September 20, 2024

Should You Answer Calls from a 786 Area Code?

Welcome to Miami! Oh, you’re not in Miami? Then why is your phone ringing from a local Miami number? Receiving a call from a 786 area code, especially if you don’t recognize it, should make you second guess if you should pick up.

According to the North American Numbering Plan (NANP), the 786 area code is tied to Miami, Miami-Dade County and the Florida Keys in Florida, USA. Knowing its origin isn’t enough to indicate it’s safe to answer. Here are a few questions to ask yourself before you accept the call:

Who Do You Know in Miami?

In the case that you have family or friends in the area or you’re expecting a call from someone in the Miami or South Florida area, then it’s likely a legitimate phone call. On the other hand, if you don’t have any connections there, be cautious and maybe let it go to voicemail.

Could It Be Spam?

Unfortunately, area codes are easy to “spoof” and really cannot ever guarantee a call is trustworthy. “Spoofing” is when scammers make it look like they’re calling from a local area, even if they’re not (they could be anywhere in the world). The 786 area code (and so many others) has been used in a number of robocalls and phishing schemes.

Look It Up

If you’re unsure about the number, it’s a good idea to take a minute to Google it instead of answering. A search might even reveal that others have already flagged the number as a scam. Here are a few places to report scam calls:

Let It Go to Voicemail

The easiest and most obvious way to handle an unknown call from a 786 number is to just let it go through to voicemail. If it’s important, or if the caller knows your personally, they’ll leave a message or send a text. On the other hand, robocalls won’t bother or the message will out them as being machine generated.

Try a Call Filtering App

There are dedicated call-screening apps that serve to identify and block potential spam calls as they’re received. You can rely on the screening features built into your device’s operating system to keep unwanted calls at bay, or you can try one of these apps:

Truecaller
Robokiller
Hiya

Block and Report

If you have confirmed that the call with the 786 area code was spam or phishing (or even that it was just unwanted), don’t hesitate to block the number and report it to your carrier. Some phone providers now offer services to help reduce the number of robocalls you receive.

Koodo
Rogers/Fido
Virgin
Bell

Use a Secret Online Number

If you’re concerned about giving out your real number, Hushed is the best way to create a secondary number to use short or long term and provide anytime you want to keep your private main number secure (think: coupons, giveaways, services, appointments). This way, even if you end up dealing with a spam call it’s not to your main number. Bonus: you can get as many Hushed numbers as you would like.