271 Related to the +27 Country Code?
This is a common point of confusion, and it is important to understand the difference.
No, the unassigned area code 271 is not related to the country code +27. The number +27 is the official international country calling code for the nation of South Africa.
A call from South Africa would appear on your caller ID with a plus sign (e.g., +27 followed by the local number), indicating an international call. A spoofed scam call using the non-existent NANP code might appear as 1-271…. They are not the same.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 271 area code in any US state?
No. The 271 area code is not assigned to any state, territory, or province in the United States, Canada, or any other country that is part of the North American Numbering Plan.
Can I get a 271 phone number?
No. Because the area code is invalid and not in service, telecommunication providers cannot issue phone numbers that begin with the 271 prefix.
Why would a scammer use an invalid area code?
Scammers may use an unassigned area code to bypass some call-blocking apps, to create a sense of curiosity or confusion that might entice a person to answer, or as part of a randomized number generation system for their robocalls.
What is the country code for South Africa?
The international country calling code for South Africa is +27.
Conclusion
In summary, the 271 area code is invalid, unassigned, and does not correspond to any real location in North America. No legitimate calls can originate from this number. Therefore, any call you receive from a phone number with a 271 prefix is a spoofed call and a definite scam attempt. It should not be confused with the +27 international country code for South Africa. The only safe course of action is to ignore the call, block the number, and never share any of your personal information.
