What is the 248 Area Code? Time Zone and Location
- Area code 248 is located in Michigan and covers Troy, Farmington Hills, Southfield, Rochester Hills, and Pontiac — it has a single overlay (947) that serves the same area.
- Combined with overlay 947, it covers 37 cities across 3 counties in southeastern Michigan, serving a population of 3,474,167.
- Major cities covered include Pontiac, Southfield, Royal Oak, Troy, Birmingham, Northville, Farmington, West Bloomfield, Clarkston, Rochester, Holly, Milford, South Lyon, Walled Lake, Auburn Hills, Oxford, Oak Park, Waterford, Lake Orion, Commerce Township, White Lake, Bloomfield Hills, and Novi.
- The 248 area code operates in the Eastern Time Zone — following Eastern Standard Time (EST, UTC−5) during the winter months and Eastern Daylight Time (EDT, UTC−4) during daylight saving time from March through November.
- Area code 248 was put into service on May 10, 1997, and was the 193rd area code in service — one of 43 area codes introduced in 1997 — created to relieve the pressure on the 810 area code as numbers in 810 were being exhausted.
- In 2000, area code 947 was assigned as an overlay to 248, approved as an all-services overlay plan in 2001, with 10-digit dialing required in the area.
- 10-digit dialing mandatory for all local calls within the 248/947 overlay complex.
248 Area Code Quick Facts
| Area Code | 248 |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| State / Region | Michigan (southeastern Michigan — Oakland County and portions of Wayne County) |
| Area Code Type | Overlay area code (shares region with area code 947) |
| Overlay Codes | 947 |
| Major Cities Covered | Troy, Southfield, Farmington Hills, Royal Oak, Pontiac, Auburn Hills, Rochester Hills, West Bloomfield, Waterford, Bloomfield Hills, Birmingham, Novi, Clarkston, Oak Park, Berkley, Ferndale, Madison Heights, Hazel Park, Commerce Township, White Lake, Milford, Walled Lake, South Lyon, Northville, Livonia (partial) |
| Primary City Association | Troy, Michigan (largest city by commercial activity) / Pontiac, Michigan (Oakland County seat) |
| Geographic Coverage | 43 cities across Oakland County and portions of Wayne County in southeastern Michigan |
| Time Zone | Eastern Time Zone (ET) |
| Standard Time Offset | UTC −5 hours |
| Daylight Saving Time | UTC −4 hours (EDT) |
| DST Period (2026 Example) | March → November |
| Introduced / Activation Date | May 10, 1997 |
| Reason for Creation | Created in 1997 as a split from area code 810 to accommodate the rapidly growing population and increasing demand for telephone numbers in Oakland County and the suburban Detroit corridor |
| Dialing Requirement | 10-digit dialing mandatory (due to 248/947 overlay complex) |
| Coverage Nature | Overlay complex — 248 and 947 share the same Oakland County geography |
| Population Coverage | Combined with overlay 947, serves a population of 3,474,167 across southeastern Michigan |
| Nearby / Related Area Codes | 226/382/519/548 (London, ON), 313 (Detroit, MI), 517 (Lansing, MI), 586 (Warren, MI), 679/734 (Ann Arbor, MI), 810 (Flint, MI), 947 (248 overlay), 989 (Saginaw, MI) |
| Telecom System | North American Numbering Plan (NANP) |
| Common Legitimate Callers | Stellantis (Chrysler) corporate offices, Corewell Health (Beaumont) appointment lines, and automotive supplier sales representatives are among the most recognized legitimate callers from 248 numbers |
| Example Phone Format | (248) XXX-XXXX |
| Usage Type | Mobile, landline, VoIP numbers |
| Business Use | One of the most commercially significant Michigan area codes — Oakland County is home to the headquarters of major automotive suppliers, financial institutions, and technology companies in the Detroit suburban corridor |
| Number Availability | Currently uses 785 prefixes, assigned from 248-200-XXXX through 248-998-XXXX, with 99% already assigned to a carrier — one of the most number-exhausted area codes in Michigan, prompting the addition of overlay 947 |
| Area Code Status | Active and heavily used |
| Economic Distinction | Oakland County is home to over 800 foreign-owned businesses from 33 countries, accounts for 20% of Michigan's GDP despite having only 13% of the state's population, and has a median household income of approximately $95,296 — making it one of the wealthiest and most economically productive counties in the entire Midwest |
| Notable Employers | United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM, HQ in Pontiac — nation's largest wholesale mortgage lender), BorgWarner (HQ in Auburn Hills), Lear Corporation (HQ in Southfield), Penske Logistics (HQ in Bloomfield Hills), Flagstar Bank (Troy), Ally Financial Technology Center (Southfield/Auburn Hills), Microsoft Technology Center (Southfield), and Corewell Health are among the largest employers in the 248 region |
Is the 248 Area Code a Scam?
