What are Midland County Area Codes?
An area code is a set of three-digit numbers that appears at the beginning of a ten-digit telephone number. The digits represent Numbering Plan Areas (NPAs). Generally, the function of an area code is to identify the location within a Numbering Plan Area where a phone call originates from. The Texas Public Utility Commission is responsible for the regulation and maintenance of area codes in Midland County. There is only one area code in Midland County, which is:
Area Code 432
Area code 432 is a telephone area code in the North American Numbering Plan (NANP). It came into operation in 2003 after it was split from area code 915. Area code 432 serves most of Western Texas, including the following cities and townships: Big Spring, Fort Stockton, Midland, and Odessa.
What are the Best Cell Phone Plans in Midland County?
According to a 2018 National Center of Health Statistics Survey, 67.9% of the adult population in Texas used only wireless telephones as their preferred telephony option, while only 2.5% of the adult population used landlines only. According to the same statistics, 76.6% of the minors in Texas preferred wireless telephone services, while only 1.4% of the minors in Texas used only landlines. Clearly, from the statistics, it appears that most of the residents of Midland County prefer wireless telephone services to landlines.
In Midland County, there are four major phone carriers. These include AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile. AT&T provides the best coverage in Midland County with 100%, compared to other phone carriers. Verizon follows with 80% coverage and Sprint with 78% coverage. T-Mobile offers the least coverage with 62% coverage. Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) also have good coverage in Midland County. Examples of MVNOs in Midland County include Cricket, Boost Mobile, and Metro by T-Mobile.
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a technology with Internet Protocol (IP) networks instead of traditional telephone services. It converts analog signals from a phone into digital data. VoIP services are typically carried out through broadband internet connections and local area networks. VoIP is known for its flexibility. It is more affordable when compared to other phone services. As a result of these features, VoIP is gradually gaining ground in Midland County, especially among business owners.
What are Midland County Phone Scams?
Midland County phone scams are deceptive activities used by scammers to steal money or personal information from residents over the phone. Typically, these phone scams are perpetrated by scammers using aggressive phone calls, robocalls, or text messages from unfamiliar telephone numbers. The Midland County Sheriff Department (MCSD) has cautioned residents to be vigilant when dealing with such callers. Residents of Midland County can also use reverse phone lookup free services to reveal callers’ identities behind unfamiliar telephone numbers. In Midland County, phone scams come in different forms. However, irrespective of the form deployed by the scammers, they tend to make similar promises, threats, or requests.
What are Midland County Impersonation Scams?
Impersonation scams occur when phone scammers take on the identities of legitimate entities to make their requests believable to their targets. For example, in Midland County, scammers typically take on the identities of sergeants of the Sheriff's Department. They threaten residents with arrests if they do not pay certain amounts of money. Scammers would usually request the money to be paid using suspicious means, such as wire transfers, prepaid cards, or cash. While impersonation scams aim to steal money from their targets, scammers also use the personal information obtained from their victims for identity thefts. Midland County residents who have been victims of phone scams are advised to file reports by visiting or calling the Midland County Sheriff’s Department. Individuals can also use free reverse phone lookup to identify suspicious callers.
What are Midland County COVID-19 Scams?
In this scam, scammers take advantage of the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic to defraud unsuspecting victims of their hard-earned money. These scammers pretend to be from the Texas Department of Health, promising their victims quick access to COVID-19 vaccines, testing, or treatments. They use this trick to steal money or obtain personal information, such as social security numbers or credit card information.
Residents in Midland County are urged to ignore calls or texts from unfamiliar numbers promising COVID-19 benefits to avoid falling victim to this scam. Residents can also use good reverse phone lookup services to reveal if the calls are from genuine entities. Additionally, inquiries regarding facts surrounding COVID-19 should be directed to the Midland County Official Website.
What are Midland County Charity Scams?
Charity scams occur when scammers act under the guise of legitimate charitable organizations to seek funds or donations from Midland County residents. Here, money received by scammers from the public is gotten in a deceptive manner and used for fraudulent purposes. Charity scams are more prevalent after a disaster or other tragedy. Some of the means used by scammers to get donations include phone calls, robocalls, or crowdfunding platforms.
