Area Code 352 Scams: What Ocala and Marion County Residents Need to Know
This is a community & safety news article published on 2026-02-18 covering local Marion County, Florida news. Getting calls from unfamiliar 352 numbers? Phone scams targeting Marion County residents are on the rise — here's how to identify them and protect yourself.
If you live in Ocala or Marion County, you've almost certainly received suspicious calls from 352 numbers. Phone scams targeting local residents have become increasingly sophisticated, and knowing what to look for can protect you and your family from financial harm. Here's what you need to know about area code 352 scams and how to stay safe.
What Is Area Code 352?
Area code 352 serves Ocala, Gainesville, and the broader North Central Florida region including Marion, Alachua, Citrus, Lake, and surrounding counties. It's a large, well-known local area code — which makes it particularly valuable to scammers who want their calls to appear local and trustworthy.
How Neighbor Spoofing Works
The most common tactic is called "neighbor spoofing." Using widely available internet technology, scammers can make any number appear on your caller ID — including local 352 numbers that match the first six digits of your own phone number. The goal is simple: people are more likely to answer calls that look local.
A call appearing to come from a 352 number is not proof that the caller is actually local, affiliated with a local business, or has any legitimate connection to the Ocala area.
Common 352-Area Scam Types
- Medicare and Social Security scams: Callers claim your benefits are suspended or that you owe back payments. The Social Security Administration and Medicare will never call demanding immediate payment.
- IRS impersonation: Callers threaten arrest or lawsuits over unpaid taxes. The IRS initiates contact by mail — never by unsolicited phone call demanding immediate payment.
- Utility shutoff threats: Callers pose as Duke Energy or SECO Energy representatives demanding immediate payment to prevent service disconnection. Legitimate utilities send written notices before any shutoff.
- Bank fraud calls: Callers pose as your bank's fraud department and ask you to "verify" account information or move funds to a "safe" account.
- Extended auto warranty calls: One of the most common robocall scams in the country.
- Lottery and prize winner scams: You've won a prize but need to pay fees or taxes first.
The Golden Rules of Phone Safety
- Never give personal information to an unsolicited caller — including Social Security numbers, account numbers, PINs, or passwords
- Never pay by gift card — no legitimate government agency or business requests payment in gift cards. Ever.
- Never wire money to someone you haven't met in person and verified independently
- When in doubt, hang up and call the organization back using a number from their official website or your statement
- Legitimate agencies (IRS, SSA, Medicare) initiate contact by mail first, not by phone
How to Block and Report Scam Calls
Several tools can help reduce scam call volume:
- Call-blocking apps: Nomorobo, Hiya, or your carrier's built-in scam protection
- Register on the National Do Not Call Registry at donotcall.gov
- Report scams to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov
- Report to the Florida Attorney General at myfloridalegal.com
- If you've been victimized, contact the Marion County Sheriff's Office at (352) 732-8600
Stay informed about local safety issues through our news section and government resources pages.