Area code 262 — Kenosha, Wisconsin

Where is area code 262?

Area code 262 is in Kenosha, Wisconsin, covering Kenosha and surrounding communities in Wisconsin. All 262 numbers are on Central Time.

Is area code 262 a scam?

No. Area code 262 is a legitimate area code serving Kenosha since 1999. Scammers spoof caller ID to display 262 numbers, which is why complaints exist against a code that is itself genuine.

Neighbour spoofing is the reason a local-looking number is not a guarantee. A caller anywhere in the world can display a 262 number, and the number they display may belong to a real business in Kenosha that has nothing to do with the call.

• ·Area code 262 had 338 different numbers reported for spam calls in the 30 days to 28 July 2026.
• ·Area code 262 ranks 206th of 331 US geographic area codes by spam complaint volume.
• ·Of the 381 complaints about area code 262 in the 30 days to 28 July 2026, 63% were reported as a recorded message or robocall.
• ·The most reported subject on area code 262 is medical & prescriptions, appearing in 14% of its complaints in the 30 days to 28 July 2026.

What these calls were about

Each figure is that subject’s share of every 262 complaint in the 30 days to 28 July 2026, as categorised by the consumer who reported it.

Businesses can prevent their own numbers from being mistaken for calls like these.

Why am I getting text messages from area code 262?

Texts from 262 numbers follow the same pattern as calls — mostly local businesses and services. Treat any text asking for payment or credentials as suspect regardless of the code.

The common patterns are a wrong-number opener that turns into conversation, an unsolicited job offer, and a crypto or investment tip. Do not reply, do not follow the link, and forward the message to 7726 (SPAM) to report it to your carrier.

Who works in the Kenosha area?

Area code 262 rings Milwaukee in a horseshoe of suburban and industrial counties, and Kenosha anchors its southern end. The city sits on Lake Michigan halfway between Milwaukee and Chicago, and that position defines its economy. Snap-on, the toolmaker, and Jockey International, the apparel company, are both headquartered in Kenosha. The old auto plants that built millions of cars through 1988 are gone, replaced by one of the Midwest's densest logistics corridors: Amazon, Uline, and Haribo's first North American plant all operate large facilities along Interstate 94 in Kenosha County. Elsewhere in the 262 region, Waukesha County carries heavy manufacturing with firms like Generac and GE HealthCare's Waukesha operations.

Who lives in the 262 region

Kenosha's population is just under 100,000, at 99,372 in 2024 per DataUSA, with a median age of 37.1. The 2024 median household income was $71,239 and the median property value $225,200, figures propped up by residents who live in Wisconsin and commute to Illinois jobs. About 19% of residents are Hispanic per 2024 DataUSA data, a share that has grown with the county's logistics boom.

What a 262 number signals to a caller

A number in area code 262 reads as southeastern Wisconsin without being Milwaukee proper, since the code was split from 414 in 1999 specifically to separate the ring counties from the city. Callers describe phone habits in Kenosha, Wisconsin as direct and unfussy, in the general Upper Midwest mold. The region is on Central time, one hour behind the Chicago customers many Kenosha firms serve, which trips up scheduling more often than anyone admits.

Questions