800 numbers: who called me?
Free for the person calling.
800 is the original US toll-free prefix, in use since 1967. Calls to an 800 number are free for the caller.
The business that owns an 800 number pays for the calls it receives. Because it was the first toll-free prefix, 800 numbers are still the most trusted and the most wanted, and many long-established companies hold them.
A toll-free number does not say where the company is. Scammers can also display an 800 number on your caller ID to look like a bank or retailer. If an 800 caller asks for personal details, hang up and call the number printed on your card or statement.