| Spam Ranking | Area code 248 ranks among the most heavily targeted area codes in Michigan, with August 2025 recording the highest complaint volume and February 2026 showing an 88.9% decrease compared to January 2026 |
|---|---|
| Spam Growth | Spam calls in Michigan increased by 217.17% over the past year — one of the sharpest statewide increases in the Midwest — with the highest volume recorded in September 2025 accounting for 14.02% of all calls |
| Most Common Complaint Type | Live voice complaints are the most recorded type, with prerecorded voice making up 40.3% of all reported calls in Michigan statewide |
| Top Scam Categories | Mortgage loan calls make up 17.62% of complaints — by far the single largest category — followed by health insurance (8.61%), Medicare/Medicaid (8.2%), auto warranty (7.79%), and credit card debt (3.69%) |
| Top Reported Cities for Complaints | Farmington Hills, MI leads with 8.75% of complaints, followed by Royal Oak, MI (6.57%), Rochester Hills, MI (4.98%), Livonia, MI (3.82%), and Northville, MI (2.85%) |
| Statewide Fraud Impact | In 2024, Michigan residents reported 53,351 fraud cases resulting in total losses of $204,033,291, with a median loss of $350 per victim, with medical and prescription scams (6,836 complaints) leading the state, followed by debt reduction (5,186) and imposter scams (4,867) |
| "Affluent Target" Effect | Oakland County's high-income profile makes a 248 number highly credible for financial and professional impersonation calls — scammers specifically target the region's wealthy homeowners with mortgage refinancing, real estate cash offers, and bank fraud schemes, knowing the demographics signal higher potential payouts |
| Common Labels | Mortgage refinance harasser, fake "Midland Credit" debt collector, SSA lawsuit threat, fake Amazon iPhone purchase robocaller, unsolicited real estate cash buyer, fake process server, Blue Cross Blue Shield impersonator |
| Spoofing Risk | Michigan allows number portability, and scammers often use "neighbor spoofing" to make calls appear local — a spoofed 248 number carries particular authority given Oakland County's concentration of automotive, financial, and medical industry employers |
| Typical Strategy | Appearing as a familiar Troy, Farmington Hills, or Royal Oak number to build trust among affluent Oakland County homeowners and professionals before making high-value financial fraud attempts |
| Signature Scam — Relentless Mortgage Refinancing Harassment | Aggressive telemarketers call 248 homeowners multiple times per hour, every day, about mortgage refinancing — ignoring direct requests to stop calling, becoming hostile or rude if you say you're not interested, and increasing call frequency if you ask to be removed from their list — exploiting Oakland County's high homeownership rate and above-average home values |
| Signature Scam — Fake "Midland Credit" Debt Collection | Scammers impersonate Midland Credit Management — a legitimate debt collector with offices in the Detroit metro area — calling 248 residents about debts they never incurred, using the company's name recognition in Michigan to give fake collection calls unwarranted credibility |
| Signature Scam — SSA "You've Been Served" Lawsuit Threat | Scammers pretending to be debt collectors call 248 numbers claiming you have been "officially SERVED" with a lawsuit over the phone — referencing very old debts you don't recognize or have already paid, using your maiden name and partial Social Security number as supposed proof, and becoming aggressive when you ask for written verification of the debt |
| Signature Scam — SSA Legal Proceedings Robocall | Robocallers claim your Social Security Number has been used for fraud and threaten to suspend it or begin legal proceedings unless you call back immediately — using odd phrasing like "kindly revert as soon as possible" and spoofing caller ID to show "SSI" or a local Michigan number — then attempting to extract your Social Security number and personal information to commit identity theft when you call back |
| Signature Scam — Unsolicited Keller Williams / Remax Cash Home Offer | Oakland County homeowners receive unsolicited calls and texts from people claiming to be from Keller Williams or Remax wanting to buy their home for cash — using friendly first names like "Sarah," "Mike," or "Rosemary," knowing the homeowner's name and street address, leaving vague voicemails about an "important real estate matter," and asking if the owner plans to sell within the next 1 to 5 years — large-scale data mining operations rather than legitimate real estate inquiries |
