How to Find Out Who Called You From a Phone Number

A reverse phone lookup allows you to search for a particular phone number and discover its owner. In this article, we’ll explore effective ways to perform a reverse phone lookup, covering both free and paid services.

1. Truecaller

Pros
  • Free to use
  • Fast results
  • Updated information 
Cons
  • Only provides basic info

Truecaller is a free reverse phone lookup, boasting 374 million users worldwide who actively suggest names for the phone numbers they receive calls from.

To use this service, sign up for an account using your email address. Next, search for the phone number in the search bar, and you’ll be able to see the caller’s name, address, and more.

Alternatively, you can get the Truecaller app on your phone and run a reverse phone lookup on the go. The app also automatically detects the name of the person calling, their location, if they are a business or not, and more.

2. True People Search

Pros
  • Free to use
  • Fast results 
Cons
  • Too many ads
  • Data could be outdated sometimes

If Truecaller doesn’t provide you with the information you need, or you would like to verify the information, you can try True People Search.

True People Search is a free people search engine that allows you to search for individuals by name, phone number, address, and email address. Just type the phone number into the search bar and click the search button.

You’ll be able to view a list of potential owners of that phone number. Click “View Details” to open a detailed report on the person.

The report will display basic information for free, including the full name, email address, phone numbers, addresses, possible relatives, and associates. However, clicking the “View Full Background Report” button will redirect you to other paid people search engines.

3. Intelius

Pros
  • Easy to use
  • Fast results 
  • Detailed reports
  • Direct support available
Cons
  • Cancellation problems
  • Confusing pricing 

If you’re willing to pay to find the information, we’d recommend you try Intelius. It is one of the widely-known people search tools, providing access to a wealth of public records and background information from various public records sources, online forums, and social networks.

Intelius’s reverse phone lookup allows you to enter a phone number and retrieve information about the caller, including their name, location, phone history, online profiles, and more.

Pricing

Intelius offers a 6-day trial for $0.95 with unlimited phone reports, person reports, and address reports. You’ll then be billed $34.95 a month if you don’t cancel the auto-renewal.

4. PeopleFinders

Pros
  • Fast results
  • Comprehensive data
  • User-friendly interface
Cons
  • Relatively higher pricing
  • Some information may not be up-to-date

PeopleFinders is a comprehensive background check service that offers a reverse phone lookup feature. It allows you to type a phone number and identify the unknown caller. The search report might provide a wide range of information, including the owner’s name, address, phone type, carrier information, online profile, public records, and more.

With its extensive database and professional-grade features, PeopleFinders is a great option if you need detailed information about an unknown caller.

Pricing

PeopleFinders offers different pricing plans to choose from. You can opt for a single phone report for $1.95, or the monthly membership for $24.95, which includes unlimited phone reports. The quarterly membership costs $19.99 per month, billed every 3 months, and the yearly membership is $9.95 per month, billed annually.

5. Social Catfish

Pros
  • Affordable
  • Provides quick and valid results
  • Offers a range of tools for deep search
  • Specialists available for hire
  • Detailed, easy-to-read reports
Cons
  • Subscription-based  
  • Searches can sometimes fail or glitch out

If you’re looking for an affordable option to find out who is behind a phone number, Social Catfish is also a great choice.

Social Catfish offers a simple and user-friendly interface that allows you to search for phone numbers easily and potentially uncovers the owner’s name, address, and other contact information. It also provides additional details such as social media profiles, criminal records, and more, depending on the availability of public records.

Pricing

Social Catfish offers different pricing plans to suit your needs. You can get an unlimited social search at $5.73 for 5 days, or a monthly membership for $27.48, which includes unlimited phone reports.

6. Truthfinder

Pros
  • User-friendly
  • Impressive search results
  • Self-monitoring capability
  • Unlimited background checks
Cons
  • Pushy pop-up ads
  • Expensive memberships
  • Searches take too long
  • Limited support options

Truthfinder is another powerful reverse phone lookup service for finding information about unknown callers. This US-based service gathers data from multiple databases, providing extensive information beyond just identifying the caller’s identity.

In addition to revealing the caller’s name, Truthfinder can also provide details from social networking sites, police records, court records, and other publicly accessible information. It even offers dark web scans and self-monitoring tools for online information about yourself.

With the membership, you get unlimited access to their extensive database of public records, allowing you to perform multiple phone number lookups and find out who called you from various numbers.

Pricing:

TruthFinder offers a monthly reverse phone lookup membership for $4.99, which allows for unlimited searches. However, for more comprehensive background check services, pricing starts at $28.05 per month for unlimited reports for one month, or $23.28 per month for unlimited reports for three months, billed every two months.

Reverse Phone Lookup FAQs

What is a Reverse Phone Lookup?

A reverse phone lookup service works in two forms: it lets you find someone’s phone number by searching for some other details you know about them, such as their name, email address, or home address. Or it helps you find out who called you even if you don’t have their number saved in your contacts. By simply entering their phone number, you can access information such as their name, address, and other details.

Many websites offer reverse phone lookup services, and they all work in a similar way. This can be useful if you are receiving unwanted calls from unknown numbers, such as telemarketers, and want to identify the caller to block their number.

While there are phone lookup services available, there is no guarantee that they can provide 100% accurate information. We recommend that you use multiple tools and cross-reference the information.

How to Run a Reverse Phone Lookup Online?

If you have ever been bothered by prank calls or unknown callers, there are ways to find out who is calling you, even if they are using a fake or phony phone number. One method is to manually perform a reverse phone lookup by inputting the phone number, enclosed in quotation marks, into a search engine like Google or Bing.

Another option is to use a dedicated reverse phone lookup tool like Intelius, which allows you to enter a phone number and receive information about its owner, including their name and address.

Is it Legal to Find Someone by Their Phone Number?

Yes, using reverse phone number lookup is legal. There are no laws against running a reverse phone number lookup to find out who called you. However, using obtained information for harassment is illegal.

Additionally, if you are conducting reverse phone lookups for business purposes, there might be regulations governing the use of the obtained information. This is because most of the tools are not a Consumer Reporting Agency (CRA) as defined by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), you may not use them to make decisions about consumer credit, employment, insurance, tenant screening, or any other purpose that would require FCRA compliance.

How to Identify Callers Who Didn’t Leave a Message

If you wish to identify the caller who didn’t leave a message, there are several steps you can follow. Firstly, you can check the call logs on your phone to see if the number is listed. In the case of a landline, the phone company responsible for your line might maintain a record of all incoming calls.

For mobile phones, your service provider might also retain a record of the numbers you have dialed within a specific timeframe. This information is typically accessible either online or through customer service.

Another option is to utilize a reverse phone lookup service, where you can enter the phone number and retrieve details about the owner, such as their name and address. However, it’s important to note that free online reverse phone lookup services may provide incomplete information.

How to block telemarketers and spam calls on your phone

Dealing with telemarketers and spam calls can be frustrating. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to block them. One effective method is to sign up for the National Do Not Call Registry, which prohibits telemarketers from contacting the numbers on the list.

You can also install call-blocking apps on your mobile device, which allows you to block incoming calls from specific numbers or number ranges.

Additionally, you can file complaints with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) if you receive a significant number of unsolicited calls.

Lastly, if you recognize a number as unwanted, simply do not answer the phone when it rings.


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