If you've received an unknown call and want to know who this number is registered, you're in the right place. We will show you how to reveal an unknown calling number owner using free tools like Google Search and social media platforms or more advanced tools such as reverse phone number lookup.
In most cases, you can retrieve information such as the owner's name, address, online profiles, and even criminal records. Note that the paid services featured in our guide will only be able to handle US phone numbers and may not be accessible outside the US.
Option #1: Call the number back
The first option is to call the number back to get the most apparent and unhelpful advice out of the way. Calling back the number and asking who it belongs to would be the most direct way to find out who owns the number.
However, you may not want to contact the caller before knowing who they are, whether a business or an individual.
So, in cases where you don't want to call back the number, you have to use reverse phone number lookup tools to find out to whom the number is registered.
Option #2: Use reverse phone number lookup services
The most efficient way to determine who owns a telephone number is using reverse phone number tools. Below we will present some of the best reverse phone lookup services available for US numbers.
Spokeo
Spokeo is a US reverse phone lookup service that owns millions of caller records, including both landline & cell phone numbers. Using Spokeo, you can find a caller's:
- Owner's Details
- Full Name
- Age
- Gender
- Contact Info
- Phone Numbers
- Email Addresses
- Social Profiles
- Social Media
- Social Accounts
- Dating Profiles
- Photos
- Location
- Current Address
- Past Addresses
- Co-Residents
- Family Members
- Relatives' Names
- Contact Info
- Location
- Personal Details
- Estimated Income
- Property Ownership
- Interests
This is quite an impressive data set, so you can find everything you need to know about the person contacting you before contacting them. To perform a reverse phone lookup on Spokeo, follow the steps below:
- Go to the Spokeo homepage.
- Type in a landline or mobile phone number (VoIP is also supported). In this case, we searched for (813) 350-6500, the phone number of Raymond James Stadium of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
- Next, click on “Search Now.”
- You can purchase either the full or the phone report for a price.
Using Spokeo, you can also perform reverse email and address searches. It is a fast-growing reverse phone lookup platform, so keep an eye out for it if you want to find a caller's identity along. AT&T's support page also recommends the service for reverse phone number lookups.
BeenVerified
BeenVerified is one of the US market's top reverse phone search services. BeenVerified can also handle people searching using the first and last names, email lookups, address lookups, vehicle searches, and B2B people searches. One downside compared to Spokeo is that you cannot purchase a one-time report, so you will have to purchase a monthly subscription.
BeenVerified is a decent choice for individuals or businesses that perform a large number of reverse phone lookups per month; overall, I liked Spokeo more as it looked up the numbers I searched for faster without asking for my email.
- Visit the BeenVerified home page.
- Enter the phone number you want to get information about and click SEARCH.
- BeenVerified will generate a report containing all the online profiles associated with the searched number and will even look up criminal records. Note that the reverse lookup will take several minutes.
Testing the 7-day trial of the service is worth it for anyone looking to collect a large number of phone reports.
People Finders
People Finders is a public records business located in Sacramento, California. The company offers a variety of public records, including address histories, phone numbers, and background checks, so it's another excellent option for reverse phone number lookups. People Finders will reveal the owner's name and details, their phone carrier, other phone numbers, criminal records, and possible relatives and associates.
- Visit the People Finders reverse phone lookup page.
- Enter the phone number in the question and click Search Now.
- Once the search is complete, you will have the option for a one-time purchase, although the amount is quite hefty compared to Spokeo, or a trial membership for $0.95.
Option #3: Use Search Engines and Social Media Platforms
If the caller is a business there, you will likely be able to find out their identity using a search engine like Google, as many businesses use Google Business Profile and have their number registered. You may not be so lucky with individuals, but searching for a number online may reveal user reports on whether the number is safe, spam, or even spoofed, so an online search is worth it in several cases.
Social media platforms such as Facebook and Linkedin may also reveal whether the calling number is registered to a business or an individual. Still, you may get inaccurate results or even fake profiles.