Many people have encountered a question: how to check if a phone number is real. When a missed phone number doesn’t have a country code but no spam flag, like this Reddit user experienced¹, is it a legitimate number or a scam? Should I call back? Don’t worry, this post will show ways to help you check if a phone number is real.

Find Phone Number Owner

How to check if a phone number is real

The question ‘How to check if a phone number is real’ is currently trending. I understand that some people are concerned about potential scam calls. However, there are methods available to address this issue. Here’s how:

1. Google® the phone number

Google it when you’re not sure if it’s a real phone number. As one of the biggest search engines, people can find fake phone numbers on Google and there’s a chance you can find the truth with a simple search. It’s also the easiest way to check if a phone number is real for free.

But you might feel confused when your online search turns up empty. Take this user for example, no online data was available, yet the last 4 digits seemed oddly familiar.² A decisive trick is to check the phone number’s area codes. In this case, the user discovered that the area code didn’t match their country, indicating a potential scam call. If it’s an important phone call, trust me, they’ll find a way to reach you.

But, if you’re curious about the answer, maybe you can use other methods to continue investigating.

2. Use a phone validator

Phone number validation is as fast as calling the phone number. It may cost you a little, but it would check public and proprietary databases to get the most current and accurate information about a phone number. What’s more, you can check phone numbers in bulk with a phone number validator if you’re running a business and want to check your customer’s contact list.

All you have to do is find a reliable phone validator and then follow the instructions to finish the process. You’ll get the result easily.

3. Use reverse phone lookup services

Reverse phone number lookup services are tools that help you find out who owns this phone number and you’ll find out if it’s a real phone number.

Intelius® would be the first option to choose when tracing a phone number. It’s a people search portal to find out the owner of a phone number. It searches records from available public sources, all searches are private and its site is encrypted for security. You can search to find the information you need quickly and safely.

Note that a fake phone number cannot be traced. For example, this user tried to figure out who owns this phone number. After trying a reverse phone number lookup service, the unknown number appears to be a US cellular burner phone number, which is untraceable.³ It’s because burner numbers or VOIP numbers were not assigned to anyone. So when the reverse phone search doesn’t return any results, that could be a sign that you’re searching for a fake phone number.

1) Go to the Intelius Official Website.

2) Choose the search type: name, phone number, and address, then enter the information and click Search.

3) Within seconds, Intelius will search to find available public record info associated with the search subject. To discover additional information about the owner of a phone number, such as birth record info, click “background report” when available on the sidebar of the phone report.
To access the report, you will need to purchase a membership plan that best fits your needs.

Check the owner’s name by SocialCatfish

If the phone owner’s name is common, it could be difficult to remember who the owner is. Having an image of the phone owner could certainly help identify them. Social Catfish is a reverse phone number lookup service that also provides a unique powerful photo search. You can find the phone number owner’s name as well as their photos. In addition, it also has a VOIP number warning function.

1) Go to Social Catfish.

2) Enter a phone number and click Search.

3) It might take a few minutes for Social Catfish to search the database. Once done, unlock the profile and get the information you need.

Conclusion

In conclusion, verifying the authenticity of a phone number is crucial in today’s digital age where scams and fraudulent activities are prevalent. By utilizing the methods discussed in this article and staying informed about the latest scams, we can better protect our privacy, financial well-being, and overall peace of mind in the digital realm.

1. r/scambait [dragonflea1998]. (2023, December 21). is this phone number a scam? [Online forum post]. Reddit.
   https://www.reddit.com/r/scambait/comments/18n5trn/is_this_phone_number_a_scam/ ↩︎
2. Is this a scam? [Stitcher]. (2022, January 13). Odd phone number. [Online forum post]. Askaboutmoney. https://www.askaboutmoney.com/threads/odd-phone-number.226082/ ↩︎
3. Off-Topic Discussion [Mndsm]. (2020, August 4). Is there an actual free reverse phone number lookup? [Online forum post]. GrassrootsMotorsports. https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/off-topic-discussion/is-there-an-actual-free-reverse-phone-number-lookup/175406/page1/ ↩︎

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