Image commercially licensed from Unsplash
Prank calls and scammers can be incredibly frustrating, especially when they are frequent. Using a reverse phone lookup service can be incredibly helpful, as these services allow you to find out who owns the number in question.
Of course, you need to be sure that the service you use is legitimate and effective. Read on to learn about the many benefits of these services and find out what the best free phone number lookup services are.
What is a Reverse Phone Number Lookup?
A reverse phone lookup service is exactly what it sounds like: a website or directory that allows you to use a phone number to gather information. In essence, this is the reverse of a traditional phone book that allows you to find someone’s number using their name.
The information that a reverse phone number lookup service provides can vary, but these services usually show the owner of the number – which means their name, age, and other contact details that are publicly available.
The Benefits of Using a Phone Number Lookup Site
The precise benefits of using a service like this depend on why you are using them, but in general terms, there are three main benefits.
Identify Unknown Callers
If an unknown number calls you, it can be hard to know whether it is someone you know reaching out from a new number or a spam company trying to sell you something. Using a phone number lookup service will tell you who owns the number that has been calling you, so if a friend or family member is simply using a new number, it will become apparent very quickly.
Find Information About Old Numbers in Your Phone
If you find an unknown number in your phone, either from old calls or text threads, using a reverse phone lookup site can tell you who it is (or used to be) attached to. This can be helpful in deciding whether the text thread is worth keeping or if you should save the number once more.
Find Out Who’s Pranking You
Frequent prank calls or harassing communication can be incredibly stressful. While there’s not much you can do to stop cold callers from contacting you, using a reverse phone number search engine can show you who is harassing or pranking you. If it is a private individual, you can take action, either by making them aware you know who they are or, if the communications are threatening, by contacting the police so they can deal with it.
Reliable Free Phone Number Lookup Services
The amount of information you get from a paid reverse phone lookup service will be more detailed than a free service provides, but if you just want to know who is calling you, then a reliable free service will give you what you need. There are many free services out there, but not all of them are really effective. We have listed five of the best rated free services below:
1. NumLooker
NumLooker is a completely free service that allows users to look up phone numbers and identify hidden callers. They do not require those who use the site to create an account, and they provide information that includes the full name of the owner, any public criminal record they have, and even their current employer.
2. Spokeo
Spokeo is the best option for those trying to find out where spam and scam calls are coming from. While their service is not free, they have a free trial you can take advantage of. They identify the caller, as well as any publicly available information about their location. If you want more detailed reports, you can opt for one of their additional paid services. For example, they offer access to public court records for $2.95.
3. USPhoneBook
USPhoneBook is 100% free and allows users to look up and track unknown callers. They provide fairly detailed reports and put effort into ensuring that their database is up-to-date at all times. Their site is also incredibly well-optimized for mobile, so if you want to look up a number while you are on the go, you will find it very easy to do so.
4. CocoFinder
CocoFinder is a free service that works like a search engine. It is user friendly and linked to worldwide public records. Their database will provide the caller’s name, known residential addresses, email addresses, and social media profiles. They also have other features, such as background checking options.
There are other companies out there, of course, but these companies are a good place to start if you’re new to this process.
