If a phone call from the 120 area code has appeared on your caller ID, you’re likely asking, “Where is area code 120?” The direct answer is simple: area code 120 is an unassigned, invalid, and fake area code within the North American telephone system that serves the United States, Canada, and parts of the Caribbean. No legitimate phone number can ever start with this code.
Receiving a call from a 120 phone number is a clear sign that a scammer is trying to contact you using “caller ID spoofing” technology to hide their real location. This article will explain exactly why the 120 area code isn’t real, how scammers use unassigned area codes to their advantage, and what you can do to protect yourself. We will also clear up common confusion between the non-existent +120 area code and legitimate international phone codes to give you all the information you need to stop these fraudulent calls.
The Core Explanation: Why the “120 Area Code USA” Doesn’t Exist
To understand why a call from a 120 area code phone number is an immediate red flag, it’s helpful to know the basic rules of the telephone system in North America. This system, called the North American Numbering Plan (NANP), has a strict set of rules for how phone numbers are created, and “120” violates one of the most fundamental ones.
The Unbreakable Rules of Area Codes
The NANP was designed decades ago to organize phone numbers across the US, Canada, and several other countries under a single international country code +1. A standard phone number is made of a three-digit area code, a three-digit prefix, and a four-digit line number.
The most important rule for area codes is: The first digit of any valid area code must be a number from 2 through 9.
This rule was created because the digits 0 and 1 were reserved for special functions in the old telephone switching systems. Dialing a 1 indicated a long-distance call, and dialing a 0 was for connecting to an operator. Because the 120 phone code begins with a “1,” it is automatically disqualified from being a real, functioning area code. Any three-digit number you see starting with a 0 or 1 is not a legitimate area code in the 120 area code US system.
This single, unbreakable rule is the reason you can be 100% certain that any call from area code 120 is not what it appears to be. It’s not from a new region; it’s from a scammer.
The Deep Dive: Unmasking the “Area Code 120” Scam
Since we’ve established that the 120 telephone code is fake, the next logical question is, “Who is calling me?” The call is coming from a scammer using a technology called Caller ID spoofing. This technique allows them to falsify the phone number that appears on your screen, making it easy to hide their true identity and location.
The Scammer’s Toolkit: Why Use an Unassigned Number?
While scammers often spoof real, local phone numbers, using an unassigned area code like 120 is a specific strategy designed for one purpose: to be completely untraceable.
When a scammer spoofs a real number, it can sometimes be traced back to an innocent person or a legitimate business. But a fake 120 phone number leads nowhere. It isn’t registered to any phone carrier and can’t be called back, creating a dead end for anyone trying to investigate the call. This anonymity is perfect for conducting various types of phone scams, including:
- Impersonation Scams: The caller may pretend to be from a government agency like the IRS or a company like Amazon, using threats or fake problems to trick you into giving away money or personal information.
- “One-Ring” Scams: An automated system calls your number and hangs up after one ring. Their goal is to make you curious enough to call back. While the initial call might show area code 120, the number they want you to call back is usually an international premium-rate number that racks up huge charges.
- Number Verification Robocalls: Sometimes, the only goal of a call from a fake number is to see if you will answer. If you do, an automated system marks your number as active and sells it to other scammers, leading to even more spam calls in the future.
The +91 120 Connection
A lot of confusion arises from searches for prefijo 120 (Spanish for “prefix 120”) or 120 ISD code, which can point to a legitimate phone prefix in India: +91 120. Here, +91 is the country code for India, and 120 is the local code for cities like Noida and Ghaziabad. Unfortunately, this area is known for housing large-scale scam call centers that target people in the US.
These scammers, while based in India, use VoIP technology to spoof their caller ID. So, even though their real number might be +91 120-XXX-XXXX, they can make it appear on your phone as an untraceable 120 area code phone number to hide their international location.
Clearing Up Confusion: Area Codes vs. Country Codes
Scammers often take advantage of the fact that most people don’t know the difference between domestic and international dialing codes. Here’s how to tell them apart.
“Is 120 a Country Code?”
When people ask, “What is 120 area code?” they sometimes wonder if it’s a country code. The answer is no. The 120 country code does not exist. International country codes are assigned by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and there is no country assigned to +120.
If you search “which country code is 120” or “120 code of which country,” you might find that the number 120 is assigned to the country of Cameroon under a standard called ISO 3166-1. However, this code is used for data processing and shipping, not for making phone calls. Cameroon’s actual telephone country code is +237.
So, to be clear:
- NANP Area Code 120: Invalid.
- ITU Country Code +120: Unassigned.
Beware of International Calls That Look Local
One of the most common phone scams involves area codes from the Caribbean. Many Caribbean nations are part of the NANP and use the same +1 country code as the US. This means a call from an area code like 876 (Jamaica) or 473 (Grenada) will look like a domestic long-distance call on your phone.
Scammers will make “one-ring” calls from these numbers, hoping you’ll call back without realizing it’s an expensive international call. You could be charged a high connection fee and an outrageous per-minute rate. Before calling back any unfamiliar area code, it’s a good idea to quickly search where it’s located.
Practical & Actionable Advice: How to Protect Yourself
Now that you know what a 120 phone number area code call is, here are the concrete steps you can take to protect yourself.
Your First Line of Defense: What to Do When the Phone Rings
- Do Not Answer, Do Not Call Back. If you don’t recognize the number, let it go to voicemail. A legitimate caller will leave a message. Calling back a scam number can lead to high charges or confirm your number is active.
- Don’t Engage. If you answer by mistake, hang up immediately. Do not press any buttons or say “yes.” Scammers can record your voice and use it to authorize fraudulent charges.
Proactive Steps to Stop Scam Calls
- Block the Number: Use your phone’s built-in feature to block any suspicious number that calls you.
- Use Carrier Apps: Most mobile carriers like AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile offer free apps that can help identify and automatically block spam and scam calls.
- Report the Call: File a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) at fcc.gov/complaints and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Reporting helps authorities track and fight scammers.
- Join the Do Not Call Registry: Add your number to the National Do Not Call Registry for free at www.donotcall.gov. While this won’t stop illegal scammers, it will stop legitimate telemarketers, making it easier to spot the illegal calls.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What area code is 120?
A: There is no city or state associated with the 120 area code. It is an unassigned and invalid code within the North American Numbering Plan. Any call from this number is a spoofed call from a scammer.
Q2: Is the 120 area code a scam?
A: Yes. Since it is not a real area code, any call displaying area code 120 on your caller ID is guaranteed to be a scam. The caller is hiding their identity and location.
Q3: Which country has the phone code 120?
A: No country uses +120 as an international dialing code. While the number 120 is sometimes associated with India’s local prefix +91 120, it is not a 120 country code on its own.
Q4: Where is the 120 area code located?
A: Nowhere. The 120 area code is not assigned to any geographical location in the USA or any other country in the North American Numbering Plan. It is a fake number used by scammers.
Q5: What should I do if I get a call from a 120 phone number?
A: Do not answer the call. If you answer by accident, hang up immediately. Do not provide any personal information. Block the number on your phone and report it to the FTC and FCC.
Conclusion
The mystery of the 120 area code isn’t about geography; it’s about technology being used for fraud. The key takeaway is that area code 120 is not real, and any call from this number is from a scammer using spoofing technology to remain anonymous and untraceable. By understanding the rules of the phone system and the tactics used by criminals, you can easily identify these calls as fraudulent.
The best way to protect yourself is to be cautious. Never answer or call back unrecognized numbers, use the blocking and reporting tools available to you, and trust your instincts. If a call feels suspicious, it probably is.
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