What is the 262 Area Code? Time Zone and Location
- Area code 262 is the area code for the suburbs of Milwaukee — it includes the cities of Kenosha, Racine, and Waukesha, and is the only area code that serves the area.
- There are currently no overlays, meaning 262 is the only area code for the geographic regions it serves — in all, it serves a population of 2,296,674 individuals across 9 counties.
- The 262 area code covers 62 cities, including Milwaukee, Racine, Kenosha, Waukesha, West Bend, West Allis, Fond du Lac, New Berlin, Brookfield, and Menomonee Falls.
- Area code 262 is located in the Central Time Zone — following Central Standard Time (CST, UTC−6) during standard time and Central Daylight Time (CDT, UTC−5) during daylight saving time from March through November.
- Area code 262 was put into service on September 25, 1999, and was the 266th area code in service — one of 23 area codes introduced in 1999 — created to relieve the pressure on the 414 area code as numbers in 414 were being exhausted.
- As a result of the split, 262 was designated for a separate numbering plan area with nearly all of the territory outside Milwaukee County — a few slivers of Waukesha and Washington counties stayed in 414.
- 7-digit local dialing is the calling pattern for local calls within the same NPA, as 262 has no overlay.
262 Area Code Quick Facts
| Area Code | 262 |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| State / Region | Wisconsin (southeastern Wisconsin — Milwaukee suburbs and Lake Michigan shore) |
| Area Code Type | Geographic area code (no overlay — sole area code for the region) |
| Overlay Codes | None |
| Major Cities Covered | Racine, Kenosha, Waukesha, West Bend, Brookfield, Menomonee Falls, Fond du Lac, New Berlin, Pewaukee, Muskego, Sheboygan, Grafton, Port Washington, Hartland, Delafield, Oconomowoc, Burlington, Lake Geneva, Germantown, Sussex |
| Primary City Association | Waukesha, Wisconsin (county seat) / Racine, Wisconsin (largest city within 262's core footprint) |
| Geographic Coverage | 83 cities across 7 counties in southeastern Wisconsin, including Waukesha, Racine, Kenosha, Washington, Ozaukee, Jefferson, and Sheboygan counties |
| Time Zone | Central Time Zone (CT) |
| Standard Time Offset | UTC −6 hours |
| Daylight Saving Time | UTC −5 hours (CDT) |
| DST Period (2026 Example) | March → November |
| Introduced / Activation Date | September 25, 1999 |
| Reason for Creation | Created in 1999 as a geographic split from area code 414, after the Green Bay/Fox Valley region was separated into 920 in 1997 — within a year, 414 was again approaching exhaustion due to continued proliferation of cell phones and pagers, forcing the suburban Milwaukee region into the new 262 code |
| Dialing Requirement | 7-digit local dialing supported; 10-digit dialing required for calls outside the local area |
| Coverage Nature | Sole geographic area code — no overlay, with relief not projected until at least 2044 |
| Population Coverage | Serves a population of approximately 2,296,674 individuals across 9 counties in southeastern Wisconsin |
| Nearby / Related Area Codes | 414 (Milwaukee), 534/715 (northern Wisconsin), 608 (Madison), 920 (Green Bay/Appleton), 312/773 (Chicago, IL), 224/847 (Lake County, IL), 219 (Hammond, IN) |
| Telecom System | North American Numbering Plan (NANP) |
| Common Legitimate Callers | Kohl's Department Stores corporate offices, industrial tool sales representatives, and distribution center logistics coordinators are among the most recognized legitimate callers from 262 numbers |
| Example Phone Format | (262) XXX-XXXX |
| Usage Type | Mobile, landline, VoIP numbers |
| Business Use | Essential for local presence across southeastern Wisconsin's manufacturing, retail, healthcare, and lakefront tourism economy |
| Number Availability | Currently uses 633 prefixes, assigned from 262-200-XXXX through 262-999-XXXX — with relief not projected until 2044 at the earliest, ensuring strong long-term availability |
| Area Code Status | Active and stable — no overlay or split projected for at least two decades |
| Geographic Distinction | Area code 262 comprises the suburbs that are part of both the Milwaukee metropolitan area and the Chicago metropolitan area — making it one of the few US area codes that straddles two major metro regions |
Is the 262 Area Code a Scam?
