Receiving a call from an 888 number can make us wonder where this is coming from. Is it from a legitimate business nearby or is it from a scam? Read below to find out whether 888 and such numbers are real and where they're coming from.
Where did an 888 area code come from?
An 888 area code is one of the toll free area codes under the North American Numbering Plan used for businesses and customer service that are recognized not only in the United States but in Canada and the Caribbean as well.
Toll free numbers are numbers that are used by businesses that place the charge on the recipient of the call instead of on the caller. These toll free area codes don’t have a particular geographical location of origin.
How do I call up an 888 number?
Calling up an 888 or any toll free area codes would require the same format of 1-area code-number however not all the toll free numbers go to the same recipient even if you punch in the same number. For example, punching im 1-800-number would reach a different establishment than punching in 1-888-number as toll free codes are actually wired in to different locations.
Can I text an 888 number?
If the particular business has the number on text enabled then you can send a text message and they in turn can reply via text.
How do I obtain my own 888 number?
To obtain your own toll free number would require you to go to the FCC or the Federal Communications Commission where they have RespOrgs or Responsible Organizations who are in charge of assigning these numbers. Usually these toll free numbers are obtained via auction and on a first come first serve basis. These can increase a customers chance of calling an the long-distance fees associated with some of these calls are passed onto the business.
How is a toll free number 888 good for my business?
If you have a business then getting a toll free number would be highly beneficial for both you and your potential customers. Toll free numbers don't place a charge on the caller rather on the recipient making it cost effective on the end of your customers.
Toll free numbers are not only for the United States but also for Canada and the Carribean meaning that even for longer distance calls, customer service would still be free.
Is 888 a scam?
Normally toll free numbers are used by businesses for the purpose of customer service. However since most numbers nowadays can be customized anyone can get their own 888 number and have it pass off as a legitimate business.
Stay vigilant and don't fall victim to scams. If someone calls you pretending to be a business, look them up to see if they are legitimate or if the number they use is the number given online. If discrepancies arise, hang up and block the number.
Why would an 888 number call me?
888 numbers are toll-free, meaning that they are free to call. The person receiving the call picks up the bill. In some cases, legitimate companies using these prefixes will call you back to discuss a customer service matter with you (perhaps at a more convenient time). If they do, you’ll see a number along the lines of 1-888-XXXX appear on your phone handset (if you have a digital handset), showing you the caller ID.
However, as discussed, there are nefarious reasons why someone might call you from one of these numbers. For instance, scammers know that people like and trust numbers with 888 in the area code. They are more likely to pick up a free call than one that will cost them money.
In some rare cases, companies might use 888 numbers for marketing purposes. However, brands that do this often operate on the fringes of business. Genuine companies who are cold calling you are much more likely to simply call using their regular office numbers.
Are 888 area code numbers safe?
The risk of toll-free number scams is, unfortunately, quite high. Many people wind up becoming victims because they inadvertently pick up the phone and believe whatever the person on the other end of the phone says.
You can avoid this by simply refusing to pick up the phone when a toll-free number calls. Usually, there is no urgent or necessary reason to pick up a call from an 888 caller ID.
Remember, toll-free numbers are for people who want to get in touch with companies for free. It’s supposed to be for the benefit of the person calling -- the customer -- not the individual on the other end of the line.
Therefore, 888 numbers are safe, so long as you are the person doing the calling. If a legitimate business website -- say, a plumber -- quotes an 888 number online, then you can safely go ahead and ring them up. It won’t harm you because you’re getting through to an honest service.
However, the reverse is not true. Anyone can call you using an 888 number, and it could be a scam.
Are variations on 888 area code numbers safe?
Sometimes someone will call you from a number that looks very similar to a toll-free number, but isn’t. These are easy to get hold of because they are not in such high demand.
For example, you might receive a call from a number with prefix 878 which looks like a toll-free number, but isn’t. Remember, toll free numbers start with 8 and then their second two digits must be the same, excluding ones and nines (which have other functions). Scammers will often try variations on these, such as 878 or 898 to try to fool people into picking up and trusting the voice on the other end of the phone.
How do I block unwanted 888 calls?
