<P> Telephone numbers with the prefix 555 are widely used for fictitious telephone numbers in North American television shows, films, video games, and other media in order to prevent practical jokers and curious callers from bothering real people and organisations by telephoning numbers they see in works of fiction; generally, in North America, a number with 555 as a prefix will not connect to a real person . </P> <P> Not all numbers that begin with 555 are fictional: for example, 555 - 1212 is one of the standard numbers for directory assistance throughout the United States and Canada . In fact, only 555 - 0100 through 555 - 0199 are now specifically reserved for fictional use; the other numbers have been reserved for actual assignment . The entire 555 exchange is reserved in all overlay North American toll - free area codes (800, 844, 855, 866, 877, 888) and in Canada's rarely used non-geographic area code 600 . </P>

Why do phone numbers in movies have 555