Phone number guides by topic
RReverse lookup
What a phone number can reveal about its owner, and why landline, mobile and internet numbers behave so differently.
FFree ways to identify a caller
Voicemail, search engines, your carrier's caller ID and other no-cost checks to try first.
PPeople-search services
What these sites compile, how accurate they tend to be, and what the law says you can't use them for.
ORemove your listing
A step-by-step routine for opting out of people-search sites and keeping your number off them.
BBlock spam calls
Carrier filters, built-in phone settings and the National Do Not Call Registry, and what each one can't stop.
SCommon phone scams
Government impersonators, fake fraud alerts, one-ring calls, delivery texts, tech support and grandparent scams.
CCaller ID spoofing
Why the number on your screen can be fake, and what STIR/SHAKEN call authentication does about it.
WIf you were scammed
Who to contact in the first hour, in what order, and where to report it.
AArea codes and a number checker
How a US number is built, which codes are special, and a format checker that runs in your browser.
What to do when an unknown number calls
- Let unknown numbers go to voicemail. Someone with a real reason to call will usually leave a message. Scam robocalls mostly hang up.
- Don't trust the caller ID by itself. The name and number on your screen can be faked, so a call showing your bank's number can still come from a criminal. Read how caller ID spoofing works.
- Hang up and dial back on a number you already know. If someone claims to be your bank, a government agency or a relative in trouble, end the call and contact them yourself using the number on your card, a statement, an official website or your own contacts list.
What a reverse phone lookup can and can't find
In the US there is no single public database that links every phone number to a name. Old landline listings were printed in phone books, but most mobile numbers never were, and internet calling numbers can be created and dropped in minutes.
So a lookup sometimes returns a full name and address and sometimes only a carrier and a city. The reverse lookup guide explains where the data comes from and how to judge whether a result is likely to be current.
If the number belongs to someone who is threatening or harassing you, keep records and contact local police. Law enforcement can get subscriber records from a carrier through legal process. A lookup website can't.
Why this site exists
Search results for any phone number are crowded with sites that promise to reveal "everything" about the caller. Some are useful, many overpromise, and a few exist mainly to collect your own details. These guides set out what's realistic, what's free and where the legal limits are, so you can decide what's worth your time.
Common questions about unknown callers
Is there a free reverse phone lookup?
There are several free checks: voicemail, a search engine, your carrier's spam label and caller name display. They are listed in free ways to identify a caller. No free public directory covers every US mobile number.
Should I call back an unknown number?
Not straight away. Let it go to voicemail first, and be careful with area codes you don't recognize, since some belong to Caribbean countries and calling back can cost international rates.
Can the number on my screen be fake?
Yes. Caller ID can be spoofed to show any number, including your bank's or a government agency's. Hang up and call back on a number you already know.