How to Find Out Who a Phone Number Belongs To

In recent years, there has been a substantial rise in phone scams, with some insiders estimating a surge of over 400%. Further predictions indicate that nearly half of all incoming cell phone calls are potentially scams.

In the current cellular landscape, knowing who is calling and for what purpose is vital. Technology has advanced caller ID and other features, making avoiding scams, connecting with others, and verifying business information much easier. There are now many more free and paid options to search for specific numbers, services, and other information on your phone.

How To Identify The Owner Of A Phone Number

Technology has made the process of finding a public phone number easier than ever before. In this digital age, our identities are tied to a phone number; whether it is an old friend trying to reconnect or a business trying to sell vacuums, it is crucial to know who they are and how to deal with the number.

Finding a phone number, whether public or private, means going online and accessing public records and their associated phone numbers.

• A publicly listed phone number is readily available through online directories and is easily found by anyone.
• Privately listed numbers are those that are left off online directories either through the owner's discretion or a company policy. A call will appear as a "private caller".

Several methods exist for checking the ownership of a single phone number, such as a Google search, any number of caller ID apps, and a reverse lookup.

Reverse lookup tools are ideal for finding ownership records of a phone number. Input the number, and the service searches through its online database to find a match. Reverse phone services scan vast information stored in public records, phone carrier databases, social media platforms, and other online resources.

• BeenVerified is an online search service providing background checks and phone searches for a fee.
• Whitepages is the online version of a phone book providing reverse searching free of charge.
• Truecaller is one of the most popular smartphone apps providing reverse phone searching, call-blocking, call-recording, and other services.

Online Directories and Search Engines

Searching for a phone number on search engines such as Google, Bing, or any of the social media platforms may provide the information you seek. Discover if any of these sources offer additional search operators, such as a keyword or area code. Services will invariably offer more details, including the name or address, if available.

Identify the Company Behind the Phone Number

Phone carrier lookup provides a free and easy way to check any carrier and country to see where the phone number is allocated, either AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and so on. Use the IPQS (IPQuality Score) tool to search cellular, VOIP, and landlines, in any country. The tool provides geographic data, service providers, and time zones. IPQS connects directly to the carrier's backbone to provide the latest information.

Use Caller ID and Call Blocking Apps

Technology is keeping pace with the skyrocketing rise of caller spoofing and scamming with the use of call blocking and caller ID applications. Truecaller, Hiya, and Nomorobo apps identify single phone numbers by accessing crowd-sourced database information and carrier-sourced data points, allowing the user to report spam numbers. This information is then added to a collective list known for housing spam and other unwanted phone numbers.

Caller ID information comes from CNAM. (caller ID name) CNAM links phone information to names or business names.

How To Find Out Who Owns a Phone Number For Free

Tracing a phone number back to its source comes with the potential for privacy loss and the risk of losing personal information. The use of data collection technologies can lead to identity theft caused by unsecured companies and governmental agencies.

One of the best free reverse phone services is USPhoneBook.com. The service is extremely fast with its initial information. Use the app's paid service with inputs for name and address. The service provides billions of data points to search through.

Search Social Media and Messaging Apps

Use social media platforms such as Facebook and LinkedIn to find users with a phone number. These platforms also provide deep background information if the user has allowed that option in their profile. Some social media platforms require a phone number or email to sign up. Telegram is a robust app for searching if a user can find the right combination of keywords and user names, which may take more than a few days to learn.

Use popular messaging apps such as iMessage, WhatsApp, and Facebook Messenger as additional sources for finding the information needed. However, messaging apps are invariably light on fundamental user information.

Check Scam And Spam Reporting Websites

If a number has been flagged as spam, it will appear on applications that collect these numbers as a deterrent for future use. Applications such as 800Notes and WhoCallsMe gather spam numbers while storing them in a database. When users want to reverse search a number, the applications compare the number to a block list and display the results. The database of phone numbers is comprised of telemarketers, survey companies, and scam artists who never leave a message, and calls are split-second affairs.

Valuable Information can be gleaned from these applications; however, users should proceed with caution. Personal information is often required to access these services.

Legal Considerations When Searching For a Phone Number's Owner

Accessing personal information online always carries the specter of respecting privacy laws. There must be a legitimate reason for any person to access a database of names, numbers, addresses, and other personal information.

In all the fine print at the bottom of a webpage, clever webmasters spell this out for the unwitting user. Some sites require prior consent before accessing sensitive information, and without this consent, there could be serious legal repercussions. Always check the governing laws of the land before searching. Most websites with deep personal information available will have consent laws clearly displayed on the home page.

Businesses and engaged individuals always need the resources to search for phone numbers of clients, old connections, and anyone who makes a spam call. There is plenty of help to find the information needed, no matter whether it is public or private information.

Take full advantage of the available resources that have massive databases and resources to search anywhere in the world for a specific piece of information. Search engines, social media platforms, message apps, and reverse lookup tools are readily available.