Is This a Scam Call? How to Check Any Phone Number

Robocalls and 'bank/IRS/support' scam calls almost always come from VoIP numbers. Here's how to check a number's carrier and fraud risk in seconds.

Scam and robocall operations overwhelmingly use VoIP (internet) phone numbers — they're cheap, anonymous, disposable, and easy to spoof. A real person or business calling you is almost always on a normal mobile or landline. Checking a number's line type and fraud score is the fastest way to tell them apart.

—The tells of a scam call

• The caller demands a verification code, gift cards, crypto, or remote access to your computer.
• They pressure you to act immediately or threaten arrest/account closure.
• Caller ID shows a familiar name or 'your bank' — caller ID is trivially spoofed.
• The number is a VoIP line with a high fraud score.

—Check the number

Look up the number to see if it's VoIP, which carrier it uses, and its fraud/scam risk score. Works for US and international numbers.

—Report it

Report scam calls to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and add your number to the Do-Not-Call registry. Legitimate telemarketers must scrub against it — a caller ignoring it is a red flag.