248 Area Code: Oakland County, Michigan — Location, History, Scams & Business Numbers

When people think of Metro Detroit, they often picture the city itself. But much of the region's economic strength sits in the suburbs just north of the city limits. Oakland County, Michigan, is one of the wealthiest and most business-active counties in the United States. The 248 area code is its phone identity.

The 248 area code covers a wide stretch of Metro Detroit. It runs from the lakeside communities of Bloomfield Hills to the busy retail corridors of Troy. It also spans the historic city of Pontiac and the corporate campuses of Farmington Hills and Southfield. Together, this region has a GDP that rivals whole states.

Maybe you got a call from a 248 number. Maybe you're researching Metro Detroit's telecom landscape. Or maybe you're considering a local 248 number for your business. This guide covers the territory in full — geography, history, and practical steps.

The 248 area code is a geographic telephone prefix assigned to Oakland County in southeastern Michigan, operating under the North American Numbering Plan (NANP). It serves the Metro Detroit suburbs north of the city, covering one of the most economically productive counties in the Midwest.

A 248 number tells you the call comes from — or is registered to — Oakland County and adjacent portions of Wayne County, including parts of Livonia and Northville. It is one of two area codes now serving this geography: 248 for established subscribers, and 947 as an overlay introduced in 2002 when Oakland County's dense corporate and residential base pushed 248 toward number exhaustion.

Key facts about the 248 area code:

• State: Michigan
• Primary region: Oakland County, southeastern Michigan
• Metro area: Metro Detroit (northern suburbs)
• Adjacent coverage: Portions of Wayne County (Livonia, Northville)
• Time zone: Eastern Time (ET) — UTC−5 in winter, UTC−4 in summer
• Created: May 10, 1997 (split from area code 810)
• Overlay code: 947 (introduced September 7, 2002)
• Cities served: 30+ communities across Oakland County and beyond

For the other side of this same numbering history, our 313 area code guide covers Detroit proper — the original Michigan prefix that 248 ultimately descends from.

The 248 area code covers a broad and economically diverse swath of Metro Detroit's northern suburbs. From dense urban commercial centers to affluent lakeside townships, the region ranks as one of the most prosperous in Michigan — and in the country.

Major cities and communities served by 248:

• Troy — One of Michigan's largest cities, a major corporate headquarters hub and retail center anchored by Somerset Collection, one of the Midwest's premier luxury shopping destinations
• Farmington Hills — A significant corporate and technology hub; home to several Fortune 500 regional offices and major automotive supplier campuses
• Southfield — Oakland County's most urbanized city, a dense commercial corridor with major law firms, insurance companies, and business services
• Rochester Hills — A fast-growing community with major automotive engineering operations and Oakland University
• Pontiac — The historic seat of Oakland County, a city with deep automotive manufacturing roots and active urban revitalization efforts
• Royal Oak — A vibrant cultural, dining, and entertainment hub with a strong small-business community
• West Bloomfield — Affluent lakeside communities and a high concentration of professional services firms
• Bloomfield Hills — One of the wealthiest cities per capita in the United States, home to major automotive executives and corporate leadership

The story of area code 248 spans three decades and two area code splits — a testament to Oakland County's relentless growth and economic vitality.

Michigan's original area code was 313. It was assigned in 1947 to cover the entire southeastern corner of the state, including Detroit and its suburbs. By the early 1990s, demand for phone numbers had strained 313's capacity. Business fax lines, early cellular phones, and pagers were the main drivers.

In December 1993, area code 810 split off from 313. It took over the outer suburban ring, including Oakland, Macomb, Genesee, and Lapeer counties. Area code 313 stayed with the city of Detroit and its closest-in suburbs.

Within just a few years, Oakland County's booming corporate economy exhausted even 810's capacity. On May 10, 1997, area code 248 was created in a further split from 810. It became the exclusive prefix for Oakland County and adjacent portions of Wayne County.

This two-step split — from 313 to 810 to 248 — happened within just four years. That speed shows how rapidly Oakland County was expanding its commercial and residential footprint through the 1990s.

Oakland County's density meant that even the 248 area code began running low on available numbers within five years of its creation. Rather than execute another disruptive geographic split, regulators introduced an overlay: area code 947 was assigned in 2000 and went into full service on September 7, 2002, covering the same Oakland County footprint as 248.

The overlay has two practical implications for callers and businesses. First, new subscribers in Oakland County may receive a 947 number rather than 248 — both are equally local. Second, 10-digit dialing is mandatory across the entire 248/947 region. Any call between two Oakland County neighbors requires the full area code to connect. If your business phone system or VoIP platform still defaults to 7-digit dialing for local Michigan calls, it will fail within the 248 coverage area.

The 248 area code carries a commercial weight that few suburban prefixes in America can match. Oakland County consistently records the highest gross domestic product of any county in Michigan. Its total GDP is approximately $127 billion — a figure that surpasses the entire economies of 14 U.S. states.

That single statistic makes the 248 region one of the most economically significant county-level markets anywhere in the country.

The driving force is automotive. More than 120 automotive manufacturers and suppliers maintain headquarters or major operations in Oakland County. These range from legacy Tier 1 suppliers and engineering firms to emerging electric vehicle startups and mobility technology companies.

Ford, General Motors, Stellantis, and dozens of their global partners all have a significant presence in the 248 area. That makes Oakland County the intellectual and operational center of the American auto industry.

Beyond automotive, the county has diversified into healthcare, financial services, technology, and professional consulting. That makes the 248 footprint one of the most varied and resilient business ecosystems in the Midwest.

The 248 area code is entirely legitimate. It serves millions of Oakland County residents and one of the densest concentrations of corporate offices in Michigan.

