Getting calls from phone numbers you don’t know? It might belong to a scammer trying to trick you into giving your personal information or money. With countless strategies scammers use, answering calls from unknown numbers, particularly those from an area code you don’t know, poses a risk.
However, you don’t necessarily need to pick up to know a caller’s intentions. There are other ways to tell whether a call is spam or genuine. Doing a reverse phone lookup can help you find out if the caller has bad intentions.
In this article, we’ll cover how you can do a phone number lookup to discover if a caller is a scammer. We’ll also provide helpful tips on detecting scammer phone numbers.
How to Perform a Scammer Phone Number Lookup
Also known as a phone number search, reverse phone number lookup tools can help you locate the identity of a caller. To run a scammer phone number lookup, you only need to use the phone number you already have unless the caller hides their phone number.
If you suspect someone calling you with a hidden phone number is a scammer, you should never answer the call. Scammers often hide their caller identity to ensure their potential victims have no way of contacting them. It is a standard tactic phone scammers employ to avoid trouble.
Nonetheless, you don’t need to answer calls to know if there’s a scammer on the other end of the phone. You can perform a reverse phone lookup to know the caller’s intentions without the need to actually pick up their call in the first place.
Guide to an Is This Phone Number a Scammer Lookup
Below, you’ll find a step-by-step guide on performing a scammer phone number lookup.
- Use a reverse phone lookup tool like UnMask.com’s free number search.
- Enter the phone number on the search bar to perform a lookup.
- Check the results to discover the caller’s identity and criminal records.
Note that not all phone number lookup tools let you know who owns a phone number for free. That’s why we recommend using UnMask.com to learn a caller’s identity, as well as other details that can hint if they are a scammer, such as criminal records.
The free reverse phone number lookup tool above will also enable you to authenticate calls from companies, not just individuals. You’ll see the complaints against the company, such as unwanted robocalls and text complaints filed with the FCC.
All these will help you determine if a phone number is a scammer. You’ll also avoid harassers, whether telemarketing calls or individuals constantly calling you, by doing a free number lookup.
Tips for Detecting Scammer Calls
While performing a reverse search scammer lookup is the best way to identify phone scams, you can also look for signs to detect such calls before performing one. Below, you’ll get expert insights into detecting scammer calls.
1) Unfamiliar Area Codes
If the call you’re getting is from an unfamiliar area code, it can be a scam call. There are area codes particularly associated with scammers. These area codes belong to countries outside the US that use the same country code, so they appear like any other call.
Avoid these calls from the following area codes.
- 268 – Antigua and Barbuda
- 284 – British Virgin Islands
- 767 – Commonwealth of Dominica
- 809/829/849 – Dominican Republic
- 473 – Grenada
- 876 – Jamaica
- 664 – Montserrat
- 232 – Sierra Leone
- 649 – Turks and Caicos Islands
2) Calls From “Government Agencies”
Government agencies rarely call people directly, especially if there hasn’t been a prior notice via mail or other means.
If you’re getting a random call from government agencies like the Internal Revenue Service, there’s likely a scammer on the other end impersonating the government. It is best to verify the legitimacy of such calls before providing any personal information.
3) Calls Outside of Regular Business Hours
Phone scammers can call from any part of the world. If you’re getting an “important” call from an organization or government agency outside regular business hours, such as very early in the morning or late at night, they are likely a scammer.
Protect Yourself From Phone Scams
Phone scammers have numerous tactics, but you aren’t empty-handed either. You can perform a reverse phone lookup to identify phishing calls. These online tools will also inform you if the caller is someone you know, making it possible to detect both scammers and genuine calls. In addition to the tips we’ve provided above, it is by far the best way to protect yourself from phone scams.
