One of the greatest benefits of technology is the gift of control we get from using smart gadgets. Think about it, streaming sites give us control over what to watch, unlike conventional media. Music playlists give us control over what we listen to, unlike radio and so on. Similarly, caller ID applications allow us to choose whether to pick up or ignore the call. Again, getting a call from a stranger only to find out they are trying to scam you is not news anymore.
If a call goes unanswered, it is only human to feel the need to find out what the call was about. It could be a call from a spammer, an old friend, a potential client, a telemarketing company, or robot calls. Identifying a caller beforehand helps you decide whether to call back, block the number, answer, or ignore.
Table of Contents
Look Through Your Phone
If a new number calls you and you want to know the person’s identity, the most basic and least complicated place to start searching is on your phone. Compare numbers with your call log history or messaging app. This person might have previously called, but you forgot to add the number to the phonebook. They could also have left a note on your messaging app advising you on who they are and why they tried to reach you. If you do not have any results from this simple search, consider checking out more advanced options.
Google is a global search engine that collects information from many databases and web pages. There is a considerable chance you will get quality results by performing a search on a number on Google through a reverse search. You do not have to spend money on the reverse search function. However, it only works when you have the complete cell number. All you have to do is key it in and click search.
Check On Social Media Platforms
Most people have social media accounts associated with a cell number or email account. Though most social media platforms can perform this search successfully, Facebook is the simplest place to start looking and has the most results as it has many users. The entire profile will pop up if the number is linked to an account.
Search On Spam Call Websites
Scammers can call on behalf of popular companies to rip trusting people off. Spam call websites are legitimate internet sites where victims report phone numbers used by spammers who tried to deceive them into fraud or malicious attacks. By searching for a number in spam call websites, you can see if it has been reported before as unsafe from a telemarketer or unsolicited surveys. These websites are safe and free. They also have options for free protection against spam calls for Android devices.
Use Reverse Phone Lookup Services
Reverse phone lookup services can scan multiple public records to find a phone number and the person who is associated with it. When you reverse search a phone number, you will get results that will bring up the owner’s identity and something related that could potentially lead you to them. Some sites and apps that do reverse searches are free, but you might have to pay for some inbuilt features to improve your results.
Truecaller is an application that always shows a caller’s identity. It is a simple app with features like automatic blocking of spammed texts and calls, flash calls, flash messages, and call recording. Truecaller only works if there is already a number in your phone’s database or when displayed on a caller screen. It can thwart telemarketers and spammers, block numbers from your local database and detect robot callers.
PhoneHistory is a free tool that you can use to find out who is calling you by searching for the owner using the phone number. You can even get access to such information as a person’s age, address, date of birth, email address, marital status, and education.
Utilize People Search Sites
People search sites are mainly used to find information about individuals, such as address, education, and date of birth. But they are also super beneficial if you want to find out who is calling you.
Truthfinder
Truthfinder helps find the person and their details by scanning through all their public records. Truthfinder is a free app compatible with any phone and tablet and has built-in-app features to purchase.
Instant Checkmate
Similar to Truthfinder, Instant Checkmate draws its search results from public records. The results are instant and authentic, showing the owner’s identity and other government records such as criminal records, vehicles, and properties owned. If you have identified the person and would not want to get any calls or texts from them, the app has a block and report option.
NumLooker
If you are using NumLooker, you do not have to pick up the phone to know who is calling. You just need to have the phone number on your phone already. There is an option to manually look it up by keying it in. NumLooker also has an automated search option that looks up every new number. The automatic search immediately shows the caller ID on the caller screen as soon as the call goes through.
Fast People Search
Fast People Search is a website conducting confidential searches based on cell numbers and other personal information. The website provides extensive data on a person through a reverse search of a number. This data broker service compiles data from different government records and gives a thorough report.
Conclusion
Answering calls you did not expect might cost you a big deal. Most of them are not worth answering. However, second-guessing every new number is uncomfortable. Ignoring phone calls is also not a great decision — what if you miss an important call?
Being sure about whoever is on the other end of the line is the best method of sorting out which calls to ignore and which to respond to. The above tips are going to assist you in finding a sorting criterion without having to dial the number back.
