Scammer phone number lookup. How to check if a phone number is a scam (2024)

Receiving calls from unknown numbers is a common annoyance these days. While some may be telemarketers, others are scammers trying to steal your personal information and money or gain control of your devices through deceptive tactics.

Did you know?

  • On average, a person gets around 7 spam calls per month.
  • Americans receive a staggering 2.2 billion unwanted calls every month.
  • Over the last year, Americans wasted an estimated 219 million hours (9.1 million days or 301,000 months) answering spam calls.

Source: truecaller.com

Are reverse phone number lookup services of any good against scammers?

One way to check if a number is potentially a scam is to use a reverse phone number lookup service. These websites and apps allow you to enter a number and see public information associated with it, such as the registered name, location, and carrier. While some services are free, others may require a paid subscription for more detailed reports.

Alternatively, you can search the number on Google, forums, or websites like Reddit to see if others have flagged it as a suspected spam or scam number.

However, it's important to note that scammers often use technology to make their numbers appear as if they're calling from local area codes or legitimate organizations. Reverse lookup tools may not be able to identify these spoofed or unlisted numbers.

How to tell a scammer is calling you

Watch out for these red flags when you receive a call:

Before Answering:

  • International area code that looks local
  • Number doesn't match the caller ID name (e.g., says a big company but has a local number)
  • Claims to be from a government agency like the IRS or FBI (they won't call you out of the blue)
  • Caller ID shows "Scam Likely" or "Spam Risk" (your carrier has flagged it as potential spam)

After Answering:

  • The caller claims to be from a government agency, but the caller ID shows something different.
  • They say there's an issue with your computer and ask you to download software or give them access.

Related: How To Spot and Avoid Tech Support Scams

  • They want you to "verify" personal information like your Social Security Number, PINs, passwords, and bank account numbers.

What to do if you accidentally answer a scammer

If you accidentally answer a spam call, you don't need to panic. In most cases, simply answering a spam number won't put you at risk.

What you are sharing with them may or not put you at risk. The more personal data a scammer obtains, the higher your risk of identity fraud, theft, or having new credit lines opened illegally in your name.

Here are some things to consider:

1. Never give out personal or financial information to callers you can't trust. Hang up if you suspect a scam.

2. Verify their identity before providing any information. Ask for their name and extension, hang up, and call the company/agency back using their official number.

3. Silence unknown callers on your smartphone so they go straight to voicemail (check your settings for this option).

4. Use your carrier's spam blocker app to identify known scam numbers.

5. Don't call back one-ring calls—they're a common scam tactic to get you to call them.

6. Don’t give them device access or agree to anything with unsolicited callers.

Want to uncover online scammers instantly? Use Scamio, our unbeatable AI-powered tool for uncovering scams. Scamio is free and available on any device or operating system via your web browser, Facebook Messenger, and WhatsApp. Provide a description of the scam, upload an image if necessary, and send a link or text. Scamio will analyze the information and tell you whether it's a scam.

FAQ

What are "Scam Likely" calls?

Answer: "Scam Likely" is a label that may show up on your caller ID when receiving an incoming call. This indicates that your mobile carrier has identified the number as likely being used by scammers or spammers based on their database of known spam sources.

When an incoming call matches criteria associated with fraudulent activity, it will trigger the "Scam Likely" warning on the caller ID display. Calls marked "Scam Likely" should be answered with extreme caution if at all.

How can I block spam calls on my smartphone?

Answer: Most smartphones have settings to silence or block calls from unknown numbers.

On iPhones, go to Settings > Phone > Silence Unknown Callers.

On Android, it's Settings > Phone > Block Numbers. This will send any unlisted callers straight to voicemail.

Additionally, check if your mobile carrier offers a spam blocker app that can identify and block known scam numbers from ringing your phone.

I gave a scammer some of my personal data, such as my Social Security number or credit card details. What should I expect, and what should I do?

Answer: If you provided sensitive personal or financial information to someone who turned out to be a scammer, you need to act quickly to protect yourself from identity theft and fraud.

Here are some steps to take:

1) Change any compromised login credentials like usernames, passwords, and PINs immediately across all your accounts.

2) Contact your bank and major credit card companies to inform them your information was exposed. They can flag your accounts for additional monitoring and potentially issue new cards.

3) Place a fraud alert on your credit reports with the three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion). This warns creditors to take extra verification steps before opening new accounts in your name.

4) Monitor your financial statements and credit reports very closely for any suspicious unauthorized activity and report it immediately. Bitdefender Digital Identity Protection can help you, find out how, here.

Scammer phone number lookup. How to check if a phone number is a scam (2024)

FAQs

How do I check a number? ›

An online reverse phone lookup tool is a quick, easy, and legal way of doing it. With sites like Who Called Me? and Truecaller, you can just type in a phone number and you might get some details back about who owns it.

