Area Code 838
Area code 838 covers Albany and nearby cities including Schenectady, Troy, Rotterdam in New York, in the Eastern Time.
Area code 838 quick facts
| Location | Albany, New York |
|---|---|
| Time zone | Eastern Time |
| In service | 2017-09-19 |
| Overlay codes | 518 |
| Nearby codes | 518, 413, 329, 845, 860, 959 |
| Carrier coverage | 221 prefixes; 36% wireless |
| FTC complaint data | 341 complaints across 60 numbers |
| Data current as of | August 2, 2026 |
Is a call from 838 a scam? Who called me from 838?
FTC complaints involving 838 numbers
Numbers shown with area code 838 in the FTC's Do Not Call “Reported Calls” database (recent reporting window). Most common reported reasons: “Reducing your debt (credit cards, mortgage, student loans)”, “Other”, “Calls pretending to be government, businesses, or family and friends”.
Most-complained 838 numbers:
- (838) 336-0289 — 36 complaints
- (838) 227-3278 — 29 complaints
- (838) 239-0598 — 28 complaints
- (838) 236-0484 — 16 complaints
- (838) 438-0325 — 13 complaints
These are FTC Do Not Call complaints filed about specific numbers shown with this area code — frequently spoofed. The area code itself is not a scam. See the most-reported area codes and the most-reported phone numbers nationwide.
Cities in area code 838
Albany, Schenectady, Troy, Rotterdam, Saratoga Springs, West Albany
Area codes by city
Carriers in area code 838
Area code 838 spans 221 prefixes, about 36% wireless. Top carriers: ONVOY, LLC- NY, NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC - DC, ONVOY SPECTRUM, LLC, IP HORIZON LLC. Look up the carrier and line type for a 838 number.
Other New York area codes
- 212 — New York City
- 315 — Syracuse
- 329 — Kingston
- 332 — New York City
- 347 — New York City
- 363 — Nassau
- 465 — New York City
- 516 — Nassau
- 518 — Albany
- 585 — Rochester
- 607 — Binghamton
- 624 — Buffalo
- 631 — Brentwood
- 646 — New York City
- 680 — Syracuse
- 716 — Buffalo
- 718 — New York City
- 845 — Poughkeepsie
- 914 — Westchester
- 917 — New York City
- 929 — New York City
- 934 — Riverhead
Nearby area codes
Frequently asked questions
Where is area code 838?
Area code 838 covers Albany and nearby cities including Schenectady, Troy, Rotterdam in New York, in the Eastern Time.
What cities use area code 838?
Area code 838 serves Albany, Schenectady, Troy, Rotterdam, Saratoga Springs, and 1 other communities in New York.
What time zone is area code 838 in?
Area code 838 is in the Eastern Time (America/New_York).
How do you dial a 838 number?
Dial all 10 digits: 838 followed by the 7-digit local number. From abroad, dial +1 838 and the local number.
Is a call from area code 838 a scam?
A 838 number is geographically tied to New York, but caller ID can be spoofed, so the displayed area code does not prove where a caller really is. If you did not expect the call, do not share personal information and consider looking the number up.
Is 838 a country code?
No. 838 is a US area code (a domestic 3-digit code), not a country code. The country (calling) code for the United States is +1, shared across the North American Numbering Plan. So a full 838 number written for international dialing looks like +1 838 followed by the 7-digit local number.
Sourced from the official NANPA (North American Numbering Plan Administrator) numbering database, current as of August 2, 2026. Refreshed monthly.