What Is a DeKalb County Reverse Phone Lookup?
Several online services carry out a phone number lookup. Normally, these services answer concerns like "who called me?" or "who is this number registered to?" While there are free phone number lookup services, the details accessible through these services are basic. At best, a searcher can expect to see details like the registered phone number owner's name and city.
On the other hand, the information accessible through paid reverse phone search services are generally more in-depth. Besides name and city, a search can also show information like the unidentified caller's public records and social media profiles.
What You Can Do With Reverse Phone Search
A reverse phone search can help you determine unknown callers, which is useful for identifying scam callers. Yet another use for this service is finding relevant information about lost contacts or when you forget the name of somebody who gave you their phone number.
What Are DeKalb County Area Codes?
DeKalb County area codes are the special 3 digits that begin every number belonging to an individual, company, or government office in DeKalb County. A common DeKalb County phone number starts with 615, the area code assigned to the county by the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA).
NANPA introduced area codes to simplify long-distance phone calls. Today, all North American phone numbers have area codes. These digits differentiate towns and cities as numbering plan areas, or NPAs, for the function of making phone calls.
Although the NANPA assigns area codes in North America, the Tennessee Public Utility Commission manages the assignment of area codes to towns in Tennessee. There is presently 1 area code that covers DeKalb County.
Area Code 615
Phone numbers that begin with 615 tend to belong to somebody in DeKalb County. Nevertheless, DeKalb County is among many counties under the 615 NPA. So, a number beginning with 615 may also belong to somebody in a neighboring municipality under the same NPA.
What Are the Best Cell Phone Providers in DeKalb County?
The best cell phone plan to choose in DeKalb County is based on the user's geographic location and the service provider's phone coverage. Telephone service is usually much better in the cities than in the hills and the rural areas. The 3 main phone service providers in DeKalb County are AT&T, Verizon Wireless, and T-Mobile.
Phone service providers in DeKalb County have varying coverage levels. AT&T gives the best phone coverage, followed by Verizon Wireless. T-Mobile has the least range amongst these major operators, but it is not far from the others.
Major phone service companies also rent out their technology to smaller Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs). In turn, MVNOs utilize this technology to provide more affordable phone plans in DeKalb County.
VoIP Phone Service in DeKalb County
Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a service that lets a user make calls using the internet instead of regular lines or radio waves.
The service works like a regular phone line and has all the call features a user would generally get from a traditional phone company as well as advanced call management. VoIP calls are also faster, clearer, more secure, and several times more affordable than regular calls.
What Are DeKalb County Phone Scams?
A phone scam is when a person uses a phone call to con another individual to send money or share delicate important information over the phone.
In DeKalb County, phone scams normally happen when a person gets an unsolicited phone call. The unknown caller uses various ways to persuade, trick, or scare a person into sending money or revealing sensitive information about themselves.
Most phone scams are random, but scams can be targeted when the scammer has some information about the unsuspecting victim.
What Are DeKalb County Robocalls and Spam Calls?
Robocalls are automated calls from tools made to reach many individuals at the same time and inexpensively.
Political organizers and telemarketers attempting to reach a mass audience were the typical users of robocalls. These entities generally work off a phone list to get votes or market a product to several individuals at once.
In the case of scammers, the goal is to reach multiple potential victims simultaneously. Fraudsters do not always have the same database that campaigners and genuine telemarketers have. They often use software to make up random numbers and call those numbers automatically.
How to Spot DeKalb County Phone Scams
Understanding how to spot and avoid scam calls can help secure personal privacy and money. For starters, think about using spam call detectors on smartphones.
These detectors cross-check inbound calls with a database of well-known scam callers and instantly block the call. Although efficient, these apps are less successful against spoofed caller IDs or when the caller is a human impostor. In this case, watching out for typical red flags can help spot a phone scam.
Signs of a Phone Scam
The first warning is when the caller pretends to be a government official or a company's staff. Legit employees of public or private organizations do not usually call out of the blues. Rather, they post letters before anything else and call as a last option.
Another red flag is when the caller requests money or certain information like complete name, social security number, banking information, and passwords. A genuine official or company employee does not require this comprehensive information to help you.
And most of all, keep an eye out for threats or implied urgency during calls. These are scare tactics used to trick an individual into providing sensitive information.
How to Report DeKalb County Phone Scams
Scam calls break federal laws. If you have received or fallen for a phone scam in DeKalb County, report the scam as soon as you can. Doing this helps public agencies hold scammers accountable and, in some cases, assist people get their money back. Public agencies that help DeKalb County residents fight phone scams consist of:
DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office
The DeKalb County Sheriff's Office is the county's primary police. Residents should submit reports of phone scams to the Sheriff's Office by calling (615) 597-4935. Residents can go to the law enforcement agency's office during business hours.
100 Public Square
Smithville, TN 37166
Phone: (615) 597-4935
Tennessee Attorney General's Office
The Tennessee Attorney General's Office is the state agency that handles consumer protection in Tennessee. Residents who have complaints about their phone scams may file a complaint with the Office online. Alternatively, contact the agency by calling (615) 741-4737 or (800) 342-8385.
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
The FTC is the federal agency charged with consumer protection. The FTC set up the National Do Not Call Registry to protect residents from unwanted calls from telemarketers and businesses.
Adding your number to this registry prohibits telemarketers from reaching you in the first place. For additional information on call-blocking and preventing scams, go to the FTC resource page. Interested individuals may also report scams and robocalls to the FTC by calling 1 (888) 382-1222.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
The FCC regulates interstate and international calls in the U.S. and also protects consumers from illegal or scam calls. Tips on preventing unwanted robocalls and phone scams are readily available on the FCC website. Victims of robocall or phone spoofing scams can file complaints with the FCC.