What are Kenosha County Area Codes?
Area codes are the three-digit numbers that prefix every North American telephone number. They were introduced as part of the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) to identify different numbering plan areas in the country. A recipient of a call can identify the origin of such a call using the area code displayed. The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) is charged with implementing and administering area codes in Kenosha County.
Currently, one area code covers the whole of Kenosha County:
Area Code 262
Area code 262 was introduced in September 1999 as a split-off area code 414. NANP 262 covers much of Southeastern Wisconsin, including Kenosha County and all the cities, villages, and towns under it. Some major cities covered under NPA 262 include Bristol, Salem, Pleasant Prairie, Twin Lakes, and Kenosha.
What are the Best Cell Phone Plans in Kenosha County?
A 2018 National Center of Health Statistics survey estimated that 54% of adults in Wisconsin rely solely on wireless telephone services. On the contrary, adults who relied on landlines alone amounted to 4.1% of the state. For minors, users of wireless-only services were about 60.4%, while landline-only users totaled 2% of the population. These figures indicate that cell phones have surpassed landlines as the preferred means of telephone service in Kenosha County.
The primary phone carriers in the U.S- AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint, all operate in Kenosha County, with all four of them providing pretty outstanding coverage for residents in the county. T-Mobile tops the list with about 96% service coverage. Verizon follows closely behind with a 92% coverage. AT&T offers 72% coverage and Sprint 64%. Several other Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) also run on the major phone carriers and provide residents with excellent alternatives. Nonetheless, service availability may drop in certain areas such as in populated places, rural areas, and spaces between tall buildings.
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services are common in Kenosha County, with several companies offering highly competitive rates to residents. VoIP is a technology that allows for calls to be made over the internet. Compared to landlines and wireless telephone services, VoIP services are more affordable and offer users more flexibility.
What are Kenosha County Phone Scams?
Kenosha County scams are phone calls that target residents of Kenosha County with the intent to extort money or other sensitive personal information from them fraudulently. Reverse phone number lookup services are adept at identifying such scammers. Common scams committed in Kenosha County include:
What are Kenosha County Law Enforcement Impersonation Scams?
In this scam, the scammer contacts a county resident claiming to be an attorney in the state, an official from the Sheriff’s Office, or some other law enforcement agent. The scammer posing as an attorney, tells the target that their relative is in custody and that the target will need to send in money to have the relative released. Usually, scammers in this type of scam already have some personal information about the supposed relative of the targeted persons.
Other times, scammers contact residents, claiming to be deputies of the Sheriff's Department. They tell their targets that they have warrants for their arrest. They request that their targets make payments to them through gift cards or provide them with their credit card information to remedy the situation. Some even go as far as spoofing the main fax number of the office to make the call appear more legitimate.
Residents are warned to be careful when receiving such calls. According to the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department (KSD), no attorney, constable, police officer, federal agent, or law enforcement agent will contact residents to solicit that money be mailed to them. The Sheriff’s Office will also never request that payments of any kind be made to them over the phone. Targets of these scams are advised to contact the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department or their local law enforcement agency to report. It is, however, common to see scammers spoof the Caller ID of the Sheriff’s Office. Reverse cell phone lookup services can be used to verify the actual identities of the callers and identify spoofed caller IDs.
What are Kenosha County Donation Scams?
Kenosha County residents, especially business operators, are warned about scammers contacting them and claiming to be working with an organization called the “Police and Sheriff’s Coalition.” The scammers posing as legitimate officers of the Sheriff’s Office request that their targets make donations to them. They say that the donations would be used to cater for school supplies for children, the Drug Abuse Resistance Education Program (D.A.R.E.), and Shop With A Cop. They request the donations be made in specific forms, such as wire transfers, gift cards, or prepaid cards. Sometimes, the scammers volunteer to come to get the payments themselves.
The Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department bears no relationship whatsoever with these callers nor the said organization. Targets are advised to never give out their personal details or money to anyone claiming to be from an organization unless they have verified their legitimacy. In such cases, a free reverse phone lookup service can answer the question “who is this number registered?”
What are Kenosha County Covid-19 Scams?
Fraudsters have taken advantage of the pandemic and are using it as an opportunity to extort money and other sensitive information from county residents. The scammers here contact county residents claiming to be county officials working to mitigate against the virus. They begin the conversation with random details bordering on contact tracing, testing, check-ups, and medications. They then ask their targets for their personal details to help them facilitate payments. These may range from their names to dates of birth, credit card details, social security numbers, or any other information they consider needful.
County residents are advised to hang up on anyone who contacts them to provide their confidential details in return for Covid-19 aid and assistance. If you have been a target of such scams, contact the KSD’s office immediately on their non-emergency number to report the case. Reverse cell phone lookups are also helpful in answering the question “who called me?”
