Toll-free numbers: 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877 and 888
Toll-free numbers cost the caller nothing and aren't tied to a place. That makes them useful for businesses and for scammers alike.
How to tell a real toll-free number
Real companies publish their toll-free numbers on their websites, on the back of your card and on your bills. The reliable check is to go to the company's site yourself (type the address, don't follow a link in a message) and compare the number.
Caller ID can be faked, including toll-free numbers. If someone calling from a toll-free number asks for money, gift cards, a code sent to your phone, or remote access to your computer, it's a scam whatever the number shows.
Calling a toll-free number back is free. But calling back a number you don't recognize can still tell a scammer that your line is live, which is why we suggest looking numbers up first.