A normal incoming call displays a name or caller ID number, giving you a moment to prepare. When “Unknown Number” appears instead, you may not know whether to answer, ignore it, or investigate further.
The caller may be a telemarketer, someone who hangs up immediately, or a person you need to identify for another reason. You might also want to monitor calls reaching your child’s phone or investigate concerns about a partner. The following methods explain how to learn more about the person behind an unidentified call.
Key Takeaways:
Use *69 after a blocked call, or *57 when you need the phone company to record the call details for a possible report. Reverse lookup services such as Spokeo, Intelius, and BeenVerified can provide caller details, while Truecaller screens incoming calls. Report telemarketing and scam calls to the FTC.
Method 1: Identify the Caller with a Lookup App
More than 20 popular tools were tested to identify the most dependable options for unknown numbers. The capabilities, advantages, and drawbacks below can help you select a service that fits your needs.
1) Spokeo
Spokeo searches public sources for information connected with a person. Its reports can cover details ranging from phone numbers to educational history, and testing returned detailed information about the submitted numbers.
Rating: 5.0
Name Search: Yes
Reverse Phone Lookup: Yes
Reverse Address Lookup: Yes
Free Trial: 7-Days Trial for $0.95
Features
- Caller identification: It can reveal who owns a number and provide complete details about an unknown caller.
- Scam-call prevention: A company or owner name can help distinguish a genuine caller from a scammer and reduce exposure to fraud such as phishing.
- Text investigation: The service can identify an unknown person texting your child or significant other through SMS or social media apps.
- Harassment tracking: Finding the source of repeated calls and messages makes it easier to block the number and address persistent harassment.
- Catfish detection: Online images and social accounts can help expose a catfish or research a potential date.
- Seller verification: Details including the phone owner’s address may help confirm the identity of an online seller, such as someone advertising on Craigslist.
- Background reports: Available public information can include court and criminal records, DUIs, arrests, bankruptcies, property, relatives, and family members.
Advantages
- The database contains millions of records.
- The search process is straightforward.
- Contact results can be highly detailed.
- It can uncover many kinds of social media profiles.
- A one-time report costs $0.95.
Limitations
- Some records may be outdated.
- Free access is limited.
- Accuracy can vary.
- Some searches return incomplete data.
2) Intelius
Intelius offers reverse phone searches and access to unlimited public records. A lookup can reveal the number owner’s name, address, and phone service provider.
Rating: 4.9
Name Search: Yes
Reverse Phone Lookup: Yes
Reverse Address Lookup: Yes
Free Trial: 5-Day Trial at $0.95
Features
- Owner details: Results may include a full name, known aliases, and possibly photographs.
- Owner history: Current and past names and addresses provide wider background context.
- Additional contact data: Alternate channels such as email can offer another way to reach the person.
- Location history: Reports can show the owner’s present and former addresses.
- Social media profiles: Intelius can search accounts tied to the number on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and LinkedIn.
Advantages
- It is an affordable background-check option.
- Some basic information is available free.
- Reports may cover criminal history, education, and marital status.
- Paid plans include unlimited searches.
- It is useful for finding people, email addresses, and phone numbers.
Limitations
- Inaccurate data may create misinformation.
- The interface is not always easy to use.
- The service is available only in the US.
The specification card lists a 5-Day Trial at $0.95, while the closing offer is stated as 7-Days Trial for $0.95.
3) BeenVerified
BeenVerified supplies business addresses, company numbers, email addresses, phone numbers, reverse phone results, and linked social accounts.
Rating: 4.8
Name Search: Yes
Reverse Phone Lookup: Yes
Reverse Address Lookup: Yes
Free Trial: 7-Day Trial at $1*
Features
- Detailed records: Reports can combine personal information, online profiles, and other relevant details.
- Address lookup: Contact searches may show current and previous homes as well as earlier associated locations such as a school or college.
- Property search: Ownership histories can reveal formerly and currently held properties.
- Social media integration: The service can connect a phone number with social accounts.
- People search: A report may uncover contact details, relatives, past residences, and a current address.
Advantages
- Personal information can be provided over the phone.
- It reveals useful social profile information.
- Detailed reports can include relatives.
- The interface is user-friendly and searches are quick.
- Results are delivered instantly.
Limitations
- A subscription is required for detailed records.
- It can run only up to 100 reports.
- Some information may be old.
- BeenVerified is available only in the US.
The closing trial offer is listed as a 7-Day trial for $1.
4) Truecaller
Truecaller screens incoming calls before you answer. If a number is missing from your contacts, the service intercepts the call and asks questions intended to establish whether it is legitimate.
Features
- Caller management: Permission-based contact controls help you decide which calls to accept or ignore.
- Accessible interface: The app is simple enough for general caller identification.
- Automatic identification: It recognizes people who call or text and alerts you.
- Call blocking: Spam, scam, and other unwanted numbers can be blocked.
Advantages
- Calls are identified in real time.
- It can help protect against harassing callers.
- The information is regularly updated and customer support is good.
- It reduces robocalls and spam.
Limitations
- Detailed metric reports may be missing.
- Some users have data-privacy concerns.
- Full functionality requires an internet connection.
Method 2: Return the Last Call with *69
Dialing *69 on a landline remains useful after an unknown or blocked call. Whether the caller hangs up or you choose not to answer, entering *69 after the call ends connects you with the number that called most recently.
This method may reconnect you without revealing the exact number. You can then ask why the person called and learn more about their purpose.
Method 3: Create a Call-Trace Record with *57
*57 is intended for repeated harassment calls or numbers that frequently disconnect without speaking. Like *69, it calls back the most recent number. It also allows the phone company to track that number and record the relevant metadata.
Authorities can request this archive for a legal case. Record the date and time whenever you use *57, because missing details may delay a report.
Method 4: Request Help from Your Phone Provider
Your service provider may identify a mystery caller after performing a few searches. A representative may also supply a list of every number that contacted you during a specified period, even when its caller ID was blocked.
The provider may help block a number so it cannot call again. This service can incur a fee, particularly when tracing an anonymous source falls outside your plan.
Method 5: Send Scam-Call Information to the FTC
After confirming that a telemarketer or scammer placed the call, file a report through the Federal Trade Commission fraud-reporting website and provide the relevant details.
The FTC monitors scam calls closely and depends on reports from the public to follow current offenders and trends. Your information can support efforts to reduce fraud and unwanted telemarketing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I silence unknown callers on an iPhone?
Apple includes a Silence Unknown Callers feature in iOS. It prevents the phone from ringing for an unidentified caller but still allows that person to leave voicemail, and the number continues to appear as a missed call. Android users often rely on a trusted caller-identification alternative for similar spam protection.
Are unknown calls dangerous?
Most are merely annoying, but some come from scammers. Stay alert because an international scam may charge a large fee when you answer. A genuine caller will normally leave a message when the matter is important.
Final Recommendations
Spokeo offers the broadest caller and background details in this group. Intelius is useful for owner, provider, address, and social-profile data, while BeenVerified adds business, property, people, and social account records. Truecaller is the practical choice for screening calls as they arrive.
Use *69 for a blocked last caller, *57 when a formal trace may be required, and your provider when you need a broader call history. Report telemarketers and suspected scammers to the FTC.
