Knowing how to carry out a VoIP number lookup is a useful skill. It’s normal to receive telemarketing calls from VoIP numbers used by businesses. But then, scammers and spammers use them as well. When you can search and verify VoIP numbers, you can avoid calls from these suspicious agents. Therefore, this article shows you all the steps and tips on how to perform a VOIL lookup effectively.
What Is a VoIP Number?
Before you carry out a VoIP phone number search, you need to learn what it is. A VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) number is a real virtual phone number that operates over the Internet. So, it isn’t tied to any traditional landline, physical phone line, or SIM card. VoIP numbers aren’t also restricted by geographic or physical location. Usually, you only need to use that number via a VoIP phone app on any internet-connected device like your phone, laptop, or desktop computer. You can use this number for making voice calls, text messages, and video calls. All these will be transmitted via the Internet.
Two Types of VoIP Numbers
It’s important to note that even though we generally say VoIP numbers aren’t tied to any geographical area, there are a few caveats. These features, therefore, give rise to two categories of VoIP numbers available.
Fixed VoIP Numbers
Surprisingly, we have fixed VoIP numbers that might be tied to a physical address or location. You can also call these local VoIP numbers. Often, they use familiar area codes, which is one reason some businesses use them for local presence. It’s vital to note that sometimes the business may not be located there even as they use these numbers.
So, a business in Angola can have a New York VoIP number, which will be operated from Angola but interacted with by their customers in New York. The goal behind using fixed VoIP numbers is also to build trust and credibility, especially when customers there prefer dealing with local companies. Nevertheless, these VoIP numbers require a physical connection like broadband at a registered street address.
Non-Fixed VoIP Numbers
Non-Fixed VoIP numbers are completely virtual. They are not assigned to specific addresses, although they can be associated with a geographical area. So, they don’t connect to any physical address. These are incredibly flexible and popular for all kinds of communication. They are associated with mobile apps, virtual phone systems, and web-based services. So, these systems are what we know as virtual numbers.
Who Uses VoIP Numbers and Why?
Both people and businesses use VoIP numbers for different reasons. Let’s talk about them:
- Businesses: Companies often use VoIP numbers for customer support and telemarketing or sales outreach. They also use them for internal communication, especially when they have remote teams.
- Individuals: Most people use VoIP numbers for international calls. They also use them as a secondary phone number without getting a new physical phone.
- Call centers: Call centers also use VoIP numbers to provide communication services to their customers. They prefer VoIP numbers because of their advanced features like call analytics, integrations with CRM systems, and more.
- Spam and scam calls: Unfortunately, malicious actors like spammers and scammers also use VoIP numbers. This is because they are easy to obtain, calls are usually cheaper, and they are also hard to trace.
Main VoIP Service Providers & Their Features
Many different leading VoIP service providers offer a variety of features to businesses and individuals. Let’s talk about some of the popular ones.
- RingCentral: Ideal for medium and large businesses requiring scalable solutions. They offer unified communications, team messaging, video conferencing, and integrations with CRM tools.
- Zoom Phone: Used by companies who already use Zoom for video conferencing. They offer seamless integration with Zoom meetings, auto attendant, and call recording features.
- Vonage: It’s best for businesses looking for customizable tools. Vonage offers features like API integrations for custom workflows, voicemail transcription, and advanced call routing.
- 8×8: This VoIP service provider is used by international businesses and call centers. They offer unique features like global calling, analytics, and contact center solutions.
- Nextiva: Nextiva is used by small and medium services because of its suite of toll-free numbers, CRM integration, and team collaboration tools.
- Grasshopper: This service provider offers features like business texting, call forwarding, and setting up a virtual receptionist. It’s best for entrepreneurs and small businesses.
10 Methods to Find the Owner of a VoIP Number
VoIP numbers are easy to set up and often independent of location. This is also the reason they are harder to authenticate them. Fortunately, you can still do so using the techniques listed below.
