What do you typically do when you receive a call from an unidentified number or come across a missed call from an unfamiliar source? Many of us instinctively return the call, thinking it's from a friend, family member, or someone we know. However, this approach may not always be ideal, as there is a possibility of encountering a scammer or hacker on the opposite side of the conversation. In such cases, exploring ways to identify the caller associated with the phone number is advisable.
A number of online tools are available to help you retrieve information about a phone number and possibly identify the owner. Here are the five best sites to help find out who called you.
Location: USA only
WhoCallMe is a highly acclaimed website for phone number lookup that allows users to swiftly detect and block potential threats. Designed for quick searches, this optimized platform generates relevant results within seconds when you enter the target phone number in the search box.
Moreover, the WhoCallMe website offers detailed reports compiled from publicly available information. By simply providing the phone number, users can ascertain the caller's identity and retrieve extensive information, including civil records, criminal records, and sex offender data, if applicable.
Location: International
This service is your most reliable option. EmobileTracker is specially designed to trace mobile numbers and can potentially provide you with the owner's name, location, and telecom provider. We tested it, and it delivered. It provides you with the owner's name, location, and telecom provider, along with other relevant details like network type and time zone. It's certainly worth a try if other similar services don't work for you.
Location: International
The NumLookup service is built on direct partnerships with major telecom companies throughout the world, including AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. Whenever someone inputs a phone number, they initiate a real-time API request to determine the owner's name. Most people have reported that NumLookup consistently works fairly well and accurately identifies the location of the phone number and the name of the owner.
Location: USA only
Unlike other websites mentioned on the list, WhatIsThisNumber stands out for its exclusive 'who called me' service, which is completely free of charge. Using this platform, you can determine the identity and type of any phone number, whether it is a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), mobile, or landline.
Moreover, WhatIsThisNumber.com employs a state-of-the-art search algorithm that rapidly detects relevant background details associated with your search. This allows you to quickly determine the identity, email ID, alternative contact details, and social media profiles of the individual who contacted you.
This smartphone app has grown in popularity since it can display the caller's name even if they are not in your contact book. It functions using mobile data or WiFi, but if you're not interested in using the app, you can always turn to the TrueCaller website for an online check to identify unknown phone numbers. Accessing the results, however, requires signing in with an email address.
Truecaller offers more than just the ability to match names and phone numbers—it also provides a powerful call-blocking feature that keeps pesky spam callers and marketers from disturbing you.
Limitations of Conducting an Online Phone Number Search
It's important to note here that while several online tools can be helpful in identifying unknown numbers, they are not foolproof, and the success of finding relevant information depends on various factors, including the availability and accuracy of the data in their databases. You may encounter certain restrictions that can limit your success in finding the desired information. Some of these restrictions include:
1. Unlisted Numbers: Lookup sites may not have access to databases containing information on unlisted numbers. If the number in question is unlisted or not publicly available, the site may not be able to provide any relevant details about the owner.
2. Privacy Settings: Some people choose to keep their phone numbers private and restrict their information from being freely accessible online. In such cases, reverse lookup sites may fail to retrieve any personal details associated with the unknown number.
3. Incomplete Databases: Lookup sites rely on comprehensive and up-to-date databases to provide accurate information. However, these databases may not always be complete or regularly updated. As a result, the site may not have the necessary data for certain phone numbers, making it difficult to identify the caller.
4. VoIP and Disposable Numbers: With the rise of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services and disposable phone numbers, it can be challenging to trace a caller's identity using a reverse lookup. As these services permit users to create temporary or virtual phone numbers, it can be difficult to obtain accurate and reliable information about their owners.
