If you ever received a mysterious call from a toll-free number and wondered who was on the other end of the line. Before you answer that call, remember that toll-free numbers aren’t always as trustworthy as they seem. Carrying out a toll-free number lookup is essential to verify the legitimacy of whoever is behind that call or text you received. This guide will help you gain valuable insights on how to make informed decisions about how to interact with a toll-free number.
What Is a Toll-Free Number?
Toll-free phone numbers are telephone numbers that do not require callers to pay the charges for their calls. Usually, businesses provide toll-free calls or texting avenues to allow their customers to reach them without paying the cost of the call or text. By doing so, the business or owner of the toll-free number pays the cost of that call or SMS. Thus, toll-free numbers are usually used by businesses to provide customer service and support for their customers.
Main Features of a Toll-Free Number
Toll-free phone numbers generally begin with specific 3-digit prefix codes that are recognizable. For instance, in the US, toll-free numbers can have codes like 800, 888, 833, 844, and 877. However, many other features distinguish toll-free numbers from other phone number types:
- Post-paid: Toll-free numbers usually require the owner to pay the bill for the calls after they’ve been made.
- Free for Callers: The most important feature is that callers don’t pay for the call.
- Global reach: Toll-free numbers enable businesses to reach their customers around the world without incurring long-distance charges.
- Call routing and management: Usually, you can transfer or route calls to different departments or agents based on different attributes to improve efficiency.
- Voicemail and Call recording: Toll-free numbers support being able to capture messages and save calls and text messages for quality assurance and training purposes.
- Analytics and reporting: Toll-free numbers often come with analytical tools that businesses can use to measure call volume, duration and other metrics.
- Virtual receptionist: Businesses can set up an automated attendant that greets callers and directs them to the correct agent or department.
- Integration with other systems: Toll-free call systems usually integrate with IVR, CRM and other business systems.
Proven Methods to Find Out Who Owns This Toll-Free Number Online
Typically, you can recognize a toll-free number right away. But it’s always a great idea to look up the toll-free number. Fortunately, there are amazing tools available for your toll-free phone number search.
800forall
800forall is a simple tool to carry out a toll-free number lookup and uncover who’s behind that phone call or text you received. It’s especially used when you want to verify legitimate phone service providers for any 10-digit toll-free number in the U.S.
🧐What Information It Can Lookup
- Phone company/service provider responsible for that number (not the business using it).
- Uncover its referral number.
- The length of time the phone number has been in use.
- Indicate whether the number might be a spare and available for use, or recently reserved for another business.
Somos
Somos is meant for businesses to verify if a toll-free number is available for your business. It’s a great tool for toll-free phone number lookup and can help verify toll-free numbers and their service providers.
🧐What Information It Can Lookup
- It checks whether a particular toll-free number is available or in use by another business.
- Provides its referral number.
- Identifies phone company/toll-free number service provider.
Toll Free Number Directory
Toll Free Number Directory provides a platform for carrying out a toll-free phone number search. Unlike other platforms, you can look up any toll-free number and find out more insights about the business that’s presently using that toll-free number.
🧐What Information It Can Lookup
- Finds business name and verifies if it’s legitimate.
- Provides the business’s other phone numbers, addresses and company’s website.
- Offers a summary describing the business.
Number Inventory
Number Inventory provides a great toll-free number lookup service to identify how available and legitimate a toll-free number is. It’s meant for use by businesses looking to set up their toll-free number. But it can offer insights if you’re trying to verify a toll-free number.
🧐What Information It Can Lookup
- Identifies the phone company or network service provider.
- Provides information about the status of the number, whether it’s available or reserved.
- Offers the service provider’s referral number.
Custom Toll Free
You can also look up a toll-free number using the Custom Toll-Free website. This comprehensive reverse toll-free number search tool will provide all the information you need to make the best decisions at any time.
🧐What Information It Can Find
- Identify the business that uses that toll free number.
- Uncover whether the number is available.
- Provides details about the phone company or network service provider.
800Response
800Response is also used by businesses to monitor the status of 800 toll-free numbers they want to get for their business. So, you can also use this tool to uncover whether that toll free number is being used by a legitimate business.
