The Most Effective Scammer Phone Number Lookup Tools in 2024
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In your life, you’ve probably received at least one spam call. No one wants to receive such phone calls, but can you stop them? Or at least know who’s behind these calls?
Scam calls are rampant. On a global scale, a person may receive an average of 18 monthly scam calls. Without knowing who you’re talking to, you’re blind to what will happen next.
In this article, discover the most effective scammer phone number lookup tools you can use to know who is behind that scam phone call.
Best Scammer Phone Number Lookup Tools
Phone scams are a severe American issue. In 2022, $8.8 billion has been lost to fraud in the US, according to the Federal Trade Commission. That’s because about 55% of calls are scam calls.
To fight this, vigilance alone won’t work. You need an effective scam detector to help you identify when the other person on the line is a scammer.
A reverse phone lookup tool can spot these unknown callers. They look through billions of records to verify a person’s identity through a single number.
There may be close to a hundred lookup tools available online. But the following are some of the best you’ll find in the market.
Spokeo
Spokeo aggregates and organizes data from available online and offline sources.
Once you enter a suspected scammer’s phone number into Spokeo, it looks up millions of records. It sifts through mailing lists, social media profiles, and online databases. It also examines tax, property, crime, and local records.
Instead of a free trial, Spokeo offers basic search results for free. A 1-month membership costs $19.95, while a 3-month membership costs $14.95. You may also opt for a professional account that’s worth $69.95 per month.
The company doesn’t offer its services to people outside of the US. It can’t look for international scammers, either.
BeenVerified
BeenVerified is a safe people-finding tool that scours public records and other private databases from a phone number input.
The platform provides a person’s details based on their social media and website accounts. It can also provide personal records such as:
- Criminal records
- Property records
- Education
- Assets
- Employment
- Location
Pricing plans start with a $1 trial period for seven days. You can also opt for their monthly-paid subscriptions that range from $17.48 to $26.89.
And much like Spokeo, BeenVerified can only access records from possible scammers who live in the US.
Instant Checkmate
When casting a wide net for an unknown caller, use Instant Checkmate. This platform takes phone numbers and focuses on examining public records, especially demographic and census data.
Instant Checkmate is also one of the more cost-effective people finders because it saves money in the long run. It has a five-day trial period for $1 and a monthly offer of $35.12. However, you pay for an unlimited number of background check reports for the price of one.
Intelius
If you’re in a hurry, choose Intelius. This speedy people finder has a Fast Pass feature that looks up phone numbers quicker than most tools.
Intelius also searches the internet for information about a person and compiles it into a report. But it does so via its rush process. So, it can deliver without the usual waiting time.
Instead of negotiating through subscription costs, Intelius offers up-front prices based on your needs. They offer a six-day reverse phone lookup + people search promo for only $0.95.
Monthly memberships are worth $24.86. And they also have add-on services that cost below $10 per month.
Intelius doesn’t offer services that can track down scammers outside the US.
Using Social Media
You can also start your sleuthing through social media since everyone has an account on at least one platform nowadays.
But you can’t look up phone numbers via the search bar except for Facebook. You’ll have to connect your contacts to a social platform using your phone.
Note that all social media sites allow users to turn off the public viewing of their phone numbers. So overall, they’re not the most effective phone number lookup tool if you are looking for scammers, but you can try them.
Save the scammer’s number on your phone. Open Instagram. Tap the menu bar at the right. Go to Settings and then to Account. Scroll down to Contacts syncing. Turn on Connect contacts. Instagram will sync with all the numbers on your phone and determine if they have IG accounts.
Facebook has a more versatile search feature. Just type the number on the search bar. The results will show you a list of people, pages, and posts associated with the number.
Add the number to your Contacts. Open Twitter and access Privacy and safety. Then tap Discoverability and Contacts. Turn on the option to sync your address book contacts. If the person has a Twitter account, you’ll see it there.
TikTok
TikTok takes the same approach as IG and Twitter. Sync your contacts using the Profile button. Tap Find Friends. Locate the Contacts category and tap Find. The social media app will sync with your contacts, and you’ll find if the number is connected to a TikTok account.
Common Scamming Methods to Watch Out For
A little phone call can go a long way, especially for con artists. Here are a few of the most prevalent scams that have conned their victims millions of dollars. Watch out for each one.
- Advance fee scam. A scammer asks for fees upfront for goods or services they will never send you.
- Lottery, sweepstakes, or competition scams. An unknown caller reveals you’ve won an overseas lottery or sweepstakes but then asks for a hefty processing fee to release it.
- Romance or dating scams. The fraudster targets their victims on social media or dating sites. They convince you to have a relationship with them, but they’d be asking for more and more money in the long run.
- Banking, credit card, or online account scams. A scammer calls you and pretends to be from your bank or an online payment service. They then proclaim that your account has problems, so you must verify it with all your bank details, including your passwords and PINs.
- Employment or investment scams. The caller claims a job or investment opportunity for you with significant returns. The only catch is that you’d have to buy your way in.
- Charity scams. Scammers pretend to be part of a big charitable organization and ask for a donation. These are scams that pop up during the holidays or after natural disasters.
On a Final Note
Ultimately, vigilance paired with the correct tools can save you from a substantial financial loss. Phone scams may not go away soon. They’re tricky and slippery. But you can protect yourself with lookup tools and a little social media know-how.
Don’t forget to report uncovered scammers to the authorities to prevent them from victimizing another living soul. And always remember; stay alert.
