Reverse Phone Lookup: How It Works

Reverse Phone Lookup

You need a reverse phone lookup when you receive a call from an unknown number. This allows you to avoid calling back directly. 

The easiest way to identify unknown callers is to call them back. However, if you’d like to avoid that, you can perform a reverse lookup (also known as an inverse lookup) on the following websites. Both landline and cell phone numbers are listed there.

) are listed there. Both landline and cell phone numbers are listed there.

• Das Örtliche Reverse Lookup, DasTelefonbuch Reverse Lookup and 11880 Reverse Lookup are resources for reverse lookups.
• Please note that reverse lookups in Germany and many other countries are subject to data protection restrictions. Specifically, this means: It only works if the owner of the number has consented to its publication, e.g., for landline numbers in the public phone book. For cell phone numbers or private numbers, the search is usually unsuccessful unless consent has been given.
• Telemarketing calls, call centers, or spam numbers rarely appear under real names. In these cases, the classic reverse lookup can often be unsuccessful.
• You should be especially cautious with unknown numbers from abroad. Return calls can be cost traps, such as so-called ping calls, where the line is only briefly rang to provoke a return call. You should therefore not make return calls to Africa, Eastern Europe, or exotic countries (e.g., +216, +252, +881) should therefore not be made without clear identification. When in doubt, the best solution is to block the number and ignore it.

• One option is the Truecaller app. It automatically identifies unknown callers using a global user database and also displays ratings, spam warnings, and user feedback.
• You can download the app for both Android and iOS.
• Alternatives include Tellows, Clever Dialer, and Whoscall. These apps offer similar features and some have a local focus and community ratings.