312 area code: who called me?

Downtown Chicago

312 originally covered the whole city and many suburbs, but 773 was divided from it in 1996. 872 was added in 2009 as an overlay across both. Ten digits are required. The area is on Central time.

Because it is downtown, many business and office numbers use 312. Recruiters, banks and scammers all use it too. Judge the call, not the code.

The Loop is the commercial heart of Chicago, with the Willis Tower, Millennium Park and the La Salle Street financial district. Law firms, banks and trading companies use 312 numbers heavily, so a genuine call from this code is often a business one.

Is 312 a scam area code?

No. 312 is the downtown Chicago code, used by countless offices, law firms and city agencies. Spoofed 312 calls exist because the code looks official.

What people report

Chicago residents report calls that claim to be from the electric company or a city department threatening a disconnection or a fine. They also see fake jury-duty calls and calls about a supposed warrant. None of these organizations call to demand immediate payment, and none accept gift cards.

For office workers in the Loop, recruiter and invoice scams are also common. A request to change bank details on an invoice should always be confirmed by calling the supplier on a known number.

312 and 773

312 covers the downtown core while 773 covers most of the rest of the city, and 872 overlays both. All calls need ten digits.