What are Clackamas County Area Codes?
Area codes are the three-digit codes at the beginning of local telephone numbers in the United States. Clackamas area codes differentiate telephone service areas known as Numbering Plan Areas (NPAs) in the county as established by the North American Numbering Plan (NANP). Generally, area codes ease long-distance phone calls between different locations. The Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC) maintains and manages Oregon area codes, including Clackamas County.
Two area codes presently serve Clackamas County. These are:
Area Code 503
Area code 503 is an Oregon telephone area code for northwestern Oregon. It covers Clackamas County and some adjoining counties. It was created as one of the original 86 area codes and entered service in 1947. Cities and communities served by the 503 NPA include Oregon, Oak Grove, Canby, Estacada, Beavercreek, and Lake Oswego. Others are Sandy, Tualatin, Gladstone, West Linn, and Milwaukie.
Area Code 947
Created as an overlay for area code 503, the 947 NPA was put to service in 2000. It serves the same locations as area code 503.
What are the Best Cell Phone Plans in Clackamas County?
Data collected from a 2018 CDC survey indicate an increasing dependence on wireless telephony services for telecommunication among Oregon residents compared to landlines. 63.4% of the adult population used cell phones only as against the 5.6% who used landline phones solely. Similarly, 73.6% of minors had adopted cell phones for telephony services. Only an insignificant 2.1% of them still used landline phones exclusively.
Although the four national phone carriers are present in Clackamas County, they do not all provide impressive service. Verizon has the best network coverage at 74.4%, followed closely by AT&T with a 69.5% spread. T-Mobile and Sprint cover 47.3% and 19.3% of the county, respectively.
Preference for Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology has increased in Clackamas County as business activities continue to expand across various sectors. This development resulted in the need for an efficient and affordable alternative telephony service. VoIP uses high-speed internet access to transfer voice, video, and data conveniently.
What are Clackamas County Phone Scams?
Clackamas County phone scams are deceptive attempts to separate county residents from their money and confidential information. Fraudsters perpetrate phone scams using telecommunication services such as live phone calls, text messages, and robocalls. You can use phone number lookup tools to unravel the identities of persons behind suspicious phone calls and avoid scams. The Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office investigates incidents of phone scams in the County while the Oregon Department of Justice, Consumer Protection Section educates residents on avoiding scams.
Common phone scams committed in Clackamas County include:
What are Law Enforcement Impersonation Scams?
Phone scammers pretending to be law enforcement agents make repeated calls to their targets in Clackamas County to demand payment of fines for missed jury duty or outstanding warrants. They speak convincingly and usually threaten their marks with immediate arrests if they fail to pay quickly. These fraudsters often instruct their victims to send money using unusual forms of payment such as prepaid visa cards, iTunes cards, and gift cards. Regardless of how convincing and persistent these scammers may be, the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office warns residents to end all such calls without hesitation. Law enforcement will never solicit money over the phone. You can also use services that offer free reverse phone lookups to ascertain the actual origins of these calls.
What are Imposter Contact Tracer Scams?
In these scams, fraudsters exploit Clackamas County residents’ fears of coronavirus infections to rip them off. They call residents while posing as legitimate contact tracers and compel them into revealing confidential information such as social security numbers, bank account details, and credit card numbers. Although legitimate contact tracers call persons suspected to have been exposed to COVID-19, they do not ask for confidential personal information. Residents can avoid these scams using reverse phone number lookup tools to query the origins of suspicious phone calls.
What are Charity Scams?
In charity scams, fraudsters take advantage of people’s goodwill and solicit donations for personal benefits. They usually pose as representatives of legitimate charities, and in most cases, use the names of familiar charity organizations to fool their targets. Always contact the Oregon DOJ Charitable Activities Section to confirm that any charity soliciting your contribution is duly registered and legitimate. The DOJ Charitable Activities oversees all the charities in Oregon, including Clackamas County. Using reverse phone number search free services can help ascertain the callers’ legitimacy. Victims of charity scams in Clackamas County can file their complaints in person at:
Charitable Activities Section
Oregon Department of Justice
100 South West Market Street
Portland, OR 97201
What are IRS Imposter Scams?