🧐What Information It Can Find
- Identify the business that uses that toll free number.
- Uncover whether the number is available.
- Provide details about the phone company or network service provider.
Alternative Ways to Find Out Who Owns a Toll Free Number
Besides using toll-free phone number lookup tools, there are other ways you can also verify its status and owner identity. Let’s look at these free toll-free number lookup techniques you can try.
One of the simplest ways to carry out a free toll-free number lookup is using the Google Search Engine. As long as the toll-free number is registered to a business that has a website or directory listing, Google will find it. To use this tool:
- Go to the Google search engine and type in the number (with its country code). Tap the Enter key
- Browse through the results.
Search on Social Media Platform
Some businesses don’t have websites or too many directory listings. However, they might have a social media account with platforms like Twitter and Facebook. Also if people have complained about being scammed via a particular toll-free number, they are more likely to complain about it on social media. This makes Twitter and Facebook, great places to carry out a toll-free number search.
On Facebook:
- Login to your account. Go to the search bar and type in the toll-free number.
- Browse through the results.
On Twitter:
- Log in and go to the search bar. Type in the toll-free number
- Browse through the results or tap on “latest” to see the most recent outcomes.
Call the number
Another smart way to directly look up a toll-free number is to call it from a different phone number. If they aren’t connected with the business they claim to be with, you might find them selling a different story when you call. However, also note that this method doesn’t always work. If you’re dealing with sophisticated scammers, there’s a great chance they might be able to catch on to your tactics.
How to Find out Who Owns a 1-800 Number
It’s important to know that using multiple steps to verify the legitimacy of that toll-free number is a necessary step. So, you should rely on any one tool as the ultimate resource but use a variety. Here’s what your process could look like:
- Start with a website lookup like 800forall.com by typing in the 10-digit toll-free number alongside its country code.
- Type the toll-free number and country code into Google or your favorite search engine.
- Consider searching for the number alongside keywords like organization, business or company if the first search engine query does not yield promising results.
- Type in the phone number into Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.
- Consider calling the number as the last resort.
- Finally, if you cannot find any information about the toll-free number, contact the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
Key Benefits of Look Up Toll Free Phone Number
Now let’s talk about the most important reasons why you should look up a toll-free phone number every single time, especially when you receive that random, out-of-the-blues call or text.
- Identify the caller: Knowing who is calling helps you determine whether to answer or ignore a call. It’s useful for avoiding unwanted sales calls or scams.
- Verify legitimacy: It helps you avoid dealing with fraudulent businesses or imposters.
- Resolve issues: If you have a problem with a company, knowing their correct toll-free number ensures you can contact them directly to resolve your issues as efficiently as possible.
- Provide feedback: You can be sure to provide feedback or complaints to the business and not some third-party agent.
- Stay safe: When you verify the caller, you can avoid potential scams or harassment.
- Get the best service: When considering a product or service, you want to make sure you have the correct toll-free number that leads to informed representatives for that business that can help you make an informed decision.
FAQ
How to check if a number is toll-free?
You can start by checking the number directly. This means it might begin with any of these specific prefixes: 800, 888, 866, 844, 833, or 877. You can also use a toll-free lookup service like 800forall, Somos or 800Response. Alternatively, you can also check Google or social media for insights about that toll-free number.
Do toll-free numbers have caller IDs?
Toll-free numbers may have caller ID depending on how the number was personalized by the organization or business that owns it. Some businesses choose to display the number alone while others add a specific message to make the toll-free number unique and recognizable. This in turn becomes the Caller ID, their customers see.
Can my phone carrier help me identify the owner of a toll-free number?
Some phone carriers may offer additional services or information about a toll-free number. However, they are not always able to provide specific details about the owner of that toll-free number. It’s better to use online lookup toll-free number services or contact the company directly to verify.
Wrap Up
Businesses use toll-free numbers to provide their customers with a free way to communicate with them. But often, they might not be the only ones using these numbers. Scammers can also use them as well. So, by understanding how to identify the owner of the toll-free number, using the variety of tools we’ve provided, you can protect yourself and make informed decisions at all times. Always verify who you’re communicating with to make the best of every situation.