Is there a legit way to lookup a phone number? ›

With Truecaller's reverse phone lookup tool, you can now simply type the caller's number in the search bar above and find out who called you within seconds! The best part? Truecaller also tells you if the caller is a spammer.

Can you track a scammer by phone number? ›

Don't bother with “people finder” or phone number lookup services. Scammers are too smart to be tracked down via online phone number lookup services, email search tools, or “people finders” (like BeenVerified and Social Catfish) that share public records.

How do you check if a number is marked as spam? ›

On Truecaller's landing page, use the search bar to simply lookup a number. You will be asked to sign in with an email or social account in order for our system to make sure you're not a bot. From there, you are able to search for number to get the identity and identify if they are spam.

How to verify a phone number? ›

Verify Phone Numbers And Check Line Type & Carrier. Use the IPQS free phone validation tool to verify phone numbers with 99.9% accuracy to check if a phone number is real and active. Lookup any phone number with international phone validation that enables worldwide coverage.

Is there a way to check a phone number for free? ›

NumLooker offers a reverse phone number lookup service that is not only entirely free but also user-friendly. The platform guarantees the encryption and confidentiality of user information. It is capable of providing insights across an extensive array of phone number categories.

Is this phone number a scammer lookup? ›

You can now confirm whether that number is spam with Truecaller's Spam Number Lookup! Enter the number in the search bar. Truecaller will show spam stats if it's a spam number, giving a detailed breakdown of their activities.

Is there a 100% free phone lookup? ›

It's also 100% free with USPhonebook.com Our data includes residential, business, and cell phone numbers. Reverse Phone Directory contains millions of phone numbers, complete owner records, and more.

What is the best app to find who a phone number belongs to? ›

TrueCaller is popular reverse phone number lookup tool that is mainly popular among android and IOS users. Its widely popular for its comprehensive suite of features that help users identify unknown callers. It reveals the caller's name and other relevant details, even if the number isn't saved in your contacts.

How to check if a number is legit? ›

One way to check if a number is potentially a scam is to use a reverse phone number lookup service. These websites and apps allow you to enter a number and see public information associated with it, such as the registered name, location, and carrier.

What numbers should you avoid answering? ›

Things You Should Know

Ignore calls from 3-digit international area codes that are likely to be scams, including 232, 268, 284, 473, 664, 649, 767, 809, 829, 849, and 876. Be wary of calls from unknown numbers with your own area code. These may be international caller ID spoof scams that appear local.

What are some scammer phone numbers? ›

In fact, the majority of phone and SMS scams in 2022 came from only 12 phone numbers:
  • (865) 630-4266: Scammers use this number to tell victims that their Wells Fargo accounts have been locked. ...
  • (469) 709-7630: This number is associated with a package delivery scam.

How do I know if a number is a spam number? ›

If they refuse to answer, it's likely spam. Another way to determine if a call or text is spam is to look for specific patterns. For calls, look for unknown numbers, calls from numbers that have been blocked by your phone carrier, or repeated calls from the same number.

What is the 3 digit code to block spam calls? ›

Block individual numbers on Android

If you're with T-Mobile, you can also use #662# to block all suspected spam calls on your Android.

How do I remove my number from the scammer list? ›

The National Do Not Call Registry helps you reduce the number of telemarketing calls you receive. Stop unwanted sales calls by registering your phone number: Online: Visit DoNotCall.gov. By phone: Call 1-888-382-1222 or TTY: 1-866-290-4236.

How to find out who a phone number belongs to? ›

How to Find Phone Number Owner? 5 Free Methods
  1. Method 1: Use a Reverse Phone Lookup Service.
  2. Method 2: Using Truecaller App.
  3. Method 3: Find Phone Numbers on Social Media.
  4. Method 4: Check the Phone Number on the White Page Directories.
  5. Method 5: Contact Phone Carrier.
Jun 27, 2024

Does *67 still work? ›

Even with today's diverse range of communication devices, *67 still works on cell phones and landlines. No matter which device you use, whether an iPhone or Android, the code allows you to hide your phone numbers during calls. The process of using *67 is uniform across various devices.

How to check a phone number details? ›

Websites such as Truecaller, Spokeo, and Intelius offer reverse phone lookup capabilities, allowing users to enter a phone number and discover the associated name and contact details. This can be particularly useful for identifying unknown numbers or verifying the legitimacy of a contact.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Carmelo Roob

Last Updated:

Views: 5685

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (45 voted)

Reviews: 84% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Carmelo Roob

Birthday: 1995-01-09

Address: Apt. 915 481 Sipes Cliff, New Gonzalobury, CO 80176

Phone: +6773780339780

Job: Sales Executive

Hobby: Gaming, Jogging, Rugby, Video gaming, Handball, Ice skating, Web surfing

Introduction: My name is Carmelo Roob, I am a modern, handsome, delightful, comfortable, attractive, vast, good person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.