Phone call scams have never been more popular in the United States and around the world. Callers from around the world will call people with blocked numbers, spoofed numbers, and even stolen phone numbers. As a result, identifying these calls and making them stop has become a priority for millions of people. In fact, nearly 4 billion robocalls are made per month, according to consumer reports.
These numbers are alarming, but they’re not the end of the world. There are methods to prevent calls from spoofed numbers. Furthermore, blocking spoofed numbers and even identifying who’s calling you is possible.
So if you’re asking yourself how to find out who spoofed my phone number, we’ll show you how and what to do when it happens. Read on to learn more below.
What Is a Spoofed Phone Number
Spoofed phone numbers are increasingly common. A spoofed phone number is a phone number that says it’s coming from one number when it’s coming from a different number. An example would be someone calling you from 123-555-6577, but it’s actually coming from 174-555-6890. In these cases, discovering a spoofed number is challenging when you don’t have an opportunity to call it back or view the real phone number.
How To Handle Spoofed Phone Numbers
Spoofed phone calls are annoying. The more you get, the more annoyed you may be, but there are a few things you must do when receiving an abundance of spoofed phone calls. You should always keep several things in mind when spoofed numbers call you.
We list some methods of handling spoofed calls below:
- Never share personal information or financial information with spoofed phone numbers or people who can’t verify their identity or company. If you aren’t sure if it’s legitimate, hang up and call the potential institution back on a number you recognize.
- Avoid sending financial records, bank information, or money to spoofed phone numbers.
- Numbers that continue to call you should be blocked to prevent them from calling you again.
- Never reply to suspicious texts or open links from texts that appear suspicious; these links may be phishing links that steal your passwords.
Following these guidelines will prevent spoof calls from damaging you. Plus, you may be able to stop them in their tracks when you block their phone number.
Are Spoofed Phone Calls Illegal?
The legality of spoofed phone calls is questionable, but they’re not illegal. Spoofed phone calls only become illegal when the number is used to scam someone, steal their identity, or commit fraud. In fact, there are benefits to using spoofed numbers. For example, employees of companies may hide their personal number and replace it with their company’s official number when making a business call.
That said, you can report spoofed numbers to the authorities and phone providers if you think they’re being used for nefarious reasons. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) also has specific guidelines for looking up spoofed numbers.
How To Find Out Who Spoofed My Number?
Now that you know how to identify spoofed numbers and what to do when you’ve received calls from a spoofed number, you may still want to know if your number has been compromised.
Unfortunately, there isn’t one specific database to look up if your number has been spoofed. However, the most surefire way to know if your number has been spoofed is if you suddenly start to receive lots of calls from unknown numbers.
It’s only natural for people to want to return a missed call. So if you’ve suddenly started receiving a lot of calls from numbers you don’t recognize, it’s possible that your number has been spoofed and is being used to call a lot of people throughout the day.
If this happens to you, you can answer the phone, explain to the caller that your number has been spoofed, and see if they can give you any information you can use to search using the below methods. The caller will often want to help; spoofed phone numbers are a common annoyance.
How To Identify a Spoofed Caller
Identifying a spoofed phone number is never easy, especially if the person spoofing the number took precautions. The good news is that there are some methods to help you uncover the identity of spoofed callers. We’ll take you through the most efficient methods below.
1. Reverse Phone Lookup
A reverse phone lookup is the best way to determine if a number that’s calling you is spoofed. Reverse phone lookups use public records to identify the owner of a phone number. While several platforms will help you run a reverse phone number lookup, Information.com is the best website for the job.
Information.com’s reverse phone lookup will help you find the owner of a phone number with only the phone number. Simply visit the website and input the phone number to find any matching results. Then, open the full report to learn more about the user.
Information.com also reveals the most information when you’re looking into a spoofed number. In fact, you’ll find the following:
- Full name
- Date of birth
- Criminal records
- Social media accounts
- Other phone numbers
- Email addresses
- Addresses
- Known associates
- Spouses
- Sex offender status
- Court records
- Phone provider
With Information.com you even find more information if they have a large online presence. After you’ve learned more about the owner of the phone number, you can determine if the person calling you matches the report. If not, it’s a spoofed number.
2. Google the Phone Number
A Google search may also help you identify a spoofed number. When you enter the phone number into the search results, you may find the owner of the phone number or its company of origin. From there, you can call the number or run it through a reverse phone lookup tool to find the owner of the spoofed number. Googling a phone number is a great way to identify local scammers.
3. Call the Number
Calling the phone number is also a great way to identify a spoofed caller. While most spoofed numbers won’t go through properly, or someone else may pick up, sometimes you’ll get a hold of the caller. In these cases, you can ask them who they are and what they want. This is the least effective method, and you’re better off Googling the number or using a reverse phone lookup tool.
4. Ask the Caller for Their Identity
One of the simplest options for finding a spoofed number is asking the caller for their identity. In some cases, this will work, but you may come up short in others. Someone who is calling for the right reasons, like a company or work organization, legally has to disclose their identity to you on the phone. That said, this method will only work when you’re speaking with a professional.
Identify Spoofed Phone Numbers Today
Identifying spoofed phone numbers can save you from a lot of headaches. However, spoofed numbers continue to be a problem, so knowing who’s on the other line and if your phone number is compromised will help you resolve the issue. While tracking down spoof callers is difficult, it’s not impossible when you use the right resources.
Information.com will help you find just about anyone who calls you when you use the reverse phone lookup tool. You can then report the caller to the appropriate authorities if their intent is malicious. Always remain vigilant and use Information.com to find who’s calling you today.