To block an 888 number, follow these steps:
For Android users, go to Recent Calls, click Details and then Block Number. For iPhone users go to recent calls, click the encircled i and then go to more information then choose block this number.
If you keep getting unwanted calls to your telephone from 888 numbers, and they won’t stop, you can also register with the National Do Not Call Registry -- a government service.
You can either do this online by visiting DoNotCall.gov or you can call up the agency on the toll-free number 1-888-382-1222 and go from there.
Once you register, the agency will then send you an email for you to complete your registration. You must do this within 72 hours of receiving the email, otherwise you may not qualify for the service.
Putting your number on the National Do Not Call Registry will reduce the vast bulk of marketing calls to your phone. However, there are still some permitted calls that may get through from charities, political organizations and telephone surveyors.
If registering doesn't stop nuisance calls and scammers, you can file a complaint online or via telephone. By providing the Do Not Call Registry with all the relevant information, you can help them block similar calls in the future and protect other people on the network. If you break FCC rules there are harsh penalties so most companies stick to them.
Is Area Code 888 Toll-Free?
Yes it is. It is toll-free for a customer to call an 888 area code number in a country within the North American Numbering Plan. This includes US, Canada and 22 other countries.
Toll-Free Area Codes
As well as the 888 area code, the other toll-free area codes are 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, and 877. They are toll-free within the USA, Canada and all countries utilising the North American Numbering Plan. They are commonly associated with customer service lines for companies, but can be used by other parties.
Is it possible to get hacked when getting called from an 888 number?
Generally speaking, you can’t get hacked by picking up an 888 call, either through your mobile or landline. That’s because the person on the other side can’t use the 888 facility to install any apps or data on your phone.
The biggest risk is providing information to the person on the other end of the line that they can then use against you. Hackers often work hard to get you to reveal little snippets of data, particularly those relating to email, account and banking information.
Don’t ever allow an 888 caller to take control of your handset remotely using email or an SMS. These systems can install spyware on your phone to sift through your data, and potentially steal money from you.
How do you find the owner of an 888 number?
Many legitimate businesses use the 888 extension to encourage customers to call their sales departments. If you pick up the phone, they will usually tell you who they are immediately and why they are calling. On most occasions, it’ll be a sales call.
However, sometimes you’ll get a missed call from an 888 number and wonder who it was. If you do, you can find out who called easily on websites that list caller IDs. All you need to do is type the number into the search box and hit enter to see a list of results. In some cases, you will get just one result -- often provided by another internet user. However, in others, you might find a range of results if the 888 number’s owner has changed over time. An area code search will help find the owner and often the number will be listed on the companies official website. It can be harder to track down the owner when it is a number that spammers use as they will go to great lengths to hide their identity.
Is there a difference between 888 numbers and other toll-free numbers?
Generally speaking, there is no difference between 888 and other toll-free numbers. However, businesses love using them because they are easy to remember.
Numbers in the US and Canada for instance, can take the form 1-888-XXXX-XXX which is easier to remember than 1-866-XXXX-XXX or 1-800-XXXX-XXX. Each time, you’ll avoid paying a fee: that’s picked up by the call recipient. However, you may encounter 888 more often than the other varieties, simply because it is so much easier to remember.
What are the benefits of getting an 888 toll-free number?
Anyone can apply to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for a toll-free number. However, people with something to sell can benefit the most.
In the following section, we explore some of the advantages of a toll-free number.
First, toll-free numbers let you serve a wider customer base. 888 applies in most of North America, including Canada, the US and parts of the Caribbean. The prefix is familiar to people across the continent, encouraging them to get in touch with you, no matter where they happen to be.
Second, toll-free numbers encourage customers to call your sales teams. People are much less likely to want to talk to you if they know that they’re going to get a large bill from their carrier.
Third, calling from an 888 number makes you look more established. Customers are much more likely to trust you if the call appears to be emanating from a well-known source. They won’t want to talk to you if you appear to have a regular phone number, particularly a cellphone number or landline associated with a residential address.
888 numbers also make you stand out from the competition. If you are the only firm in your niche that allows customers to get in touch with you for free, then that gives them an extra reason to call you, and not your rivals.
