Reverse Number Lookup
Getting calls from unknown numbers can be annoying and sometimes unsafe. It is not 100% of the time dangerous to get calls from unknown numbers. Several things could occur when you get a call from an unknown number. It could be:
- Somebody just dialled the wrong number.
- Somebody is calling from a range of numbers at random to sell a product or service. It is at the receiver’s discretion to follow through, but it might be unsafe to give away personal details.
- It could be one of your subscription services or a robocall or automated call to confirm a valid number from a service provider.
- It could be a call from someone you avoided contact with by choice.
- It could be a calculated call from a scam artist targeting a specific individual; here is where we must apply the most caution.
The good news about getting calls from unknown numbers is that it is not dangerous to answer the call. The danger lies in that many unknown callers are scam artists. People look up phone numbers for several reasons, some of which are getting details of callers who they feel threatened or harassed so that they can file a police complaint. Others look up numbers out of jealousy or suspicion in a romantic relationship. Others may look up numbers to avoid bills or people they owe. Whatever the reasons are, an excellent way to deal with the problem of not knowing who is calling is to use a reverse phone number lookup tool. A phone number lookup can help you discover who is calling, get in touch with lost friends or relatives and even help identify an individual’s background.
That Strange Knock
It can be unsettling when you get a knock on your front door when you are not expecting any guests. Your first response would be to use the peephole or open the curtain or blind and try to ascertain the identity and intention of the person at your doorstep.
However, when it comes to phone calls, there are no peepholes. The only way to know who called you is to conduct a reverse phone lookup.
Let us say an individual keeps knocking on your door to sell you something, and you have said you are not interested in buying; your next step will be to call the police. What if this is an unwanted sales call over the phone? What do you do?. You can register with the Do Not Call Registry to prevent sales personnel and robots from dialling your number. This registration will give your phone some much-needed peace; however, it will not prevent scam artists from randomly dialling your number. If you are not interested in registering with the do not call registry, you can report an unwanted call to the authorities through a portal provided by the Federal Trade Commission.
Phone Scams
Scam artists often call people soliciting for all kinds of things. Con artists try to sell you a product, offer to help you make savings, or get ridiculous discounts. More often than not, they aim to get you to part with money or get your information. Scammers typically target older citizens because they are more susceptible to these fraudulent activities. You can report fraud or strange calls to the Federal Trade Commission, which will pass on the relevant information to law enforcement agencies.
How Does a Reverse Phone Number Lookup Work?
Before the internet, phone companies circulated reverse phone directories or white pages by specific towns or areas, making them available to libraries, police, and other agencies. With its speed and convenience, the internet came to the end of paper directories, which resulted in digital reverse phone number lookups. It is possible to receive a lot of data using a reverse phone lookup service, depending on the service provider a person uses and how much they pay. This data could include area code, city, state, the person’s name or company, and the caller’s type of phone. The phone type determines where the service company gets the data.
There are two parts to the reverse phone lookup process. The first is what information a person receives, and the next is to understand the initial source of this data. Research shows that the information retrieved is 60 – 80 percent accurate, depending on how long a person has owned their phone number. This research finding means that there is a high probability that you will find out who is calling you by conducting a reverse phone search.
Reverse Phone Lookup Options
There are many sites with portals to help individuals to identify callers.
Some allow users to search for callers by inputting the phone number of interest. Some of these reverse phone search platforms go as far as running background checks on phone users. Clients can get information such as email address, name, location of the caller, and address nearly instantly upon search. These online search platforms offer their services for a fee. Their charges range from as low as 95 cents a search to as high as $50 for a subscription month.
Asides from these sites, several other services can help you find out who exactly is calling. The exciting thing is these services are free. However, they may not provide as many details, and some work only within specific locations. Some caller identifier solutions come in mobile apps that utilize official and public databases to seek out callers.
In conclusion, there are two significant issues regarding reverse phone lookup services. The first is for those who are not comfortable with the exposure of their identity. The second is when there is a question about one’s safety. To this effect, most of these service-providing companies take privacy matters very seriously. Individuals can contact these service providers to have their numbers or information sealed. However, with all parameters put in place, individuals can search for the identity of unknown callers. Reverse number lookup service providers can legally offer this service to interested persons.