| Spam Ranking | Area code 262 ranks among Wisconsin's most actively targeted spam codes, with August 2025 recording the highest complaint volume |
|---|---|
| Spam Growth | Spam calls in Wisconsin show an upward trend, with September 2025 recording 15.13% of all calls — the highest monthly volume — while prerecorded voice accounts for 47.2% of all reported Wisconsin calls statewide |
| Most Common Complaint Type | The 262 area code reports retail impersonation scams (Kohl's, Amazon, Walmart), "Can You Hear Me?" voice phishing, fake legal and arrest threat scams, Social Security and IRS impersonation, and fake police and firefighter fundraisers as its top complaint categories |
| Top Reported Cities for Complaints | West Bend, WI leads with 11.72% of complaints — by far the most targeted city — followed by Racine, WI (4.1%), Kenosha, WI (2.86%), and Pewaukee, WI (2.8%) |
| Common Labels | Kohl's impersonator, fake SSA arrest threat, phantom plaintiff debt collector, fake police/fire charity, "Can You Hear Me?" voice phisher, fake legal process server |
| Spoofing Risk | Scammers frequently spoof Wisconsin (Kenosha, Racine, Waukesha) phone numbers to trick recipients into answering — the 262 area code is legitimate, but any call could be spoofed from anywhere |
| "Retail Capital" Exploitation | The 262 area code is specifically targeted by retail impersonation scams involving Kohl's, Amazon, and Walmart — Kohl's Department Stores is headquartered in Menomonee Falls within the 262 region, and scammers exploit the company's enormous brand recognition among local residents to make impersonation calls seem credible |
| Chicago Metro Border Effect | The 262 area code's dual status as part of both the Milwaukee and Chicago metropolitan areas means scammers can use spoofed 262 numbers to credibly target consumers in both of America's major Midwestern cities simultaneously |
| Typical Strategy | Neighbor spoofing — appearing as a familiar Waukesha, Racine, or Kenosha number to build trust before making retail impersonation, SSA arrest threats, or fake plaintiff debt collection demands |
| Signature Scam — Fake Plaintiff Debt Collector / SSA Arrest Threat | Scammers call 262 residents claiming a plaintiff has hired them or that there are complaints filed against your name and Social Security number — threatening that if you don't call back immediately, the issue will be turned over to a judge for action at your home or work, sometimes threatening wage garnishments and arrests, and even contacting your family members with the same threatening messages |
| Signature Scam — Kohl's / Amazon / Walmart Retail Impersonation | Scammers specifically impersonate Kohl's (headquartered in the 262 region), Amazon, and Walmart — calling 262 residents about fake purchase confirmations, loyalty reward claims, or account issues, using the deep local recognition of Kohl's to make the impersonation especially credible to southeastern Wisconsin residents |
| Signature Scam — "Can You Hear Me?" Voice Phishing | Callers open with "Can you hear me?" or similar questions designed to get you to say "yes" — recording your response and using it as a fraudulent voice authorization for charges to your phone bill or credit card |
| Signature Scam — Fake Police / Firefighter PAC Fundraiser | Callers soliciting for fake police PAC funds or firefighter charities are the most reported specific spam pattern in the 262 area code — asking for credit card or routing numbers over the phone and getting hostile when refused, for "fundraisers" that give little or nothing to actual law enforcement or fire services |
| Signature Scam — IRS / Legal Arrest Threats | The 262 area code is specifically targeted by legal arrest threats and IRS impersonation calls — scammers claim you owe taxes or fines to the government to steal your funds, using fear of legal proceedings to pressure immediate payment |
| Reporting Authority | Report suspicious calls to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, to the Wisconsin AG's Consumer Protection Division at doj.state.wi.us, or call 1-800-422-7128 |
| Key Risk Indicator | Calls claiming a plaintiff has filed against your SSN, Kohl's alerts about orders you didn't place, "Can you hear me?" openers from unknown numbers, police charity calls without verifiable 501(c)(3) information, or IRS threats demanding immediate payment |
| Safety Tip | The IRS and Social Security Administration never call to threaten arrest — and Kohl's will never call about account issues and ask you to verify information over the phone. Any police charity that demands your credit card number immediately, without offering to send written information, is almost certainly a scam |
What Are the Business Benefits of the 262 Area Code?
| Local Presence | Helps businesses appear local across southeastern Wisconsin's Milwaukee suburban corridor — a vast region covering both the affluent Waukesha County exurbs and the Lake Michigan shoreline communities of Racine, Kenosha, and Sheboygan |
|---|---|
| Customer Trust Factor | A local 262 number dramatically increases answer rates vs. unknown out-of-state numbers in a market where suburban community identity and local loyalty are strong drivers of consumer decisions |
| Dual Metro Market Access | The 262 area code serves communities that are part of both the Milwaukee and Chicago metropolitan areas — giving a single 262 number effective reach into two of America's most commercially significant Midwestern markets simultaneously |
| Coverage Advantage | One number covers 66 cities across 9 counties in southeastern Wisconsin, spanning from the Chicago border at Kenosha in the south through the Lake Geneva resort communities to the manufacturing and agricultural heartland of Fond du Lac and Sheboygan in the north |
| VoIP Compatibility | Easily available for SaaS platforms, call centers, and remote teams serving the southeastern Wisconsin market |
| Scalability | Covers roughly 6.16 million unique phone numbers — with relief not projected until 2044 at the earliest, ensuring exceptional long-term availability |
| Kohl's Corporate Corridor | Kohl's Department Stores is headquartered in Menomonee Falls within the 262 region — along with numerous other retail, distribution, and manufacturing headquarters, making the 262 corridor one of Wisconsin's most commercially dense suburban areas |
| Marketing Use | Ideal for local SEO, digital ads, and customer outreach across Racine, Kenosha, Waukesha, West Bend, Brookfield, Menomonee Falls, Fond du Lac, Sheboygan, New Berlin, Pewaukee, Oconomowoc, Lake Geneva, and surrounding communities |
| Startup Friendly | Cost-effective entry point for retail technology, manufacturing, healthcare, and logistics startups given the region's deep manufacturing heritage, proximity to both Milwaukee and Chicago, and the presence of major corporate headquarters |
| Call Routing Flexibility | Can route calls globally while appearing local to southeastern Wisconsin customers — particularly valuable for manufacturing, retail, and distribution companies managing Midwest and national operations |
| Top Industries | Retail and distribution (Kohl's Department Stores headquarters), manufacturing (Generac Power Systems, Husco International, Snap-on Tools), healthcare (Froedtert Health, Children's Wisconsin, Aurora BayCare), tourism and recreation (Lake Geneva resort communities, Lambeau Field proximity), education (Carroll University, University of Wisconsin–Parkside, University of Wisconsin–Whitewater), and agriculture benefit most from a local 262 presence |
| Use Case Examples | AI receptionist, retail corporate support lines, manufacturing and industrial supplier support, healthcare practices and hospital network lines, resort and hospitality businesses (Lake Geneva), university admissions and affiliated services, distribution center logistics, real estate agencies, and local retail and professional services |