However, the region's affluence and high household incomes make it a premium target for scammers. They use neighbor spoofing to make fraudulent calls appear locally rooted.

One pattern stands out in 248-related scam activity: mortgage and financial fraud is disproportionately overrepresented. This is likely because the area's high home values and business density make financial product pitches feel more plausible to recipients.

Most frequently reported 248 scam call types:

• Mortgage loan fraud — the top complaint category at nearly 20% of 248 spam reports, with callers posing as refinancing advisors or lenders targeting homeowners in Oakland County's high-value real estate market
• Health insurance scams — fake brokers offering fraudulent coverage plans, accounting for over 10% of reported spam
• Medicare and Medicaid impersonation — targeting the region's older residents with false benefit enrollment or verification requests
• Auto warranty robocalls — a common nationwide scam amplified in the auto-industry-dense 248 region by the perception of relevance
• Credit card debt relief fraud — fake debt consolidation services charging upfront fees before disappearing

How to protect yourself from 248 scam calls:

1. 1Screen unknown 248 numbers before answering — legitimate callers leave voicemail; robocallers typically do not.
2. 2Be especially alert to financial product pitches. No legitimate mortgage lender cold-calls unsolicited — any refinancing offer from an unverified 248 number warrants independent verification.
3. 3Never share financial account details with an unsolicited caller, regardless of how professional or local they sound.
4. 4Enable carrier spam filtering. AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon all offer Michigan-compatible call screening tools that flag known 248-spoofed numbers.
5. 5Report suspicious calls to the FTC and to Michigan's Attorney General Consumer Protection division.

To file a complaint, visit reportfraud.ftc.gov.

For companies targeting Oakland County's corporate market, high-income residential base, or the broader Metro Detroit economy, a 248 local phone number provides a meaningful edge over out-of-state or toll-free alternatives.

Businesses expanding across Michigan often combine a 248 number with a 616 area code to establish local presence in both Metro Detroit and the Grand Rapids market — the state's two largest commercial regions.

Key business benefits of a 248 area code number:

• Corporate market credibility: A 248 number signals embeddedness in Oakland County's dense business ecosystem — a critical trust signal when selling to procurement officers, law firms, and automotive suppliers
• Higher answer rates: Local-appearing calls consistently outperform toll-free and out-of-state numbers in pick-up rates, especially in business-to-business contexts
• Automotive sector reach: For suppliers, consultants, and service businesses serving the auto industry, a 248 number communicates genuine regional presence in the world's most automotive-concentrated county
• Affluent residential access: Oakland County's high household incomes make it a premium market for financial services, home services, luxury retail, and healthcare
• VoIP flexibility: A cloud-hosted 248 number routes calls to any device anywhere — no Michigan office required
• SMS capability: Most VoIP platforms support two-way texting on 248 numbers for local outreach and client follow-ups
• Scalable routing: Assign multiple 248 numbers to departments, agents, or campaigns, all managed from a single dashboard

Getting a 248 local phone number is straightforward through any modern VoIP or cloud communications provider:

1. 1Select a provider with active 248 number inventory in Michigan. Prioritize platforms offering bundled voice, SMS, IVR, call recording, and CRM integration.
2. 2Search available 248 numbers. Use the provider's number browser to find available digit combinations — some platforms offer vanity pattern search for memorable numbers.
3. 3Choose a plan. Local 248 numbers typically come bundled with calling minutes, voicemail, auto-attendant, and communication analytics on monthly plans.
4. 4Configure call routing. Point your 248 number to a ring group, IVR menu, call queue, or individual extension — all managed from a web dashboard with no hardware needed.
5. 5Go live immediately. Cloud-provisioned 248 numbers activate within minutes of setup, giving your business instant Oakland County presence.

The 248 area code is more than a telephone prefix. It is the calling card of one of America's most economically powerful suburban counties.

From the auto industry campuses of Farmington Hills and Troy, to the upscale communities of Bloomfield Hills, to the revitalizing streets of Pontiac — Oakland County commands a GDP that rivals U.S. states. A 248 number puts your business in the heart of it.

For residents, understanding the scam landscape is essential for safe communication. This is especially true of the mortgage and financial fraud that disproportionately targets affluent 248 subscribers.

For businesses, a 248 local number is a direct credibility signal in a market where professional relationships and regional trust matter enormously. Establishing your 248 presence takes minutes; the commercial advantage it creates lasts far longer.

What cities are in the 248 area code?

The 248 area code primarily covers Oakland County, Michigan, including Troy, Farmington Hills, Southfield, Rochester Hills, Pontiac, Royal Oak, West Bloomfield, Bloomfield Hills, and more than 30 communities in total. It also covers portions of Livonia and Northville in adjacent Wayne County.

Is the 248 area code a scam?

No — 248 is a legitimate area code for Oakland County in Metro Detroit, used by millions of residents and businesses. However, scammers spoof 248 numbers to appear local. Mortgage fraud and health insurance scams are the most frequently reported 248 spam types. Never share personal or financial information with an unsolicited 248 caller.

What is the 947 area code, and how does it relate to 248?

Area code 947 is an overlay introduced on September 7, 2002, covering the same geographic area as 248 across Oakland County. New subscribers may receive a 947 number rather than 248, and both are equally local. All calls in the region require 10-digit dialing.

When was the 248 area code created?

Area code 248 launched on May 10, 1997, as a split from area code 810, which had itself been split from the original 313 area code in 1993. The rapid two-step split was driven by Oakland County's explosive corporate and residential growth through the 1990s.

Can a business outside Michigan get a 248 area code number?

Yes. VoIP and cloud phone providers allow any business to register a 248 number and route calls to any internet-connected device, projecting a credible Oakland County presence without requiring a physical Michigan office.