To avoid falling victim to charity scams, residents of Midland County are advised to do proper research and ask questions about the charity organizations they desire to donate to. Midland County residents can check the official website, ratings, and reports of the charity organization, and avoid making quick donations without first making background inquiries. A good reverse phone lookup service can be used to answer the question “who called me“. Note that scammers sometimes adopt the phone numbers of the legitimate entities they are impersonating; this is called call spoofing. Therefore it is safer to reach out to the charity organizations through their official websites or phone numbers.
What are Midland County IRS Scams?
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) scams occur when phone scammers impersonate IRS officials in order to deceive their targets into sending them money for taxes, penalties or fees. This is usually done by issuing threats. They tell their targets that failure to comply would lead to arrest or frozen assets.
Residents must be aware that IRS agents would never contact them without their prior approval. Legitimate IRS agents do not make random calls, they would usually send mails if they need to communicate with residents. Unsolicited calls from phone scammers claiming to be IRS officials should be reported by filing complaints with the Federal Trade Commission. A suspicious phone number lookup service can be used to identify an unknown caller.
What are Midland County Jury Warrant Payment Scams?
Jury warrant payment scams occur when Midland County residents receive calls from scammers. These scammers pretend to be officers of the court or Midland County Police Department. They claim that the recipients have failed to report for jury duty, and because of that, they have outstanding warrants of arrest.
Most jury warrant scammers always request payment by asking their targets to send prepaid cards, wire transfers, or cash to avoid getting arrested. Note that these payment methods indicate scams; once the money is paid, it becomes impossible to retrieve.
Residents are advised to hang up suspected scam calls without providing any information to scammers. Individuals that have missed jury duty may contact the appointed courts to verify. Additionally, free phone number lookup services can be used to verify the identities of such callers.
What are Robocalls and Spam Calls?
Robocalls are automated phone calls that use computerized autodialers to deliver pre-recorded messages. Robocalls are mostly used by political parties, telemarketers and government agencies to make public service announcements. However, robocalls are also used by fraudsters to scam unsuspecting victims by selling fake products or services over the phone or obtaining financial and personal information for fraudulent purposes. Some robocalls are spam calls that attempt to sell fake products or services.
Scammers use robocalls to target many Midland County residents because they can reach many people with minimal effort and at really low costs. A reverse phone number search can help differentiate a robocall from a live call. The following are the different ways to handle robocall phone scams:
- Hang up and do not engage in the instructions given by robocalls
- Register the affected number on the National Do Not Call Registry. This service is free and prevents telemarketers from calling, making it easy to identify spam calls.
- Block unwanted calls through the use of the inbuilt call blocking features of a cell phone.
- Use free reverse Phone number lookup services to identify robocalls.
- Report illegal robocalls to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) online or call 1-888-382-1222. Note that the FTC also provides information on how to block unwanted calls.
How to Spot and Report Midland County Phone Scams?
Phone scams are the major downsides of the digital age, and scammers keep innovating new methods of scamming unsuspecting persons every day. Scammers use telecommunication services as key weapons to defraud unsuspecting targets. They often pose as agents of legitimate government entities, businesses, or organizations. Consequently, residents of Midland County must be observant and exercise caution when receiving calls from unknown telephone numbers.
The following act as indicators to identifying phone scam:
- Calls that involve threats of arrests if you do not pay certain amounts of money. Legitimate entities do not make threats of arrest in exchange for money. Terminate the call immediately.
- Calls asking you to take the opportunity of certain investment. Investment opportunities that sound too good to be true are most likely scams. Use good reverse phone number lookup services to identify the callers.
- Callers requesting payments to be made before you can claim prizes, grants or lotteries. End the call immediately and do not engage them.
- Calls requesting for your personal or financial information or asking you to make payments over the phone. Residents must be very cautious not to share sensitive information or make payment over the phone. End the call immediately and contact the legitimate entity to make inquiries or report such calls.
Government Institutions responsible for combating phone scams in Midland County:
Federal Trade Commission: Alerts residents on new scam schemes and educates them on possible ways to avoid being scammed. Complaints about scams, fraud and bad business practices are made by filling the online complaint form.
Attorney General of Texas: Victims of fraud in Midland County can file complaints with the Attorney General’s Office. Individuals can also educate themselves on various phone scams and how to avoid them.
Midland County Sheriff Department (MCSD): Online report can be made by filling the complaint form or going to the office physically to make complaints at
400 South Main Street
Midland, TX 79701 or call (432) 688-4600.
Investigative Service Bureau: the Financial Crimes Unit is responsible for investigating financial fraud cases, including scams, identity fraud or credit card abuse.