Discovering the truth about a phone number, email, or address history can be eye-opening, please use this tool with caution.USA Area code 518 - Albany, NY
Area code 518 is a North American Numbering Plan telephone area code serving Telephone area codes for Upstate New York, U.S. in New York. It was activated in 1947 .
Who’s Texting & Calling? Enter a Number
See the owner’s name, carrier, location, and any scam reports in seconds. (May reveal social media profiles, online footprints, pics and more.)
100% confidential lookup - the person you search will not know.
Who called me from area code 518?
A call from area code 518 most likely originates from Albany or elsewhere in New York - but caller ID spoofing means the area code alone cannot confirm who called. Right now, 25 518 numbers carry scam reports on this page. The only reliable way to identify the caller is to check the full 10-digit number:
- Run the number through the reverse phone lookup at the top of this page to see the owner's name, carrier, and location.
- Compare it against the recently reported scam numbers in 518 below.
- If the call was unwanted, report it to the FTC and use the report form on this page so other 518 residents see it.
Report a scam call from 518 Help other 518-area residents - takes 20 seconds, no signup
Reports are reviewed by our team before appearing on the page. The highest-reported numbers get added to the “Recently reported scam numbers” list above with a “community” badge.
Should I answer a call from a 518 number? Take the 30-second quiz - 5 questions, verdict + advice
Runs entirely in your browser - nothing is sent or stored.
Next step: run a reverse-phone lookup on the number to see everything public about it.
Where is the 518 area code? Coverage map
The pin marks Albany, the largest city served by area code 518. Zoom and pan to explore the coverage region.
Interactive map. Click a pin for city details. Data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Cities in the 518 area code
Area code 518 serves the following 289 communities across 3 counties:
Area codes near 518 (overlay + neighboring)
If a caller ID shows one of these codes, the call is probably still from the Albany area or a nearby region. Click any code to see its own page.
518 area code robocall complaints (FCC data)
Monthly count of FCC complaints tagged to numbers in area code 518 over the last 12 months.
Source: FCC Consumer Complaint Data (dataset vakf-fz8e). Data as of August 9, 2026. Refreshed monthly.
How 518 area code spam calls arrive
Based on 473 FCC complaints in the last 12 months, here's how 518 spam calls reached recipients:
FCC Consumer Complaint Data, last 12 months as of August 9, 2026. Refreshed monthly. Note: the FCC dataset labels method (Live Voice / Prerecorded / SMS) but does not classify scam type (IRS impersonation, tech support fraud, etc.) - those come from community reports.
Recently reported scam numbers in 518
Numbers reported to the FCC or by our community in the last 12 months. Click any to run a full reverse-phone lookup.
Source: FCC Consumer Complaint Data, last 12 months as of August 9, 2026. Refreshed monthly. Numbers submitted via the report form near the top of this page get added here with a “community” badge after moderation.
How to block 518 spam calls (by carrier)
Getting repeated spam calls from 518 numbers around Albany, New York? You can't legitimately block every 518 call without also missing legitimate ones from Albany, New York - so the practical fix is to turn on your carrier's free spam filter and register on the national do-not-call list. Step-by-step for each major US carrier below.
AT&T
- Download the free AT&T ActiveArmor app (iOS + Android).
- Sign in with your wireless number.
- Enable Fraud Blocking and Suspected Spam Warning.
- To block a specific number, tap the call in your history → Block.
Verizon
- Download the free Verizon Call Filter app (iOS + Android).
- Sign in with your Verizon account.
- Turn on Spam Filter.
- To block a specific number: My Verizon → Blocks → Add Number.
T-Mobile
- Download the free Scam Shield app (iOS + Android).
- Enable Scam Block (blocks known scam calls silently).
- Use Scam ID to see “Scam Likely” caller ID on suspicious numbers.
- To block a specific number, dial
#662#from your device.
All carriers
- Register on the FTC's National Do-Not-Call list.
- Report unwanted calls to the FCC at fcc.gov/complaints.
- On iPhone: Settings → Phone → Silence Unknown Callers.
- On Android: Phone app → ⋮ → Settings → Caller ID & spam.
Sources: carrier support pages (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile), FCC consumer guides. Free features as of 2026. Every one of these steps costs nothing.
History of the 518 area code
Area codes 518 and 838 are telephone area codes in the North American Numbering Plan for eastern Upstate New York in the United States. 518 is one of the 86 original North American area codes created in 1947. Area code 838 was added to the 518 numbering plan area in 2017.
518 area code FAQ: common questions
What area code is 518?
Area code 518 is a North American Numbering Plan area code that serves Telephone area codes for Upstate New York, U.S. in New York, primarily including Albany and surrounding communities. It was activated in 1947.
Where does area code 518 cover?
Area code 518 covers Columbia County, Dutchess County, Greene County, including cities such as Albany, Clinton, Columbia, Dutchess, Essex, and roughly 284 other communities.
Is 518 a real area code or a scam?
518 is a real, actively-assigned US area code - not itself a scam. However, spammers do use 518 numbers because the code is well-known and appears local to millions of residents. Always verify the specific number, not the area code.
How do I block 518 spam calls?
You cannot legitimately block an entire area code without also blocking legitimate calls from Albany. Better options: register on the National Do-Not-Call list, enable your carrier's spam-filter (all major US carriers now offer this free), and report unwanted calls to the FCC at fcc.gov/complaints so they show up in the trend data on this page.
What's the overlay area code for 518?
518 shares coverage with overlay code 838. That means new phone numbers issued in the same geographic area may have either area code, and 10-digit dialing is required.
Sources
Or explore reverse-phone lookup for any US number.