In summary, therefore, getting an 888 toll-free number can boost business and help to make your firm more successful.
Which toll free numbers can’t you use?
Currently, the only toll-free number prefixes are 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877, and 888. In the future, the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) will allow toll-free calls from 822 numbers, though this has not happened yet. The NANP includes many countries in North America including the Bahamas, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands Monserrat, Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic, Antigua and many more. There is one notable exception and that is Mexico.
811 and 899 are both reserved prefixes that businesses and individuals cannot use for toll-free calling. 811 is a three-digit number for calls relating to digging. Anyone planning a dig site first needs to call the number to check the location of buried amenities or other articles of interest. The idea is to prevent people from accidentally digging into underground utility lines and causing damage.
899 is currently being reserved as a future numbering plan expansion, depending on how many unique number identifiers North America needs.
What is the history of 888 numbers in the US and Canada?
In the early part of the 20th century, as the phone network was expanding, long-distance calling was expensive. Operators had to manually connect people in different parts of the country using a limited number of phone lines. Because so many people wanted to make calls, the rental price of these lines was high.
Businesses were aware of the chilling effect that this was having on sales, so they began to pay for customer calls outside of the local area, using things like the Zenith number service.
Unfortunately, these solutions were bulky, cumbersome and inefficient, and required a lot of labor to implement. Therefore, landline carriers began experimenting with different types of phone prefixes.
The first set of toll-free prefixes came into existence in 1967 under the auspices of Bell Systems. Similar systems were set up around the world, including the 0800 version by British telecoms from 1985.
AT&T introduced the first automed toll-free service which didn’t require an operation to function. It relied on the Inward Wide Area Telephone Service which permitted callers to call from anywhere and to get through without the need for an operator.
How advanced is 888 toll-free technology today?
Technology continued to advance in sophistication. The early toll-free numbers used electro-mechanical switching systems but these were soon replaced by computer switching during the 1980s and 1990s and computer components became more widespread and affordable. The database communication processing method, as it was called by AT&T became the new standard, and was available to small and medium-sized businesses across the country. Before this time, 800-888 toll-free numbers were only available to Fortune 500 companies.
What are 888 vanity numbers?
Businesses soon realized that they could make 888 toll-free numbers more memorable by turning them into vanity numbers. For instance, companies might institute numbers such as 1-888-CALL-NOW with the letters being indicative of the numbers on a 10-digit number pad. There were many other examples, some of which were preferred by big brands, such as 1-888-GOFEDEX.
In each case, the vanity lettering had to be seven digits and easy to remember. Callers no longer had to recall a string of numbers every time they wanted to get in touch with a firm. All they needed to do was remember the 1-888 part and then tack the catchy phrase on the end of it.
Why do businesses use 888 vanity numbers?
There are all sorts of reasons businesses use vanity numbers, many of which we’ve alluded to already, such as aiding memory. However, there are other branding motivations.
For instance, having an 888 vanity number makes websites, business cards and other company marketing more recognizable. Consumers immediately know what they need to dial to get in touch with the company.
888 vanity numbers also make firms look bigger and more established. They’re a great tool for smaller firms still finding their feet. Thanks to the Fortune 500 dominance of toll-free numbers in the past, consumers still associate them with big, highly successful companies.
Toll-free numbers are also a great option for businesses looking to expand their operations nationwide. They don’t restrict them to operating in a given geographic area, such as a city or state.
Lastly, toll-free 888 numbers help firms generate more leads. When prospects know they can call a rep for free to discuss a product purchase, they are much more likely to do so.
What is a 1-888 number?
1-888 numbers are the same as 888 numbers. The “1” prefix simply indicates that the call originates in either the US or Canada which both have “1” as the country code.
Do 888 numbers work internationally?
Generally speaking, 888 toll-free numbers do not work internationally. If you call them outside of the US or Canada, you’re liable to pay a connection fee (which can be expensive). You will still connect to the company you want to talk to, but it won’t be free.
