10 Scariest Phone Numbers You Should Never Call(But We Did Anyway)

From forums to YouTube rabbit holes and late-night Reddit threads, people have been whispering about certain scary phone numbers and something strange that might walk along with them if call.

Some you may have heard of. Others might be new. Urban legends or something more? This article discusses the 10 scariest phone numbers in 2025 that people say are cursed or haunted. Let's begin!

10 Scary Numbers to Call That Will Haunt Your Phone

Some say these numbers are cursed, others say they are urban legends created from boredom, but have enough people out there claimed spine-chilling experiences that one cannot help but wonder: What happens if you dare to call one?

You're about to find out.

1 The Devil's Hotline: 1-216-333-1810

1-216-333-1810, more commonly known as "The Devil's Hotline," is a constant number that, since time immemorial, has been linked to creepy sounds and weird events, making it quite popular among paranormal enthusiasts.

People calling at 1-216-333-1810 just hear some strange noises, voices, and even what some call a demonic laugh.

One of the freakiest tales is of someone who dialled because of sheer curiosity. They heard very soft whispers initially.

As time lapsed on the call, the whispers grew louder and incomprehensible, with the voice behind them growing angrier, turning into inhuman, ghoulish growling. They hung up immediately, but the effects didn't stop there.

For weeks afterward, they reported hearing similar whispers late at night, as if the phone call had opened a lingering doorway. Are you brave enough to try it yourself? Or will you keep your phone firmly in hand, wary of what lies on the other side of 1-216-333-1810?

2 The Crying Boy: 828-756-0109

Sometimes, numbers are tied to something far darker. 828-756-0109 is one of those numbers. It was in the very early 1990s that a fire ripped through a family's home. Not much was left except the charred remains of their belongings.

Yet, something strange proved to be amid the ruins, an old portrait of a child. The haunting part is that the picture was said to be of a boy who tragically perished in the fire.

From there, the number 828-756-0109 entered the mythos. It's said that dialing it will connect you to the sound of that very child, crying, weeping, and wailing for help. They claim that the child's cries don't stop, that they linger on the line, and that no matter how long you wait, the weeping never ends.

3 The Haunted Death Number: 1-888-888-8888

Some numbers are creepy because of what people say happens when you call. But this number's reputation comes from what happened to the owners of the number.

Let's rewind to the early 2000s in Bulgaria, where the number +359 888 888 888 was reportedly deactivated after a string of bizarre, untimely deaths.

First, it belonged to Mobitel CEO Vladimir Grashnov, who died of cancer at just 48. Then it passed to a known arms dealer who was shot to death. Finally, a third man, linked to drug trafficking, was gunned down outside a restaurant. After the third fatality, the number was reportedly pulled from circulation completely.

Though the urban legend is based on the Bulgarian version, stories spread across Asia and the internet like wildfire.

Callers claimed to receive strange noises, sudden static, or complete silence followed by unsettling coincidences in the days after.

Some said their phones glitched. Others experienced a wave of bad luck, like missed buses, broken electronics, family arguments… nothing fatal, but enough to spook even the skeptics.

It's unclear whether 1-888-888-8888 in North America shares the same legacy, but many people still avoid it.

4 The Sadako Number: 090-4444-4444

The number 090-4444-4444 reportedly gained notoriety in Japan for its scary connection to Sadako. If you've seen The Ring (or Ringu, the 1998 Japanese original), you know exactly who she is, the vengeful spirit that climbs out of the TV screen after someone watches a cursed videotape. But what if that curse could follow you to your phone?

Stories circulated that calling it resulted in a chilling voice on the other end, whispering in a language most couldn't understand, or in some cases, just heavy, unnatural breathing.

One woman on an anonymous Japanese message board said she called the number out of curiosity and immediately afterward, her phone refused to turn off and began playing static over every call. A week later, her phone bricked entirely.

Real or not, dialing it is like drawing a ghost's attention to yourself. That rarely ends well. Dial at your own risk.

5 The Number of the Beast: 666-666-6666

The superstitious triple six has long been tied to the devil himself, and in modern folklore, 666-666-6666 is its phone-bound incarnation. It's that number that dares you to try and step over the line between curiosity and danger.

2000s: The early 2000s, a time when whispers about the number began to creep into conversations. People whispering about having received missed calls from this number in the middle of the night, and people whispering about what happens when you call back, hearing only hisses and growls or strange words. And then…silence. Cold, absolute silence.

Thrill seekers, in fact, have taken to posting online about having called the number. While some say that nothing has happened, some claim that their phone got jammed, while others say that they received weird texts later on, comprising blank messages or cryptic symbols.

What makes it even creepier is that no company has claimed the number. It shouldn't be there. Still, it's answering.

Is it just a random ghost number, or something more sinister? You decide.

6 The Phantom Line: 1-000-000-0000

What makes this number so creepy is what supposedly occurs once you pick it up. There's a story of a guy who answered the call, only to hear what sounded like a distant voice whispering their sister's name... followed by static, then a sob. Another caller claimed the voicemail left behind was a recording of a woman saying I love you in a static voice.

