Area Code 202: Who Called Me From Washington, D.C.?
Your 202 number, with +1 in front
202 calls that claim to be the government
Scammers love area code 202 because it looks federal. Check the exact number: the report shows its carrier, line type and complaint history.
Where is area code 202?
Area code 202 is Washington, D.C. and nothing else: all its exchanges belong to a single District rate center. Federal agencies, embassies and Capitol Hill offices use it, which makes it the favorite disguise of callers pretending to be the government. When 202 started running short, 771 was added for new D.C. numbers.
| Location | Washington, D.C. |
|---|---|
| State | The District of Columbia |
| Time zone | Eastern Time (ET) |
| Origin | Created in 1947 and still the only code of the District of Columbia |
| Shares its area with | 771 |
| Exchanges assigned | 784 |
| Local rate centers | 1 |
| Carriers holding exchanges | 37 |
What sits behind 202 numbers
The District of Columbia is about 68 square miles, home to Congress, the White House, the federal departments and around 175 foreign embassies. Its desk lines are 202, which gives the code an official look that scammers try to borrow. Residents of the Maryland and Virginia suburbs use other area codes, so a real D.C. office will usually show 202 or 771.
Complaints about 202 numbers
202 has more complaints than almost any other code in our data: 3,394 FCC complaints, place 7 of 714, and 3,391 FTC reports in four months. The striking detail: just 2% of last year’s FCC complaints were filed from inside D.C. The calls go out to the whole country while showing a D.C. number. Complaints doubled in the last six months (680 against 306), and callers pretending to be the government or a business are the top specific topic.
202 FCC complaints by year
*2026-10-21
202 complaints month by month
| Nov 25 | Dec 25 | Jan 26 | Feb 26 | Mar 26 | Apr 26 | May 26 | Jun 26 | Jul 26 | Aug 26 | Sep 26 | Oct 26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34 | 63 | 47 | 32 | 48 | 82 | 60 | 71 | 131 | 150 | 144 | 124 |
202 call types, Oct 2025–Oct 2026
- Live caller: 639 (64%)
- Text message: 237 (24%)
- Recorded message (robocall): 121 (12%)
Top 202 FTC topics
- Impostors (government, business or family): 879
- Dropped calls with no message: 466
- Debt relief offers: 220
202 numbers by carrier
- Verizon (landline): 327 exchanges (42%)
- Verizon Wireless: 88 exchanges (11%)
- T-Mobile: 55 exchanges (7%)
- AT&T Mobility: 53 exchanges (7%)
Verizon’s District of Columbia landline company has the largest share, the mark of a city full of agencies and offices with long-standing desk lines. Much of the rest belongs to the national mobile carriers.
Dealing with 202 spam calls
Before you answer the question of who called me from 202, look up the 202 phone number. Anything that claims federal authority from the 202 area code deserves a second look.
Report fake government calls to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Washington residents can also reach the Office of the Attorney General for D.C., and text scams can be sent on to 7726.
Frequently asked questions
What state is area code 202?
Only Washington, D.C., on Eastern Time. 202 and the newer 771 cover the District; the Maryland suburbs use 301 and 240, and Northern Virginia 703 and 571.
Is 202 known for robocalls?
202 itself is the code of the federal government and of a whole city, but it is also one of the most abused: place 7 of 714 by FCC complaints (3,394), almost all from people outside D.C. Assume nothing from the caller ID and look the number up.
Is a 202 call from the government?
Not necessarily, and often not at all. 202 numbers are spoofed to look official: fake agency or business callers top the list of specific FTC complaint topics for 202. Federal agencies don’t call to demand payment by gift card, wire transfer or crypto.
Why do I get 202 calls if I don’t live in D.C.?
That’s the usual pattern: in the last year, 98 out of every 100 FCC complaints about 202 numbers came from outside the District. The number is chosen because it looks official, not because the caller is in Washington.
What is the 771 area code?
771 is the newer code for Washington, D.C., issued in the same District exchanges as 202 now that 202 numbers are running out. A 771 number is just as much a D.C. number as a 202 one.
Do federal agencies call from 202 numbers?
Some do, since many federal offices are in Washington. But agencies don’t call to threaten arrest, demand gift cards or ask for your Social Security number. If a 202 caller does, hang up and contact the agency through its official website.
Is 202 area code used outside Washington, D.C.?
No. 202 and 771 are assigned only to the District of Columbia. Phones keep their numbers when people move, and caller ID can be faked, so a 202 call can still come from anywhere.
More checks after a 202 call
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