Phones make it possible for us to communicate long distance. Businesses rely on phones to contact customers and clients, and we use phones every day to maintain relationships with the people we love.
Unfortunately, there are also people out there using phones for other reasons. Any phone owner has experienced unwanted calls from unknown numbers, and we don’t know what their intentions are. In 2020, the FTC received over 2.2 million fraud reports, stating that people have lost nearly $3.3 billion to phone scams. Luckily, tools like phone number searches can give us some peace of mind.
A phone number search, or reverse phone lookup, allows users to access information to reveal the true identity of a caller. These phone number search services use publicly available information to gather details about the registered phone users.
When the recipient of a call can identify the area code and basic background information associated with a number, they’re no longer left in the dark whenever the phone rings. In this modern world, there are several ways that phone search services can be of use. Let's find out more.
Typically, running a reverse phone lookup is simple. Just type the phone number with the area code into the space provided and press ‘Enter.’ The service will immediately tell you who the phone is registered to, and where it was registered originally. Some of the details that are displayed include the caller’s address, full name, public records, and email address.
Reverse phone lookup services grant access to detailed information about a caller by simply searching the number. Anyone can carry out a phone search to answer the following question: who is calling me?
A phone number is a distinctive sequence of numbers assigned to a person. Using a system of destination code routing, phone numbers are essentially an address. In other words, phone numbers serve as unique identifiers for each one of us.
In the United States, we use fixed-length numbers. The number of endpoints dictates the necessary length of the number. There are also “speed calling” and “shorthand” numbers that can automatically be translated to specific phone numbers before the calls are connected.
A phone number can tell us a lot about a person. For starters, it can give up its name and basic biodata of a person because it was registered with the proper authorities after they purchased it. Phone numbers are often the gateway to our social media accounts, as most platforms require users to set up two-step authentication that is often linked to their phone.
Yes, VoIP numbers are regulated and can be searched for on phone number lookup services. Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) numbers are numbers allocated to subscribers to use simultaneously on different devices. This is not the same case as telephone numbers, which are often allocated to specific phone lines. VoIP numbers facilitate the transmission of voice communications and video sessions over Internet Protocol networks, like the internet.
Instead of using regular phone lines, subscribers can use broadband internet connections. Using VoIP numbers comes with its benefits, including:
As impressive as the use of VoIP is, there are some limitations to this improved communication system. These include:
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) does regulate VoIP service providers, but not as closely as landline and cell phone carriers. However, all VoIP phone service providers are required by the FCC to comply with the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA). The CALEA states that VoIP services must fulfill all legal requests on subscribers, meaning that VoIP numbers are still subject to phone number searches.
Yes, there are ways to look up someone’s phone number for free. However, free phone number services return little details. With a free phone number search service, anyone can look up details of landline numbers, phone numbers, and non-published numbers. Free reverse phone search services also allow users to look through comments and complaints posted about a specific number online.
Free phone number search services are widely available online using a simple Google search. One can also access these free phone lookup services on their smartphones by downloading them from Apple Store for iPhones and Google Play Store for Android.
A person might need to find information on a suspicious number, avoid a suspected phone scam, or get some background information on a new potential business partner. The top five reasons one may find a phone number search useful are:
One of the top uses of a phone number search is identifying fraudulent callers impersonating reputable companies. Victims of these scams might get strange calls from some people who claim to be their bank agents, credit card agents, or even scammers claiming to be Amazon customer service representatives. They will demand personal information associated with the accounts in an attempt to steal it and use it for themselves.
Running the phone number of anyone requesting your personal information over the phone can offer further details about these callers, and allows those on the receiving end to verify the caller's authenticity before they release any confidential information to them.
Phone number searches are helpful for searching area codes that might look sketchy. An area code is the first three-digits of a standard 10-digit US telephone number.
It usually comes in this format: +1 XXX
The North American Numbering Plan has designed these area codes to distinguish the Numbering Plan Areas in a state. If someone receives a call from a number with a strange area code, they can quickly look it up on a phone number search engine.
Another use of a phone number search is to find out the background information of a specific caller. An employer might need to run some quick checks on his potential employees to hire the right hands.
While a background check may be in order, a phone number search can serve as a quick way of getting the information one needs about a person. These background details include the caller’s address, full name, criminal records, email address, and financial records.
By simply looking up someone’s phone number on phone number search services, a user can find another route of communication. Phone number search services offer other phone numbers associated with a person, their email address, and their mailing address.
Safety and security are arguably the most beneficial commodities that a phone number search can offer. These services can help parents keep track of their children’s safety by running the phone numbers they are in contact with. Teens can even use these services to ensure that the numbers they’re texting are who they say they are. In suspicious partners and spouses, a reverse phone number lookup helps clear any doubt of someone’s identity and history. Business owners can also benefit by running the number of a potential partner or investor before signing onto contracts with them.
A real sense of security is hard to come by, but phone number searches make it easy and effortless to find out the exact identity and history of callers and texters. Using phone number search services can help you stay one step ahead of scammers and fraudsters, or just feed your curiosity.