Each of us has at least once encountered a situation where an unknown phone number has caused doubt – to answer or not? Is it a valid call, a commercial offer, or perhaps an attempted scam? In today’s reality, when spam calls are extremely common, it is useful to know ways to effectively check who is calling to avoid unwanted interactions. Here are some useful tips to help you protect yourself from spam and phone scammers.

Use number search tools

The first step to finding out who is calling you is to use phone number lookup tools. There are many websites and applications that allow you to do a so-called reverse number search. Services such as NumLooker, Truecaller, tellows.co.uk and Google allow you to quickly find information about a phone number. You enter a number, and the system shows whether it has been reported as spam before, who may own it, and what other users’ comments are.

With such tools, you can find out whether the number is assigned to a company, an institution or perhaps a private individual. In some cases, you can even see the number’s location and related social media profiles. This is very useful when you are not sure if a number is worth answering.

Spam blocking apps

If you want to avoid unwanted calls, spam blocking apps are a good solution. Applications such as Truecaller, Hiya or Should I Answer? automatically recognize suspicious phone numbers, mark them as spam and block calls from those numbers. You can also add numbers to a blacklist yourself so that you never receive calls from them again.

Moreover, modern smartphones have built-in spam identification features. For example, Android phones and iPhones can automatically flag unwanted calls based on data collected by users. In your phone’s settings, you can enable options to block suspicious calls and spam messages.

Check the number in online communities

One of the most effective ways to verify numbers is to use online communities. Sites such as tellows.co.uk and spamcalls.net allow users to report and rate unknown numbers. The community shares information about the nature of the calls, so you can easily find out if the number is associated with scammers, debt collection companies, intrusive telemarketers or fake offers.

Just search for a given number on such services to see if other users have reported similar problems. This allows you to make an informed decision about whether it’s worth picking up the phone or blocking the number permanently.

Report suspicious numbers to your operator

Mobile operators often offer tools to block and identify spam. If you are getting intrusive calls from the same number, it is worth reporting the number directly to your carrier. Most telecom operators have hotlines or forms where unwanted numbers can be reported. Operators monitor requests and can put additional blocking at the network level, which will effectively protect you from intrusive calls.

It’s also worth remembering the features offered by operators, such as blocking out-of-country numbers and warning of suspicious calls. Using such options can significantly reduce the number of spam calls.

Be careful when answering calls

Although technology can help protect against spam, it’s always a good idea to use common sense. If you don’t recognize the number, especially if it’s from abroad or looks suspicious, it’s best not to answer it. Scammers often use manipulative techniques in an attempt to defraud people of personal or financial information by impersonating well-known institutions such as banks or government agencies.

Never give out sensitive data such as passwords, bank account numbers or payment card codes over the phone, especially if you are not sure who is on the other end. If in doubt, it is better to hang up and call the institution yourself to verify the connection.

In an age of incessant scam attempts and intrusive calls, it is useful to know how to check who is calling you. Using online tools, spam-blocking applications, and reporting suspicious numbers to your carrier are effective ways to avoid unwanted calls. Also remember to always be cautious when answering unknown numbers and not to give out your personal information without proper verification.

With these methods, you can better protect your privacy and avoid unnecessary problems.Check out ITH Tele’s telephony service offerings here.