Random Numbers Keep Calling Me! Here’s What to Do About It.

Are you bombarded by calls from random numbers? A Reverse Phone lookup could help reveal who is behind the number or if it’s a scam.

By: Logan Strain | June 15, 2021

Are you constantly getting calls from random numbers? These constant and unwanted calls are probably driving you nuts. You’re not alone. Reports of spam and robocalls are one of the FCC’s top consumer complaints.

Is there a way to get to the bottom of who is behind these random numbers?

Calling back a potential spam or fraud call could be dangerous and leave you swindled out of your hard-earned money. But, you don’t want to block the number immediately. What if there’s a chance it belongs to someone who has a valid reason for getting in touch - like an employer with a job offer or an old friend who changed numbers?

A Reverse Phone Lookup can help identify the owner of a phone number. A quick and simple search with Instant Checkmate could help you discover if the person calling you is a telemarketer or perhaps a spam caller.

Who Has Been Calling?

Use a Reverse Phone Lookup To Spot Suspicious Calls

Running a Reverse Phone Lookup is straightforward and quick. Just enter the ten-digit phone number you’d like to look up into the Reverse Phone Lookup search bar. Instant Checkmate then begins scanning records databases for information on the owner of the phone number.

Any available data is compiled into a downloadable report with various sections, including:

  • Personal Information
  • Contact Information
  • Location History
  • Social Media Profiles

The contents of each report are unique and specific to the phone number entered and the information available resulting from our search. However, you may learn details about the phone number owner. You could learn details like their full name, known aliases, possible photos, social media profiles, and more!

At the top of your Instant Checkmate Reverse Phone Lookup Report, you’ll find the Personal Information section. Based on the information available from our records search, this section could include the name, known aliases, possible photos, related links, education and employment history, and more on the phone number’s owner. Disclaimer: The above image is from a sample Instant Checkmate Reverse Phone Lookup Report. Actual reports may contain more or less information.

These details could help you determine if the random number calling you actually belongs to someone you know. The phone number could belong to an old friend or colleague who recently changed their number or someone who you never saved a contact card for.

There is the possibility that a scammer or spam caller is impersonating a phone number from the area you live in or pretending to be someone they are not.

You can protect yourself from getting scammed by arming yourself with information. If you suspect a scammer is impersonating someone you know, reach out to this person on your own to see if they’ve actually been trying to get in touch with you. If they weren’t, the calls are likely coming from a scammer.

Image Via Envato Elements

Spam, Fraud, and Robo Calls Defined

What’s the difference between a scam call and a spam call? They rhyme and share three out of four letters, but is this the extent of what they have in common? And what about robocalls? Is there a way to differentiate the three?

These three types of unwanted calls have many similarities, and each could be the culprit behind the random number blowing up your phone. But, there are a few differences that make scam phone calls particularly dangerous.

Scam/Fraud Calls

Scammers often utilize phone calls as their method through which to commit fraudulent schemes. The person behind a fraud call is often pretending to be someone different from who they are - whether it be a business, government, or even a person you already know. Through various imposter storylines, they attempt to get personal and financial information out of their victims. According to the FCC, phone calls were the top method scammers utilized, and victims reported a median loss of $1,000 - though for some unlucky individuals, this was much higher.

Spam/Telemarketing Calls

While these callers are still usually trying to get money from you, they aren’t doing so through fraudulent or illegal methods. You may have even given them permission to contact you - though perhaps unknowingly. The company or individual behind a spam call is likely playing a numbers game - calling as many people as possible - hoping that someone will give in and buy their product or service. These types of calls are typically not as dangerous as fraud calls - you likely don’t have to worry about identity theft or losing your life savings. But, they’re still frustrating to receive.

Robocalls

A robocall is a pre-recorded and often automated message. Both telemarketers and scammers may utilize this technology to increase the number of people they can contact in a short amount of time. There are times when you could get a legitimate robocall - such as from a health care provider, political group, or for debt collection purposes.

But, you should always keep your wits about you. Scammers could be impersonating a seemingly legitimate source. Never give out personal or financial information unless you are certain that the caller is authentic. A Reverse Phone Lookup can be a helpful tool to double-check who a phone number belongs to.

Image via Envato Images. 

Reporting Spam or Fraud Callers

As a consumer, you can take a few steps to limit the number of spam and fraud calls you receive.

To start, you can register for the National Do Not Call Registry. You can also report any phone numbers you suspect are scams here.

If you fall victim to a phone scam and lose money, you can still report the incident with the FCC at ReportFraud. There is no guarantee you’ll get your funds recovered. However, you could help prevent additional victims from getting scammed in the future by reporting the number.

Hopefully, these steps will help reduce the number of calls you receive from random numbers. You will probably still get a phone call occasionally from a number you don’t recognize. It still could be a scam or spam, but it could be someone you actually want to hear from!

Instant Checkmate can help you get to the bottom of it with a Reverse Phone Lookup. Start your first search today.

Comments

DISCLAIMER: It is PROHIBITED by law to use our service or the information it provides to make decisions about consumer credit, employment, insurance, tenant screening, or for any other purpose subject to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 USC 1681 et seq. Instant Checkmate does not provide consumer reports and is not a consumer reporting agency. The information available on our website may not be 100% accurate, complete, or up to date, so do not use this information as a substitute for your own due dilligence, especially if you have concerns about a person’s criminal history. Instant Checkmate does not make any representation or warranty about the accuracy of the information available through our website or about the character or integrity of the person about whom you inquire. For more information, please review Instant Checkmate Terms of Use.