Is it just me, or have our phones been ringing off the hook a LOT more lately? Seriously, I think on average, I'm used to one call from either family, or someone at work, once a day. But out of NOWHERE, I've been getting 10-15 calls a day from the same Michigan Area codes... ALL of them SPAM!

It's really been a problem, but there's good news... I'm now getting smarter about recognizing the problematic area codes, and not answering them. And now, I'm gonna try and help you out, by listing out the most problematic area codes in the state for scams.

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First off, if you're experiencing a large amount of spam calls like I am, and you happen to have a number from MOST other states, you can put yourself on a "Do Not Call Registry." It's fairly effective, and used to work quite well when I lived outside of Michigan. But sadly, Michigan is one of only 11 states that are NOT part of this database.

So, we're gonna have to resort to the old-fashioned way, and just try to familiarize ourselves with the problematic numbers, not ALL of which are going to come from Michigan. Most scammers will try and utilize area codes similar, or close to what your phone number is. Good rule of thumb, if you don't recognize the number from a local area code... let it go to voicemail.

However, there are some from outside of Michigan to keep your eyes on.

202 - Washington D.C.

This is probably the most problematic area code of all. A LOT of government work obviously happens here, and flows through D.C. So who knows... it could be one of the many agencies calling to confirm some government document with you... right? Probably not. DO NOT answer a call from the 202.

214 - Dallas Texas

Another one of the busiest economical cities in the entire country, companies like AT&T, JPMorgan Chase, and Southwest and American Airlines all operate out of Dallas. So if you've recently booked a flight on those airlines, or bank with JPMorgan, or use AT&T, it's entirely possible you MIGHT see this area code from time to time. But beware, you might see it in paperwork and on their websites, but these places will rarely call YOU.

310 - Beverly Hills, California

Yeah, great place for a copy film starring Eddie Murphy... bad area code to answer your phone with.

407 - Orlando, Florida

THIS area code has become the bane of my existence. You book ONE trip to Orlando and the amusement parks, and it's like they're your best friends. Trust me, it's not you... it's me... and I'm tired of getting your phone calls Orlando.

702 - Las Vegas, Nevada

There's all kinds of lucky numbers out there, but this one popping up on your phone... NEVER lucky. DO NOT ANSWER IT!

8 Things To Do If You Paid A Phone Scammer

Merciless phone scammers are targeting unaware folks with schemes involving pleas for charity, car warranties, unpaid traffic tickets, you name it. The Federal Trade Commission says, "Scammers often ask you to pay in ways that make it tough to get your money back. No matter what payment method you used to pay, the sooner you act, the better."
If you have paid one of these scammers and then realize you have been scammed, here are 8 tips from the Federal Trade Commission, on what to do if you have paid a scammer.

Gallery Credit: Brad Carpenter/Federal Trade Commission/Canva

Ranking States with Most Online Scams

Here's a state-by-state look, using data available from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), ranking states by total amount of money lost to fraud.

Gallery Credit: Scott Clow

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