What are Robocalls and Spam Calls?
Robocalls are automated telephone calls made to deliver pre-recorded messages, usually on behalf of political parties, telemarketing companies, or non-profit making organizations. Users of robocalls enjoy the benefit of being able to reach several persons at the same time and with minimal cost or effort.
In recent times, scammers have adopted robocalls to carry out their activities, with many posing as legitimate businesses to extort money. The reasons for this are not far-fetched. Robocalls allow scammers the privilege of anonymity as calls are sent without an actual caller on the other end of the call. Plus, the numbers used are also easily changeable, thereby allowing scammers to hide under multiple Caller IDs. Nonetheless, a reverse phone number lookup free service can easily help you identify an incoming robocall.
The best options if you receive a robocall are to:
- End the call immediately. Avoid taking any actions based on the prompts given, as doing so will only trigger spamming your line with more robocalls and automated messages.
- Register on the “National Do Not Call” registry. Registration is free. Numbers enlisted here are exempted from receiving telemarketing calls from real companies. The implication of this is that any robocalls received after registering may most likely be scam calls.
- Inquire about the procedures for blocking numbers from phone service providers and use them.
- Use online services that offer free reverse phone lookups or phone number search to ascertain who called.
- File complaints of illegal robocall to the FTC online or call 1-888-382-1222.
The FTC, on its website, also provides other useful consumer tips on blocking unwanted calls on any platform.
How Can You Spot and Report Kenosha County Phone Scams?
Scammers and their activities have evolved over time, making it less easy to track them or keep tabs on their schemes. This is the case in most places, and Kenosha County is no exception. A good reverse phone lookup service may be productive in identifying potential phone scams. However, awareness remains the most potent tool in combating potential phone scams. Here is how to identify scam calls:
- Scammers always promote fear and exert pressure to make their targets act on the spot. Their most common tactics include threats to arrest, fine, suspend, or revoke the licenses of their targets.
- The caller proposes to give their target certain services or privileges for free or for a discount. The condition for fulfilling this is usually for the target to send across their sensitive details. Unsolicited requests from strangers for your financial or bank information are most likely scams. Legitimate organizations would never ask you to divulge or send across your sensitive information over the phone.
- The caller claims to represent a reputable business or government organization but will insist on receiving payments through channels other than the regular or popularly used ones. Usually, they will insist on bank wire transfers, bitcoins, gift cards, or prepaid cards because funds transferred through these means are usually untraceable and impossible to get back.
- The scammer offers investment proposals that promise massive returns and yet so little risks. The offers are usually overly generous that they appeal to the recipients to distract them from serious considerations. Usually, such offers and investment opportunities are scams.
It is impossible to shield yourself from the menace of phone scammers totally. However, tools that perform free phone number lookups by name, number, and address can help identify and curb their activities.
Several public organizations have been instituted to assist Kenosha County residents in dealing with scammers. County residents who have been victims of phone scams may contact any of these agencies to report or file their complaints:
Kenosha County Sheriff's Department (KSD) - The Kenosha County Sheriff's Department provides information and updates on prevalent scams in the county to help residents identify telephone scams and threats. Kenosha County residents who have been victims of phone scams may file their reports to the Sheriff’s Office or call the non-emergency number 262-605-5100. Anonymous messages may also be sent to the Kenosha County Crime Stoppers at 262-656-7333.
Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP)- The DATCP provides residents with relevant information and helps protect them from fraud and deceptive practices. Residents who have been victims of scams can file complaints with the Bureau of Consumer Protection or call either 1-800-422-7128 or (608) 224-4953. ??Wisconsin’s Bureau of Consumer Protection also enforces the Do Not Call law in the state. This helps to deter fraud and reduce unwanted sales calls.
Wisconsin Department Of Justice (DOJ)- Wisconsin Department of Justice is charged with the responsibility of administering justice in the state. Residents wanting to file a complaint concerning phone scams may do so online.
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) - The FTC protects consumers from unfair and deceptive practices carried out by businesses. The National Do Not Call Registry is part of its efforts towards identifying and curbing unwanted calls. Numbers registered on the DNCR are exempted from receiving robocalls from legitimate companies. If you continue to receive robocalls after the 31 days timeframe, chances are it is most likely a scam call. The FTC also provides updates on prevalent scams in the U.S. This ensures that county residents know what to do if contacted by scammers. Victims of scams may file complaints with the FTC.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) - The FCC works to ensure consumers are protected from fraudulent robocalls and Caller IDs spoofing scams. Instructions on how residents may stop robocalls and avoid phone scams are available on their website.