How to Check if a Phone Number is a Scam
Simple steps to verify if a phone number is linked to fraud
As leaders and innovators in the scam investigation and intelligence collection industry, Cybertrace has developed several FREE tools to assist individuals with verifying if a phone number is likely to be linked to a fraud or scam. If you want to learn how do I check if a phone number belongs to a scammer, read on!
Our solution is called the Scam Phone Number Lookup (SPNL) which can be accessed at the following webpage: https://www.cybertrace.com.au/reverse-phone-number-lookup/
Why You Should Verify a Phone Number Before Calling Back
Avoiding scams starts with a quick verification process
Times have changed from when you could receive a phone call and trust that it wasn’t a criminal on the other side attempting to scam you. Phone users now need to trust no one, and vigilance is required as even known numbers can be faked through a process known as spoofing. Complete verification of a phone number is not available to the public, however, individuals can use Cybertrace’s SPNL to identify potential risk associated with a number. Based on the SPNL result, a decision can be made as to whether you should call the number back, or not.
Signs That a Phone Number is Used by Scammers
Common red flags to watch for when receiving unknown calls
Risks associated with numbers vary as scammers use a range of tactics when contacting potential victims via phone. To avoid scammers becoming aware of our methods to detect them, we will refrain for publishing our methodology in this article. However, the SPNL will detect these red flags and let you know if there is identifiable risk.
How to Search a Phone Number Online for Scams
How do I use the SPNL tool by Cybertrace?
To search a phone number using the SPNL, visit this link: https://www.cybertrace.com.au/reverse-phone-number-lookup/ and then enter the number in the search box and click ‘Search’. The result will include both a graph and text result. The graph indicates the level of identified risk and the text will let you know basic details about the number such as the carrier, country and line type.
Can You Trace a Scammer’s Phone Number?
Understanding what’s possible and the limits of phone tracing
By searching the number alone, it is not possible for the public to trace a user’s location. This capability is only available to law enforcement and intelligence agencies in most countries. This is primarily due to the fact that the technology required to conduct a trace is expensive and privacy considerations. Likewise, most countries have legislation that prohibits the unlawful use of telecommunication systems.
Does a Phone Number’s Country Code Indicate a Scam?
Recognising high-risk international numbers linked to scams
On some occasions, the caller’s country can indicate a scam. For example, if a user received a call from Nigeria when there was no reason, they should be very cautious as this country is well known for a range of scams.
However, for the SPNL, the caller’s location is only one element that is checked for risk and the results are usually a combination of several indicators, not just the caller’s location.
How Scammers Use Spoofed Phone Numbers
Why caller ID can be misleading and how scammers fake numbers
A spoofed number is when the Caller ID is faked, and the number displayed on your phone screen is not the real number the caller is using. This makes a call appear as if it’s coming from a trusted or familiar number to deceive the recipient.
What to Do if You Receive a Call from a Suspected Scammer
Steps to protect yourself and report fraudulent phone numbers
If you suspect you have been contacted by a scammer, hang up and search the phone number using Cybertrace’s SPNL tool. This will indicate whether there are identifiable scam risks.
Can Cybertrace Help Me Find More Information About a Phone Number?
Can Cybertrace provide me with a Reverse Phone Number Lookup?
Yes, Cybertrace also has a premium version of the SPNL which is a full Reverse Search known as a Deep Scan. The information returned in the Deep Scan includes the numbers links to social media and other websites. This information can assist users identify whether the phone number is used for genuine user activities such as social connection and online activities, or if it is only used for phone calls. If the number has limited information linked to it, it’s unlikely that it’s being used for genuine and lawful purposes.
Click here to access the Deep Scan, reverse phone number lookup: https://www.cybertrace.com.au/reverse-phone-number-lookup/
