516 Area Code — Long Island Nassau, New York
About the 516 Area Code
Area code 516 serves Long Island Nassau, New York, a major coastal metropolitan area known for high telecommunications density and early adoption of advanced calling services. All major national carriers—AT&T Mobility, Verizon Wireless, and T-Mobile USA—operate extensive networks here. Hempstead and Levittown are the main hubs, and the area code runs on Eastern time.
Key Information
- Region: Long Island Nassau
- State / Province: New York
- Timezone: Eastern
- Major Cities: Hempstead, Levittown
Area Code Overview
Area code 516 is one of New York's original 1947 area codes, serving Nassau County on Long Island — including Hempstead, Garden City, Mineola, Great Neck, Freeport, Westbury, and Valley Stream. Overlay code 624 was added in 2017. Nassau County is one of the most densely populated suburban counties in the United States, with approximately 1.4 million residents. The county has a substantial Jewish community in Five Towns and Great Neck, a growing Latino population in Hempstead and Westbury, and a LIPA (Long Island Power Authority) service area with a history of contentious utility billing — a ready-made vector for utility impersonation fraud.
Scam Patterns in 516
LIPA Utility Shutoff Impersonation
PSEG Long Island, which manages the LIPA system, is specifically impersonated in 516-originating texts. Scammers claim an overdue balance will result in same-day power shutoff unless payment is made immediately via prepaid debit card or wire transfer. Scammers reference real LIPA account features and billing terminology to add authenticity. Nassau County seniors on fixed incomes are disproportionately targeted.
IRS Back Tax and Levy Scams Targeting Homeowners
Nassau County's high home values (median over $600,000) make homeowners targets for IRS impersonation texts claiming back taxes, penalties, or a lien on property. Messages threaten property seizure or wage garnishment, directing recipients to call a "resolution specialist" at a spoofed 516 number. The homeownership demographic creates specific fear of property-related consequences.
Home Improvement and Storm Damage Contractor Fraud
Nassau County sits in a coastal storm zone. After nor'easters and tropical storms, scam texts from 516 numbers offer emergency roofing, siding, and contractor services requiring a deposit before work begins. These "storm chasers" collect deposits and deliver substandard work or disappear entirely. The NY Attorney General's office has issued repeated warnings about post-storm contractor fraud targeting Long Island homeowners.
VoIP and Spoofing Risk Assessment
Risk Level: HIGH
Nassau County's suburban density and high homeownership rate create a high-value target pool, and scammers invest in VoIP 516 numbers specifically to appear locally embedded. LIPA scams are sophisticated — some use IVR systems that mimic PSEG's automated phone trees when victims call back. The 516 area code's strong local identity makes local-number spoofing more effective here than in more transient markets.
What To Do If You Receive a Text From a 516 Number
Step 1: Verify LIPA/PSEG contacts at the official number. PSEG Long Island's customer service is 1-800-490-0025. Log into your PSEG account at psegliny.com before paying anything prompted by a text. Utilities never require immediate prepaid card payment to avoid same-day shutoff.
Step 2: Look up the number. Search at Who Sent That Text Message to check for prior reports, utility-related spam, or contractor fraud associations.
Step 3: Verify contractor licenses before paying any deposit. New York State requires home improvement contractors to be licensed. Check license status at the NYS Department of State at dos.ny.gov. See our guide on how to identify text message scams.
Step 4: Report. Forward to 7726 (SPAM). Report utility fraud to the NYS Public Service Commission at 1-800-342-3377. File with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
What area code is 516?
Area code 516 serves Nassau County on Long Island, New York, including Hempstead, Garden City, Mineola, Great Neck, Freeport, Westbury, and Valley Stream. It is one of New York's original 1947 area codes, sharing Nassau County coverage with overlay 624.
Is area code 516 used for scams?
516 is a legitimate Nassau County area code used by over a million residents. It is associated with LIPA utility shutoff impersonation, IRS property tax threat scams, and post-storm contractor fraud. Any unknown 516 text claiming a utility emergency, tax lien, or home repair service should be verified before any payment.
Why do post-storm contractor scams specifically concentrate on Long Island homeowners?
Nassau County's coastal location means it receives regular storm damage from nor'easters and tropical systems, and homeowners in communities like Long Beach, Freeport, and Baldwin are accustomed to receiving contractor outreach after storms. Scammers monitor weather events and flood Nassau with 516-originating contractor texts within 24 hours of a storm — arriving exactly when residents are stressed, surveying damage, and most likely to call the first number that reaches out.
Related Area Codes
- 631 — Suffolk County, Long Island (east of Nassau). The 516 and 631 codes together serve all of Long Island.
- 347 — NYC overlay covering Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. Many Nassau County residents have family and business contacts with 347 numbers.
- 212 — Manhattan. Nassau County's primary economic hub for commuters.
Carriers & Network Type for 516 Numbers
Network mix: Mixed — 516 numbers include mobile, landline, and VoIP lines.
Common Scam Patterns
FCC complaint data for 516 numbers includes:
- Robocall/Auto-dialer
- Spoofed caller ID
- IRS/Government impersonation
- Tech support scam
If You Got a Text from 516
Who Typically Calls from the 516 Area Code?
Area code 516 serves Long Island Nassau, New York, a major coastal metropolitan area known for high telecommunications density and early adoption of advanced calling services. All major national carriers—AT&T Mobility, Verizon Wireless, and T-Mobile USA—operate extensive networks here. Hempstead and Levittown are the main hubs, and the area code runs on Eastern time. Calls from 516 numbers originate in Long Island Nassau, New York. Residents, local businesses, schools, medical offices, and government agencies in this region all use 516 numbers. If you received an unexpected call or text from a 516 number, it may be a neighbor, a local service provider, or — in some cases — an unwanted solicitor.
Because 516 is a legitimate, widely used area code, scammers sometimes spoof it to make their calls appear local and trustworthy. This technique — called neighbor spoofing — makes it more likely that recipients will answer. A reverse phone lookup is the fastest way to find out whether a 516 number is genuinely local or spoofed.
Is a 516 Phone Number Spam?
Not all 516 calls are spam, but the area code is not immune to robocall campaigns and phone scams. Common complaints about 516 numbers include warranty extension scams, debt collection harassment, IRS impersonation calls, and unsolicited insurance offers.
If a 516 number called you and didn't leave a voicemail, that's a red flag — legitimate callers typically leave a message. Use Who Sent That Text Message to look up the number instantly and see whether other users have flagged it as spam.
You can also report a suspicious 516 number directly from our lookup results, helping protect others in the community from the same caller.
Look Up a 516 Number Now
Enter any 516 area code phone number below and get instant results — carrier, line type, caller name (where available), and spam reports submitted by real users.
Other Area Codes in New York
New York has multiple area codes serving different regions. If the number you received isn't from 516, check one of the other New York area codes below.