So if your finger hovers over the "Dial" of 1-000-000-0000, ask yourself: Are you ready to hear what's waiting on the other end?

7 The Unsolvable Puzzle: 20-20-20-20

You could look at the number 20-20-20-20 and say, "So what's so great about that?" But scratch below the surface of the weird phone number and you'll see that this innocuous string has been conscripted for something far more bizarre. It's the so-called "time loop" number, a number that's rumored to mess with the fabric of time itself.

Online forums buzz with tales of people dialing it and experiencing something... off. Some say their clocks skip minutes or hours after the call. Others claim they hear their own voices echo back at them.

One chilling story from a now-vanished forum thread tells of a person who dialed 20-20-20-20 and passed out, only to wake up hours later with no memory of time passing.

Coincidence? Maybe. But if you're the one dialing, it's hard not to wonder.

8 The Red Room Line: 408-634-2806

The "Red Room" legend first gained traction in the early days of the internet, where a story emerged of a game so twisted that it would compel users to play, often under duress.

The game's participants were said to be forced into increasingly disturbing tasks, culminating in a deadly, real consequence. The imagery of the "red room" is a blood-red screen, filled with cryptic messages and ominous warnings, constantly urging participants to go deeper into its web of fear.

But what does dialing 408-634-2806 have to do with this disturbing legend? Some claim that this number leads directly to a portal of sorts, connecting callers to the very Red Room itself.

According to those who've dared to make the call, the phone line plays a chilling, mechanical message, instructing the caller to complete tasks or face horrifying consequences. 

Could this be a sick prank, or is there something more insidious happening? Either way, the Red Room remains a dark and menacing legend, one that is better left unexplored.

9 The Screamer: 701-347-1936

This number gained notoriety on TikTok and YouTube for a good reason: it yells. Not just random screaming, but an unholy, shrieking noise that cuts through the speaker like glass.

It doesn't start immediately, either. It lets you settle in. You might hear gentle tapping first, maybe breathing. And then it screams.

The sound varies. Somebody hears high-pitched static, someone hears that pig squeal, or a woman wailing in reverse.

Whatever it is, it's loud and emotionally unsettling. Theories suggest it's a scare marketing stunt, but that hasn't stopped people calling, recording, and regretting it.

10 The Womb Ghosts Line: 913-535-6280

Dial this number and you just might listen to what end-users dub "the heartbeat." A thumping rhythm— like a pulse underwater. Every now and then, there's some muffled speech saying something that sounds like "Don't forget."

More often, it's just that slow, steady beat. Who is at the other end of the line? The number has changed hands and carriers, but the sound remains.

One person described feeling like they were "being watched from the inside out" for days afterward. It's earned the nickname "The Womb Ghosts Line" for how claustrophobic and raw the experience feels.

Safety Tips for Calling Creepy Numbers

So you've been reading about all these creepy numbers and you're a little interested (or perhaps just fearless). But hold up before you decide to call with your phone and find yourself not in a supernatural horror story, or even worse, at the other end of a scam.

Tips: If you're still itching to call, go ahead, but use a burner phone. It's like an extra layer of armor. Get a cheap phone, dial your number, and if anything goes wrong, you're at least not holding the bill for whatever spooky stuff happens next.

Protect Your Family from the Dark Side of the Web 

When I first stumbled upon these creepy phone numbers, I couldn't help but be fascinated. The chilling stories, the scary legends, what could be more intriguing, right?

But as a parent, my curiosity shifted from a playful interest in these haunted lines to how do we protect our kids from the digital dangers that lurk online?

I'm sure I'm not the only one who worries about what our kids might stumble upon and if that can really harm them. That's why I'm so glad I found AirDroid Parental Control.

It's basically like a digital safety net for the modern world, and with calls & messages monitoring, app-blocking, location tracking, and screen time management features, I can really breathe calmly knowing that I have all the necessary tools by my side to keep my kids safe.

The internet is the unknown like any haunted phone line if we are not careful. The service of AirDroid allows me to be one step ahead and thus be sure that indeed, just set limits and know they're not dialing something that might just be harmful. 

Conclusion: Should You Call Them?

So, should you call these lines? Well, you have to decide. The excitement of calling a haunted number, the unknown, is enticing. However, all said and done; sometime's the scariest things are not what we can see or hear, but rather what we cannot explain, leaving us questioning reality.

If you're feeling particularly brave, then by all means, dial away, but remember some mysteries are better left unsolved.

What happens if I call 666-666-6666?

Elsa

Dialling this notorious number frequently results in uncanny silence or just no response at all, making you question its authenticity.

What are some real-life examples of haunted phone numbers?

Elsa

Numbers such as 666-666-6666, 1-000-000-0000, or the Sadako Number are all fettered with rumors of their connection to some ghostly or at least creepy experience.

Can these numbers be linked to actual paranormal experiences?

Elsa

Some of the stories are just legends, but there are even people who swear to have heard strange noises or rather eerie voices just after dialing.

What is the scariest phone number to call?

Elsa

Opinions vary, but many consider 666-666-6666 or the Zozo Number the most chilling due to their haunting backstories and ominous connections.