Scammers Lurk Behind Area Code 876

Your phone rings and caller ID shows an 876 area code. While it appears the call is coming from the US, be cautious with this Jamaican area code. If you do not have friends, relatives, or business associates in Jamaica, there is probably a scammer on the other end of line.

“Anyone receiving an unexpected call from area code 876 should be on high alert,” said James Boffetti, New Hampshire senior assistant attorney general. “There is a high likelihood that these calls are from scam artists. Unfortunately, these scammers are very persistent and in some cases verbally abusive, threatening to harm victims if they do not send money.”

AARP is joining forces with local businesses and law enforcement agencies to educate older residents about this scam. In New Hampshire, AARP is partnering with FairPoint Communications and the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office, and law enforcement. FairPoint also launched the “Beware: Scams from Area Code 876” campaign late this spring and created a website with resources to identify and prevent phone scams. Approximately 30,000 calls are made from Jamaica into the United States — each day — attempting to defraud American citizens.

How Area Code Scam Works

Seniors receive a call from an 876 area code, which is often mistaken for a toll-free number. 

Victims are congratulated for winning the Jamaican lottery or a new car and then are directed to send a fee of up to $4,000 to process the lottery winnings. 

Victims are told that once the fee is received, money will be wired to their bank account and the car will be delivered to their home. 

Many times the caller will tell the victim that a representative of the lottery is in the area and as soon as the process fee is received, someone will deliver a check to their home. Scammers often use Google Earth to identify local landmarks and make the scam more believable.

Next page: Learn how scammers involve family members. »