Phone Numbers are unique series of digits used for contact purposes through landlines and mobile phones. Although they are a fundamental element of telecommunications, phone numbers can be easily spoofed by spammers and scammers to trick their victims into calling or texting them.

Often, you can tell if a call is fake by check if a Phone Number is real up its information on online tools like Google or Zlookup. Such services can provide a number’s carrier, location, line type, and its active or disconnected status. It can also help you distinguish whether the number belongs to a landline or a mobile/cellular phone. It is also useful to check if the number is reported by users as spam or a scam.

How to Check if a Phone Number is Real: Tools and Tips

However, since these tools are usually free and public, it’s easy for scammers to spoof their phone numbers and make it look real. Some spoofed phone numbers even have the same area code as your own, so it’s still possible for a random person to use your number for telemarketing or overseas calls.

The best way to prevent such issues is by validating your business or customer phone numbers. This helps you connect with people who are likely to respond positively and avoids the hassle of handling bogus contacts.

One of the easiest ways to do this is by using a phone validation API service. Such an API runs in the background when someone fills up an online form on your website or app. It checks if a phone number is valid and active in real-time, which minimizes typos during data entry. It also prevents bad leads by flagging suspicious numbers.