Check the VoIP Call Logs
The first step is to check your call logs. This might seem obvious, but we rarely think of it when we want to carry out a VoIP phone number search. And whether you use a VoIP phone or not, that should be where you begin. Here’s how:
- Go to your Phone App or phonebook and tap “Recents.”
- Check to see if that number has been saved before.
- If you’re using a VoIP phone, you might be able to cross-reference with online databases.
- It’s also possible the number might match with another call you received repeatedly in the past.
- Also, tap “more info” to see any other details that can help.
🚫Limitations
The information you find is limited to how many times they’ve called before. Also, you may not find the caller’s details if they’ve used anonymous settings. It’s also possible for the calling party to make the phone number similar to one you’ve seen in the past, which makes it harder to figure out.
Use Reverse Phone Lookup Tools
You can also use MLocator to reverse search for more information about that VoIP Phone number. This is a fantastic way to uncover details about the identity behind that number. MLocator’s VoIP phone number search will find the names, addresses, mobile carriers, and other valuable insights. Here’s how it works:
- Enter the phone number you want to search for.
- Input your email to activate the search.
🚫Limitations
This tool won’t find the precise location of the person behind that phone number since this feature only handles reverse lookup. However, MLocator also has a phone location tracking feature. Also, it may not work if the number is new or private.
CNAM Lookup via VoIP Provider
If you use a VoIP service, you can run a CNAM (Caller Name) lookup to query the databases maintained by your VoIP service provider. Depending on your provider, you’ll find these features under the “Outbound caller ID.” It’s meant for telemarketers to immediately see the information for any given customer while, at the same time, dialing their number. It’s also a more reliable way to carry out a VoIP phone number lookup.
🚫Limitations
Running a CNAM lookup depends on your VoIP database. Also, you need to have coding skills and get assistance from your provider. You’ll need to also have an account with that VoIP provider to get their assistance.
IP Address Lookup
If you can get the IP address linked to that VoIP call, you can also uncover more insights about it. Usually, IP addresse lookup can reveal ISP information, which may indirectly help you find the owner’s details. It’s also a great way to find out if that IP address and VoIP phone number are used by spammers.
- To get the caller ID, you need to be already using a VoIP system.
- Access your VoIP phone screen and wait for it to retrieve the information from your router.
- After obtaining the IP address, you can perform an online IP WHOIS lookup to uncover details about the IP owner. A great tool for this purpose is IP2location.org, which allows you to access their location, hostname, contact details, and Internet Service Provider.
🚫Limitations
Sometimes, ISP information won’t directly reveal owner details, especially if they are masking their location using VPNs or proxies.
Check the Domain of the VoIP Number
Checking domain registrations connected to that VoIP phone number is also a great technique. Doing this demands that you have a VoIP system yourself. Here’s how:
- Go to your call logs within your VoIP service provider’s dashboard.
- In the call details, look for the field labeled “domain,” or you might find the domain name right away written like an email address. E.g., you might see something like “VoIPcompany.com”
- Using this domain name, you have a starting point of tracing back to the original VoIP provider. From there, you can find the individual user.
Check Phone Directory (Only Work for Fixed VoIP Number)
Fixed VoIP numbers used by businesses are sometimes listed in directories similar to traditional landlines. This is because these numbers, as we’ve explained before, are tied to a particular local area. So, you should check local directories connected to that local area code in the VoIP phone number. A good example is using the Whitepages or YellowPages for your search. Here’s how to use YellowPages:
- Go to YellowPages.
- Type in the phone number and change the location.
- Next, click on Find
- Wait for the results.
🚫Limitations
Using a phone directory starts with figuring out the actual fixed location connected to that VoIP phone number. If the number is severely customized, you may not have a lot of success.
Contact Your VoIP Service Provider
VoIP service providers issue the numbers to their service providers. This often demands that the caller register that number with a caller ID and associated IP address. So, you can contact them directly about information concerning the owner of the phone number. Here’s how to do this:
- Reach out to the VoIP service provider through their customer support or helpdesk
- You’ll have to provide your passport or some other identity card to verify who you are
- Next, provide them with the caller ID and time of call
- The provider will search through typical users and provide you with answers.
