If you have a missed call or text message from a number starting with +978, you are looking at a location within the United States, not an international country.
The international dialing code +978 is currently unassigned by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and is not officially used by any sovereign country. However, 978 is a valid 3-digit area code within the North American Numbering Plan (NANP), serving the state of Massachusetts, USA.
This article will clarify the confusion between the three-digit area code (978) and an international country code (+978). We will detail the exact location of the 978 area code, list the cities it covers, and provide crucial advice on recognizing potential scams from this and similar codes.
The Area Code 978: Location in the United States
When a number appears with the prefix +1 978 (the ‘1’ being the country code for the US and Canada), it is referring to the local region in Massachusetts.
Key Details
| Detail | Information |
| Location | Northeastern and North Central Massachusetts, USA |
| Country Code | +1 (The US/NANP country code) |
| Time Zone | Eastern Time (ET) |
| Overlay Complex | 978 shares coverage with the 351 area code. |
| Dialing Rule | 10-digit dialing is mandatory (Area Code + 7-digit number). |
Major Cities Covered by 978/351
The 978 area code covers a wide swath of northeastern and north-central Massachusetts, primarily serving the northern suburbs and towns outside of the Boston metropolitan area (which uses 617/857).
Major municipalities that fall within the 978 area code include:
- Lowell
- Lawrence
- Haverhill
- Fitchburg
- Leominster
- Peabody
- Andover
The Difference Between +978 and Area Code 978
The confusion stems from the formatting of phone numbers displayed on modern mobile phones:
- International Country Code (+978): International codes are defined by the ITU. The codes from +970 to +979 are designated for the Middle East and South Asia. While many in this block are assigned (e.g., +971 for UAE, +972 for Israel), +978 is reserved and not actively in use.
- US Area Code (+1 978): The number you are seeing likely includes the North American Country Code +1 followed by the 3-digit area code 978. When calling this number internationally, the full prefix is +1-978.
If you are receiving a call from a number that shows up as just +978 followed by a local number, it is almost certainly a phone with an incorrectly configured or displayed caller ID, but the origin is Massachusetts, USA.
Is Area Code 978 Associated with Scams?
As a US area code, the 978 region is not inherently more prone to international toll fraud like some Caribbean codes (e.g., 809 or 939).
However, due to the rise of robocalling and number spoofing, you should be cautious of unsolicited calls from any unknown number, including 978:
- Spoofing: Scammers located anywhere in the world can use Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology to make their outbound number appear as a local 978 number on your Caller ID. This is done to trick you into answering a call that you might otherwise ignore.
- Neighbor Spoofing: If you live in or near Massachusetts, scammers often spoof numbers that share your local 978 or 351 area code and the first three digits of your exchange, making the call seem hyper-local.
Actionable Advice: If you are not expecting a call from Northeastern Massachusetts, use your phone’s built-in tools to silence or block unknown callers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is 978 considered an international number?
No. The 978 area code is located in Massachusetts, USA. Since the US is part of the North American Numbering Plan (NANP), it is not considered an “international” call when dialed from the US or Canada, which both share the +1 country code.
What is the time zone for area code 978?
The 978 area code is located in the Eastern Time Zone (ET). This zone observes Daylight Saving Time, so it is either Eastern Standard Time (EST), which is UTC-5, or Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), which is UTC-4.
What is the 351 area code?
The 351 area code is an overlay for the 978 area code. Both codes cover the exact same geographical region in Northeastern and North Central Massachusetts. The 351 code was added in 2001 after the original pool of 978 numbers began to run out. This means all local calls in the region require 10-digit dialing (Area Code + 7-digit number).
Conclusion
The prefix +978 is a point of confusion in telecommunications. While the three-digit code 978 is definitively a US area code for Massachusetts, the international country code prefix +978 remains unassigned globally.
If you receive a call from this number, you can confidently assume it is either a legitimate call from the Lowell/Lawrence, MA region or a spoofer attempting to make a malicious call look local. Always exercise caution and never give out personal information over an unsolicited call.