There are, however, still ways to make the call free. One way is to connect to an English-speaking phone operator from the originating country. They can then contact the company you wish to ring and ask for their permission to pay the international calling charges. Whether they agree or not is entirely at their discretion.
Major networks, such as Verizon and AT&T publish local access numbers in different countries. You can call these to get hold of an English-speaking operator who will attempt to connect you to a toll-free 888 number on your behalf. If the company at the other end refuses to foot the bill for the call, the operator will ask you if you are willing to go ahead and make the connection anyway. It is entirely your prerogative whether you do or not.
Of course, these days you can often connect to companies for free via the internet. Skype, social media chat, and email are all options.
What region is the 888 area code?
As discussed, 888 is a toll-free prefix. Therefore, it is not associated with any specific region, unlike many other three-digit prefixes in NANP.
Confusingly, some area codes begin with 8. For instance, Hawaii is 808, while some parts of Connecticut are 860. New York has an 845 area code, and Tennessee has an 865 area code. Vermont is 802.
While there is some logic to the number coding system, it can be difficult to discern from a distance. California is the state that has the most area codes because of the sheer size of its population.
Telephone companies issued the first North American area codes on 1 January 1947, focusing on areas where the standard seven-digit codes would soon become exhausted. The North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA) continued to make refinements to the system and add new numbers over time, as required. To this day, many less populous states still only have one area code, such as Alaska (907) District of Columbia (202), Delaware (302), Maine (207), North Dakota (701) and Rhode Island (401).
Can you call 888 numbers from Mexico?
Mexico operates on a different toll-free system. However, you can call 888 numbers in the US from the country. However, you need to remember to enter a different three-digit prefix for each.
When calling from Mexico, start by dialing 001 to indicate that you would like to call the US. Then dial 881 for an 888 number.
Add the remaining seven-digit number as you normally would and then wait for your call to connect. Please note that even though Mexico is part of North America, it uses a different telephone network. Therefore, calls from the country are counted as international calls and you will pay conventional cross-border rates.
If you want to call an 877 number from Mexico, you will need to dial 882. If you want to dial an 866 number from the country, you will need to dial 883. If you are not sure which number to dial for your toll-free number, check the literature on your phone company’s website.
Are 888 numbers still relevant?
888 toll-free numbers have been in use for decades. Therefore, many businesses and individuals wonder whether they are obsolete.
As a technology, toll-free numbers are still in use. Companies still market them on their websites and encourage customers to call using them. However, there are now many other ways to get in touch with businesses for free, negating the need to contact via landline.
Toll-free numbers also have a stigma associated with them because people now associate them with scams. Using them legitimately for business is more challenging than it was in the past.
However, savvy business leaders still use them because they know that they still have a use. Older people -- particularly those used to calling toll-free in the past -- often prefer to pick up the phone than use social media or email to contact a brand rep.
Why are 888 numbers free?
Many people wonder why 888 numbers are free in the first place. Surely somebody has to pay, right?
Well, that’s true.. But it’s not the caller who pays: it’s the business on the receiving end of the line.
Because the receiver pays for the calls, many 888 number owners block international calls automatically. For instance, if you try to call an 888 number from Fiji, it is highly likely you won’t be able to get through.
Can you call 888 toll-free numbers free from cell phones?
You can call 888 numbers from your cell phone. However, whether they are free or not depends on your plan. If you have free minutes and texts included, then you may be able to call for free. However, if you don’t and you pay-as-you-go, then you will have to pay standard call fees and roaming charges. The toll-free system is primarily for landlines.
What are the downsides of 888 toll-free numbers?
There are downsides to toll-free numbers. If you are the provider, for instance, you will see your bills rise. Each time a customer calls, you’ll need to pay the carrier for the use of the telephone network.
Furthermore, if your business is local, then toll-free numbers aren’t particularly beneficial. They allow you to pay for customer calls from all over the country, but you might not be able to serve those customers.
Toll-free numbers may not boost your profits either. While they may increase your sales calls, any extra conversions may not cover the cost of the phone calls.
Lastly, you’re also much more likely to receive unwanted phone calls. When callers don’t have to pay to talk to you, there’s no financial incentive for them to stay on the phone for as little time as possible.
