Area code
Area code 442 — California
California · in service since November 21, 2009
Area code 442 covers parts of California. It is an overlay: 760 serves the same area, so neighbors can have different area codes.
Overlay, same area: 760
Local time in California
Spam reports from Sep 23 – Oct 22, 2026
Average #327 of 461 codes
215 FTC complaints
Consumer reports, not verified by the FTC.
See the reports- Time zonePacific Time
- Local calls1 + 10 digits
- Prefixes403 assigned
- Runs out~1Q 2043
- Unwanted call?Block & report
Spam call reports about 442 numbers
Complaints by week
Sep 11 – Oct 22, 2026Show as table
| Week starting | Complaints |
|---|---|
| Sep 7 (3 days) | 8 |
| Sep 14 | 42 |
| Sep 21 | 54 |
| Sep 28 | 46 |
| Oct 5 | 39 |
| Oct 12 | 43 |
| Oct 19 (4 days) | 43 |
Compared with all codes
- Robocalls
- 69%all codes 75%
- Callers with the same code
- 5%all codes 35%
- Rank by complaints
- #327of 461 · middle half
- FCC complaints, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026
- 455 about text messages
What the calls were about
Sep 11 – Oct 22, 2026
| Subject | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| Reducing your debt (credit cards, mortgage, student loans) | 81 29% | |
| Calls pretending to be government, businesses, or family and friends | 31 11% | |
| Dropped call or no message | 20 7% | |
| Vacation & timeshares | 9 3% | |
| Computer & technical support | 3 1% | |
| Energy, solar, & utilities | 2 1% |
Where the people who complained live
Sep 11 – Oct 22, 2026
| State | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| California | 106 39% | |
| Florida | 20 7% | |
| North Carolina | 11 4% | |
| New York | 10 4% | |
| Washington | 10 4% |
October 2026 (partial) report · most reported
Consumer reports, not verified by the FTC · source
Source: FTC Do Not Call complaints created Sep 11 – Oct 22, 2026. They are reported by consumers and are not verified by the FTC; caller ID can be spoofed (how we count).
Source: FCC Consumer Complaints data, unwanted calls filed Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026, by caller ID; not verified by the FCC.
Area code 442 location and prefixes
| Exchange (NANPA) | Place | County | Prefixes |
|---|---|---|---|
| VICTORVL | Victorville | San Bernardino County | 30 |
| PALM SPG | Palm Springs | Riverside County | 27 |
| INDIO | Indio | Riverside County | 24 |
| ESCONDIDO | Escondido | San Diego County | 22 |
| EL CENTRO | El Centro | Imperial County | 21 |
| BRAWLEY | Brawley | Imperial County | 19 |
| VTVL HSPR | — | — | 14 |
| PALMDESERT | Palm Desert | Riverside County | 12 |
| VISTA | Vista | San Diego County | 12 |
| OCSD CRLS | — | — | 11 |
Plus 68 smaller exchange areas.
Source: NANPA CO codes of Oct 23, 2026; places: U.S. Census Bureau, matched by DialWhere (how).
NANPA record
- Location
- California
- Assigned by NANPA
- July 22, 1999
- Local dialing
- 1 + 10 digits (NANPA: 1+10D)
- NANPA planning letters
- PL-381, PL-377, PL-238, PL-194, PL-160
Source: NANPA, NPA database of Oct 24, 2026.
Is 442 running out of numbers?
Previous forecast (October 2025): 2040, moved later by 3 years.
Forecast exhaust year by edition
Source: NANPA NRUF forecast, April 2026 edition.
Who holds 442 prefixes
The five largest of 45 original holders
As listed by NANPA, not today’s carrier.
| Holder (as listed) | Prefixes | |
|---|---|---|
| New Cingular Wireless PCS, LLC | 57 14% | |
| T-Mobile USA, Inc. | 54 13% | |
| Fractel, LLC | 51 13% | |
| Onvoy, LLC | 45 11% | |
| 37 9% |
Source: NANPA CO codes of Oct 23, 2026.
Questions about area code 442
What area code is 442?
A California area code, in service since November 21, 2009.
Where is 442 area code, and what time zone is it in?
California; Pacific Time.
Why am I getting spam calls from 442?
215 FTC complaints from Sep 23 – Oct 22, 2026, most often about debt reduction (not verified by the FTC; caller ID can be spoofed).
Will 442 get a new area code?
NANPA forecasts exhaust in 1Q 2043; no relief planning listed.