What is the 202 Area Code?

Washington, DC
Safety Rating: MODERATE

The 202 area code serves Washington, DC and surrounding areas. Established in 1947, it covers District of Columbia, Arlington County, Falls Church City.

Legitimate Callers from 202

Government

Social Security Administration

Benefits and verification calls

Verify Caller
Official Prefix: 800-772

Internal Revenue Service

Tax-related communications

Verify Caller
Official Prefix: 800-829

Utilities

Service and billing notifications

Healthcare

Appointment reminders and follow-ups

Timezone

Eastern Time Zone (UTC-5)

Risk Level

5.3/10

2023 Scams

1916

Population

Approximately 689,545

Regional Information

Major Cities

  • District of Columbia
  • Arlington County
  • Falls Church City

Major Employers

  • US Government
  • George Washington University
  • Howard University
  • Booz Allen Hamilton

Local Authorities

  • Police: Metropolitan Police Department: (202) 727-9099
  • Consumer Protection: Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia: (202) 442-9823
  • Fraud Unit: DC Fraud and Identity Theft Hotline: 1-833-838-5994

Active Scam Alerts

No active scam alerts at this time.

Safety Resources

How to Report Scams

Immediate Steps:

  • Document the call details
  • Report to FTC at ftc.gov/complaint
  • Contact local authorities
  • Alert your bank if needed

Follow-up Actions:

  • File written complaint
  • Monitor credit reports
  • Join Do Not Call Registry
  • Share alert with community

Local Support

Washington Consumer Protection Office