What Is a Kent County Reverse Phone Lookup?
Several online services carry out a phone number lookup in Kent County. Generally, these services answer concerns like "who called me?" or "who is this number registered to?" While there are free phone number lookup services, the information accessible through these services is basic. At best, a searcher can expect to see information like the registered phone number owner's name and city.
On the other hand, the information obtainable through paid reverse phone search services are generally more comprehensive. Besides name and city, a search can also provide info like the unidentified caller's public records and social media profiles.
What You Can Do With Reverse Phone Search
A reverse phone search can help you identify unknown callers, which works for finding scam callers. Yet another use for this service is finding relevant information about lost contacts or when you forget the name of someone who gave you their phone number.
What Are Kent County Area Codes?
Kent County area codes are the unique 3 digits that start every phone number belonging to a person, company, or government office in Kent County. A normal Kent County phone number starts with 410 or 443, the area codes assigned to the county by the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA).
NANPA introduced area codes to simplify long-distance phone calls. Today, all North American phone numbers have area codes. These digits differentiate towns and cities as numbering plan areas, or NPAs, for the function of making phone calls.
Although the NANPA assigns area codes in North America, the Maryland Public Service Commission supervises the assignment of area codes to municipalities in Maryland. There are presently 2 area codes that cover Kent County.
Area Code 410
Phone numbers that begin with 410 tend to belong to someone in Kent County. However, Kent County is one of several counties under the 410 NPA. So, a number starting with 410 might also belong to somebody in a neighboring municipality under the same NPA.
Area Code 443
Phone numbers that begin with 443 may also be registered to someone in Kent County. However, this county also shares the 443 NPA with several other counties. So, it is most likely that a number beginning with 443 may even belong to an individual in another municipality.
What Are the Best Cell Phone Providers in Kent County?
The best phone plan to choose in Kent County depends on the user's location and the service provider's phone coverage. Telephone service is generally better in the cities than in the hills and the rural regions. The 3 leading phone service companies in Kent County are AT&T, Verizon Wireless, and T-Mobile.
Phone service providers in Kent County have varying coverage levels. AT&T offers the best phone coverage, followed by Verizon Wireless. T-Mobile has the least range amongst these major operators, but it is not far from the others.
Major phone service providers also lease out their technology to smaller-sized Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs). In turn, MVNOs utilize this technology to provide cheaper phone plans in Kent County.
VoIP Phone Service in Kent County
Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a service that lets a user make calls utilizing the web instead of standard lines or radio waves.
The service works like a regular phone line and has all the call features a user would typically receive from a traditional phone company along with advanced call management. VoIP calls are also faster, clearer, more secure, and several times more affordable than regular calls.
What Are Kent County Phone Scams?
A phone scam is when a person uses a call to trick another person to send money or share sensitive valuable information over the phone.
In Kent County, phone scams generally happen when a person gets an unsolicited phone call. The unknown caller uses various ways to persuade, trick, or intimidate a person into sending money or divulging sensitive information about themselves.
Most phone scams are random, but scams can be targeted when the scammer has some information about the unsuspecting victim.
What Are Kent County Robocalls and Spam Calls?
Robocalls are automated calls from tools made to reach numerous individuals at once and cheaply.
Political organizers and telemarketers attempting to reach a mass audience were the common users of robocalls. These entities typically work off a phone list to obtain votes or market an item to several people at the same time.
In the case of scammers, the objective is to reach numerous possible victims at once. Nevertheless, scammers do not usually have the same database that campaigners and genuine telemarketers have. They often use software to make up random numbers and call those numbers automatically.
How to Spot Kent County Phone Scams
Knowing how to spot and prevent scam calls can help secure personal privacy and money. For starters, think about using spam call detectors on smartphones.
These detectors cross-check inbound calls with a database of known scam callers and instantly stop the call. Although efficient, these apps are less successful against spoofed caller IDs or when the caller is a human impostor. In this case, looking out for common warnings can help identify a phone scam.
Signs of a Phone Scam
The very first warning is when the caller pretends to be a government official or a company's agent. Legit employees of public or private services do not usually call out of the blues. Rather, they post letters first and call as a last resort.
Another warning is when the caller asks for money or certain details like complete name, social security number, banking information, and passwords. A real official or company employee does not require this comprehensive information to assist you.
And most of all, keep an eye out for threats or suggested urgency during calls. These are scare tactics used to trick a person into providing sensitive information.
How to Report Kent County Phone Scams
Scam calls violate federal laws. If you have received or fallen for a phone scam in Kent County, report the scam as quickly as you can. Doing this helps public agencies hold scammers liable and, sometimes, assist people to get their money back. Public agencies that help Kent County residents fight phone scams consist of:
Kent County Sheriff’s Office
The Kent County Sheriff's Office is the county's main law enforcement agency. Residents should file reports of phone scams with the Sheriff's Office by calling (410) 778-2279. Alternatively, residents can go to the law enforcement agency's building during service hours.
104 Vickers Drive
Unit B
Chestertown, Maryland 21620
Phone: (410) 778-2279
Maryland Attorney General's Office
The Consumer Protection Division of the Maryland Attorney General's Office handles consumer protection in Maryland. Residents who have complaints about their phone scams may file a complaint with the Office by calling 410-528-8662 or sending an email to Consumer@oag.state.md.us.
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
The FTC is the federal agency charged with consumer protection. The FTC set up the National Do Not Call Registry to protect residents from unsolicited calls from telemarketers and businesses.
Adding your number to this registry prohibits telemarketers from reaching you in the first place. For further information on call-blocking and preventing scams, go to the FTC resource page. Interested individuals may also report scams and robocalls to the FTC by calling 1 (888) 382-1222.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
The FCC regulates interstate and international communications in the U.S. and also protects consumers from illegal or scam calls. Tips on avoiding unwanted robocalls and phone scams are offered on the FCC website. Victims of robocall or phone spoofing scams can file complaints with the FCC.