🚫Limitations
Do note that many VoIP service providers will only help if you have justification, such as a court order, since they are bound by privacy laws.
Search on Google
If other people have complained about that VoIP number or it’s listed on a website, your web searches can also prove useful. Searching on search engines like Google or Bing is one of the best ways to carry out a VoIP number lookup. To do this:
- Go to Google.com.
- Type in the VoIP number and hit the search button.
- Your search will return with possible details about the company using that phone number.
- It’s also a great way to see if the number has been spoofed by spammers.
🚫Limitations
You can’t search for hackers on Google. Usually, the success of your search depends on whether a business or public individual uses that VoIP number.
Search on Social Media Platforms
In the same way, searching on Google can help, you can also check your social media platforms. If the number has been linked to a spam or scam, people may have posted something about that. You can start your VoIP phone number search from the most popular social media platforms before the less common ones. Here’s how to search on a platform like Facebook:
- Login into your account at Facebook.com.
- In the search bar, enter the VoIP number (best remove the + sign).
- Wait for the search to return with any hits.
- Check the groups and posts for any details.
🚫Limitations
Searching on social media is a disorganized search. It will require a lot of effort to carry out a reverse VoIP number lookup through the different platforms available. Also, the results you find are limited to who has talked about that number before or if a business uses it.
Bonus Tips on Preventing VoIP Scams & Unwanted Calls
Being proactive about how you protect yourself is important to avoid harassment. Here are some tips that can help:
- Use caller ID apps: Apps like Truecaller can flag any suspicious calls that have been reported by other users as spam or used by malicious agents. This also happens automatically, stopping you from answering such calls in the first place.
- DNC lists: You can register your own number in Do Not Call lists to prevent telemarketing firms from calling you.
- Hang up immediately: if you receive a suspicious or unknown call, hang up instantly. Avoid having a conversation with the malicious agent to limit the risk of giving out sensitive information.
- Monitor call logs: Always check your call logs for any unfamiliar numbers that can indicate fraud.
- Educate yourself: Stay informed about any common VoIP scams. You should also share that knowledge with your friends and family.
- Use strong passwords: Make sure your VoIP accounts have strong and unique passports. You should also enable two-factor authentication to remain aware of account activities.
- Don’t call back: Never call phone numbers from unsolicited emails or texts sent to you.
- Report suspicious calls: Always report any scam or spam calls to your service provider and the relevant authorities.
FAQ
Is Textnow a VoIP number?
Yes, Texnow numbers use VoIP technology. So, it provides its users with virtual phone numbers for texting and calling over Wi-Fi networks without requiring cellular coverage.
How can you tell if someone is using a VoIP number?
Generally, it’s difficult to do so. But VoIP numbers may have an unfamiliar area code, have multiple zeros, or contain random characters. You can use reverse phone number lookup tools to uncover details about that phone number. Usually, reverse lookups like MLocator may reveal the owners’ name, address, and whether it matches spamming or scamming activities.
Is a VoIP number a scammer?
No, although VoIP spoofing is easier because of anonymity features compared to regular phone lines. You should know that legitimate businesses also use VoIP phone numbers. They do so because they are cheaper, more flexible, and scalable. So, VoIP systems aren’t only used by malicious persons.
Can I locate a VoIP Number?
Yes, you can locate a VoIP number in several ways. You can try contacting your VoIP service providers, carrying out a reverse phone number lookup, or leveraging IP tracking. Often, you’ll need to use multiple tools to get as many insights as possible from your VoIP phone number lookup.
Wrap Up
Carrying out a VoIP phone number lookup may be tricky, but it is worth it. From IP tracking to simple web searchers and contacting your service providers, all of these measures depend on the tools you have available. However, patience is super important to be able to access valuable insights about that mysterious phone number.
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