Who called me? How to find out who's behind an unknown number

A missed call from a number you don't recognize is how most phone scams start. It's also how your pharmacy, your kid's school and the delivery driver get in touch. Here's how to work out which one it was, without picking up the phone and calling back.

1. Look the number up on ShadyCall

Type the number the way it appeared on your screen. (212) 555-0123, 212-555-0123, +1 212 555 0123 or a toll-free number like (800) 555-0199 all work. Every number has its own page showing:

• the ShadyCall Score, from 0 (looks fine) to 100 (shady call), based on what people report;
• community reports: what kind of call it was, who the caller claimed to be, and what they wanted;
• complaints consumers filed with the FTC and FCC about that number, including Do Not Call complaints;
• the original carrier and city of the number's exchange, from official numbering data;
• nearby numbers in the same exchange, since scam operations often burn through a whole block of numbers.

No reports yet? You may be one of the first people it called. Check back in a day or two, or add your own report so the next person isn't guessing.

2. Read the number itself

A US number is a three-digit area code, a three-digit exchange and four more digits. The area code tells you a little:

• A local-looking area code could be anyone. Scammers deliberately show numbers that match your own area code. See caller ID spoofing.
• 800, 888, 877, 866, 855, 844 and 833 are toll-free. Businesses and call centers use them, and so do some robocallers.
• Some area codes are not in the US at all. 809, 876, 473 and others belong to Caribbean countries, even though they look domestic. Calling back can cost international rates. See area codes to watch out for or browse every area code.

3. What a reverse lookup can and can't tell you

A reverse phone lookup is good at answering "is this number a problem?" and not so good at answering "whose name is on it?" That's normal, and here's why:

• The carrier and city are where the number started, not where the caller is. Numbers can be ported to another carrier, moved to an internet phone service, or used from anywhere in the world.
• Caller ID can be faked. If a real business's number shows up with scam reports, the business may be a victim of spoofing, not the caller.
• Cell phone owner names aren't public. There's no official directory of mobile numbers in the US. Sites that promise a name for a fee are usually piecing together marketing data, which is often out of date.

So treat the reports as the real signal. Fifty people saying "fake Amazon refund" tells you more than any name ever could.

4. Search for it

Put the number in quotes in a search engine. Real businesses usually list their numbers on their own websites. If it belongs to a company you deal with, call them back on the number from their official website or your statement, not the number that called you.

5. Let it go to voicemail

Someone with a genuine reason to reach you will leave a message or try another way. Scam robocalls usually hang up, or leave a recording with a threat or a deadline ("your account will be suspended today"), which is your answer right there. Live Voicemail on iPhone and Call Screen on Pixel let you see what the caller is saying before you decide. See how to block and screen calls.

6. If it was a text

Don't tap the link or reply. Paste the message into the Scam Text Checker (it runs in your browser) and look up the sending number. Then forward the text to 7726 (SPAM) to report it to your carrier.

7. Don't call back blindly

Common questions

Can I find out who called from a "No Caller ID" or private number?

Usually not, and no lookup can reveal it. You can set your phone to send unknown and private callers straight to voicemail. For threatening or harassing calls, contact your phone company and local police, who can trace calls in ways the public can't.

The number called me but it's my own number. What?

That's spoofing. Your phone isn't hacked. Don't answer, and don't press anything if you do.

Is it safe to answer just to see who it is?

Answering a scam call won't hurt you by itself, but it tells the dialer someone picks up at your number. If you answer and it's a recording, hang up without pressing any keys.