Phone scammers extort unsuspecting taxpayers in Clackamas County by posing as Internal Revenue Service (IRS) employees. They demand immediate payments for purported delinquent taxes over phone calls and threaten their targets with arrests if they hesitate. IRS phone scammers may also threaten lawsuits, imprisonment, or, in some cases, deportation. They often instruct their victims to pay via wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrencies and may sometimes spoof their targets’ Caller IDs. If you receive this type of call, you can answer the question: who called me? with a good reverse phone lookup service.
What are Robocalls and Spam Calls?
Robocalls use computerized autodialers to make phone calls that disseminate recorded messages to several phone numbers at once. Although they serve various legitimate purposes in politics and telemarketing, robocalls are also used to perpetrate phone scams in Clackamas County. Robocalls aid fraudsters' anonymity which allows them to often pose as representatives of reputable businesses. Scammers use robocall to deceive county residents into revealing confidential information or parting with money. You can use phone number searches to identify incoming robocalls and avoid scams. Spam calls are generally unwanted calls delivered indiscriminately to several recipients. Robocall is a typical example of a spam call. Clackamas County residents can take the following steps to avoid falling victim to robocall scams:
- Do not answer phone calls from unknown phone numbers. Genuine callers will leave messages on your voice machine.
- End a phone call immediately you know it is a robocall. Ignore any instruction asking that you select a number to unsubscribe from the calling list.
- Sign up on the National Do Not Call Registry managed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to block unwanted robocalls. Numbers registered on the registry after thirty-one days will cease to receive unsolicited calls from legitimate telemarketers.
- Request a free call-blocking tool from your phone provider or install a third-party call-blocking application on your cell phone to block robocall numbers.
- File reports of illegal robocalls with the FTC online or call 1 (888) 382-1222.
The FTC also provides information on how to block unwanted calls on its website.
How Can You Spot and Report Clackamas County Phone Scams?
Phone scammers are adept at exploiting routine occurrences to fool unsuspecting individuals into sharing confidential information and cheating them out of their money. However, Clackamas County residents can avoid phone scams by staying educated and updated on current scam trends.
The following red flags can notify residents of impending phone scams:
- Callers use threats and other high-pressure tactics to coerce individuals into sharing personal information or making payments
- Callers request payments via unconventional payment methods such as cryptocurrencies, reloadable debit and credit cards, and wire transfers
- Unknown callers claim to be law enforcement agents or representatives of reputable agencies and solicit confidential information or money
- Callers advertise exciting product offers to lure their targets into making quick payments or providing financial information
- Callers ask for upfront payments before winnings and gifts can be accessed
Clackamas County residents can prevent phone scams by using web services that offer free phone number lookups by name and address. Government agencies responsible for protecting Clackamas County residents from scammers’ relentless dubious practices include:
Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office: The CCSO provides security for the lives and properties of county residents. They also sensitize residents about prevalent scams and provide regular tips on scam prevention. Persons who are victims of phone scams in Clackamas County can file reports with the CCSO by calling (503) 655-8211.
Oregon Department of Justice: The consumer protection section of the DOJ enforces the state’s consumer protection laws. Clackamas County residents can file online complaints of phone scam incidents with the DOJ, Consumer Protection Section or contact them at 1 (877) 877-9392
Federal Communications Commission: The FCC is the federal agency that regulates interstate and foreign communications in the U.S. They protect consumers by educating them about robocalls and caller ID spoofing. Clackamas County residents who have been victims of illegal robocalls or phone spoofing scams can file online complaints with the FCC.
Federal Trade Commission: The FTC protects consumers from dishonest and fraudulent business practices. They maintain the National Do Not Call Registry, which prohibits legitimate telemarketers from calling phone numbers listed in the registry. Scammers, however, typically disregard this rule, making it easy for registered residents to identify illegal unsolicited calls. Clackamas County residents can file reports of phone scams to the FTC online or by calling 1 (888) 382-1222.