| Signature Scam — Fake Amazon iPhone Purchase Alert | Automated calls claim to be from Amazon customer service, stating that an expensive item — often "an iPhone for over $800" — has been charged to your account, directing you to call back a local 248 number, where scammers attempt to gain account credentials or remote computer access |
| Reporting Authority | Report suspicious calls to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, to the Michigan Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division at michigan.gov/ag, or call 1-877-765-8388; for SSA scams, call 1-800-772-1213 |
| Key Risk Indicator | Calls coming multiple times per hour about mortgage rates, fake process server threats citing your maiden name or partial SSN, SSA robocalls using odd phrasing like "kindly revert," real estate callers who know your address and ask about your selling timeline, or Amazon alerts about large purchases you never made |
| Safety Tip | Your Social Security number is not about to be suspended and your bank accounts are not about to be seized — the SSA will never call to threaten your benefits or tell you to wire money, send cash, or put money on gift cards. If you're worried about what a caller says, hang up and call 1-800-772-1213 to speak with the real SSA directly |
What Are the Business Benefits of the 248 Area Code?
| Local Presence | A 248 number establishes immediate credibility across Oakland County — one of the wealthiest and most commercially active suburban counties in the Midwest, home to major automotive, financial, and technology employers that give the code inherent professional authority |
|---|---|
| Customer Trust Factor | A local Troy, Southfield, or Farmington Hills 248 number dramatically increases answer rates vs. unknown out-of-state numbers in a sophisticated, high-income suburban market where professional credibility and local identity are key drivers of trust |
| Automotive Industry Hub | Oakland County is home to BorgWarner, Lear Corporation, Penske Logistics, and dozens of Tier 1 automotive suppliers and technology companies — a 248 number is essential for any business operating in Michigan's automotive ecosystem |
| Coverage Advantage | One number covers 37 cities across Oakland County and portions of Wayne County in southeastern Michigan, reaching the full breadth of Detroit's most affluent northern suburbs |
| VoIP Compatibility | Easily available for SaaS platforms, call centers, and remote teams serving the Oakland County and greater Detroit metro market |
| Scalability | Covers roughly 7.85 million unique phone numbers across the 248/947 overlay complex, though 99% of prefixes are already assigned — with 947 absorbing all new demand |
| Affluent Market Advantage | With a median household income of approximately $95,296 and over 800 foreign-owned businesses from 33 countries, Oakland County is one of the most economically productive and internationally connected counties in the Midwest — particularly valuable for financial services, automotive, and premium consumer businesses |
| Marketing Use | Ideal for local SEO, digital ads, and customer outreach across Troy, Southfield, Farmington Hills, Royal Oak, Pontiac, Auburn Hills, Rochester Hills, West Bloomfield, Bloomfield Hills, Novi, Birmingham, Clarkston, and surrounding communities |
| Startup Friendly | Highly attractive for automotive technology, fintech, and healthcare startups given Oakland County's extraordinary concentration of automotive OEM connections, mortgage and financial services infrastructure, and Corewell Health's regional medical network |
| Call Routing Flexibility | Can route calls globally while appearing local to Oakland County customers — particularly valuable for international automotive supplier and logistics companies managing North American operations from the Detroit suburb corridor |
| Top Industries | Automotive manufacturing and technology (BorgWarner, Lear Corporation, Stellantis suppliers), mortgage and financial services (United Wholesale Mortgage — nation's largest wholesale mortgage lender, Flagstar Bank, Ally Financial), healthcare (Corewell Health/Beaumont, Trinity Health Michigan, Oakland Community Health Network), logistics (Penske Logistics), technology (Microsoft Technology Center), insurance (Liberty Mutual, MetLife, Aon, Marsh & McLennan Agency), and retail (Somerset Collection in Troy) benefit most from a local 248 presence |
| Use Case Examples | AI receptionist, automotive supplier and engineering lines, wholesale and retail mortgage origination support, healthcare practice and hospital network lines, financial advisory and wealth management services, logistics and fleet management support, technology firm regional offices, insurance brokerage lines, luxury retail and real estate agencies, and local professional services |
