Frequently Asked Questions

CheckScamNumber is a community-driven platform that helps Americans identify and avoid phone scams. We maintain a database of reported scam phone numbers, provide educational resources about common scam tactics, and offer tools to help protect yourself from phone fraud.

Our mission is to make phone calls safe again by empowering users with information and protection resources.

Yes. Core features are available at no cost. This includes:

• Looking up phone numbers in our database
• Submitting reports about scam calls you've received
• Accessing educational resources about phone scams
• Creating a basic account

We do offer premium features for users who want enhanced protection, but these are entirely optional.

We take accuracy very seriously and have implemented multiple verification methods:

• Community reporting with multiple confirmations
• Pattern recognition algorithms that detect common scam signatures
• Manual review by our fraud analysts for suspicious reports
• Partnerships with telecom providers to validate dangerous numbers

Most reports are reviewed by moderators and compared against reputable sources to improve reliability.

If you believe a number has been incorrectly flagged, please contact us to report it.

Government impersonation scams occur when fraudsters pretend to be from a government agency like the IRS, Social Security Administration, or FBI. Common tactics include:

• Claiming you owe taxes and will be arrested if you don't pay immediately
• Saying your Social Security number has been suspended due to suspicious activity
• Threatening deportation or legal action unless you provide payment or personal information
• Offering government grants or stimulus payments for a "processing fee"

Important: Real government agencies will never call and demand immediate payment, especially via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. They typically contact you by mail first.

Tech support scams involve callers claiming to be from well-known technology companies like Microsoft, Apple, or a computer security service. They'll tell you they've detected viruses or other problems on your computer and offer to fix them for a fee.

The scammer will typically:

• Request remote access to your computer
• Show you fake "errors" or "warnings" that look scary but are harmless
• Pressure you to purchase unnecessary software or support services
• Sometimes install actual malware while they have access to your system

Remember: Legitimate tech companies don't make unsolicited calls about technical problems with your devices. They wait for you to contact them for support.

Robocalls use automated dialing systems to deliver pre-recorded messages to thousands of phones simultaneously. While some robocalls are legitimate (appointment reminders, school closings), many are scams designed to:

• Collect "press 1" responses to identify active phone lines
• Get you to call back a premium-rate number that charges fees
• Connect you with a scammer once you express interest
• Trick you into saying "yes" which can be recorded and used to authorize fraudulent charges

Common robocall scams include fake auto warranty extensions, credit card interest rate reductions, health insurance offers, and "urgent" messages about your accounts.

Pro tip: If you receive an unexpected robocall, the safest option is to hang up immediately without pressing any buttons.

If you receive a call that seems suspicious, follow these steps:

1. Don't provide personal information - Never give out Social Security numbers, account details, passwords, or other sensitive information.
2. Don't engage with the caller - It's usually best to hang up rather than trying to "play along" or waste their time.
3. Verify independently - If the caller claims to be from a company or agency you know, hang up and call them back using a phone number from their official website or a bill.
4. Check CheckScamNumber - Look up the number in our database to see if others have reported it as a scam.
5. Report the call - Submit a report to CheckScamNumber and consider reporting to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Remember that legitimate organizations won't pressure you to make immediate decisions or payments over the phone.

You can take several steps to reduce unwanted and scam calls:

• Register with the National Do Not Call Registry at DoNotCall.gov (though this only stops legitimate telemarketers, not scammers)
• Use your phone carrier's call blocking tools - Most major carriers offer free call blocking services
• Install a call blocking app like Nomorobo, Hiya, or Truecaller
• Don't answer calls from unknown numbers - Let them go to voicemail first
• Be careful where you share your phone number - Check privacy policies before providing your number to businesses
• Report scam calls to CheckScamNumber and the FTC to help protect others

Remember that completely eliminating scam calls is difficult, but these measures can significantly reduce their frequency.

If you've already responded to a scam call or provided information/money, take these steps immediately:

1. If you sent money:
   • Contact your bank or credit card company to report the fraud and request a charge reversal
   • If you wired money through a service like Western Union or MoneyGram, contact them right away
   • If you paid with gift cards, contact the company that issued the card
2. If you shared personal information:
   • Change passwords for any compromised accounts
   • Place a fraud alert on your credit reports at Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax
   • Consider a credit freeze for maximum protection
   • Monitor your accounts closely for unauthorized activity
3. Report the scam:
   • File a complaint with the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
   • Report to local law enforcement, especially if you lost money
   • Submit a report to CheckScamNumber to warn others

Remember, the faster you act, the better your chances of recovering lost funds or preventing identity theft.

Reporting a scam call to CheckScamNumber is simple:

1. Click the "Report a Scam" button on our homepage or in the navigation menu
2. Enter the phone number that called you
3. Select the type of scam (IRS impersonation, tech support, etc.)
4. Provide details about what the caller said or asked for
5. Indicate whether you lost money or shared personal information
6. Submit the report

You can report anonymously, but creating an account helps with verification and lets you manage your submissions. The more detail you share, the more helpful it is to others.

After you submit a report, the following process occurs:

1. Initial Review: Our system checks for patterns consistent with known scams and compares it to existing reports.
2. Verification: For new or unusual reports, our team may conduct additional verification.
3. Publication: Once verified, the report is published to our database, making the information available to other users.
4. Aggregation: Your report is combined with others about the same number to establish patterns and risk levels.
5. Notifications: Users who have set alerts for that number or area code may receive notifications.

If you created an account, you can track the status of your report in your dashboard. Most reports are processed within 24 hours.

Yes, we encourage you to report scams to official government agencies in addition to CheckScamNumber. This helps authorities track trends and take action against scammers.

Key places to file reports include:

• Federal Trade Commission (FTC): Report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
• Federal Communications Commission (FCC): File complaints about unwanted calls at consumercomplaints.fcc.gov
• FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): For scams involving internet communications at www.ic3.gov
• Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA): For IRS impersonation scams at www.tigta.gov

If you've lost money, also file a report with your local police department. This documentation can be important for pursuing financial recovery.

Creating an account on CheckScamNumber provides several benefits:

• Track your reports and see when they're verified
• Set up custom alerts for specific area codes or phone numbers
• Save phone numbers to your watchlist for ongoing monitoring
• Access your search history to revisit previously checked numbers
• Contribute to the community with verified reports that help others
• Receive notifications about new scam trends in your area

Registration requires only an email address and password, and we never share your personal information with third parties.

To update your account information:

1. Log in to your CheckScamNumber account
2. Click on your profile icon in the top right corner
3. Select "Profile" or "Settings" from the dropdown menu
4. Update your information as needed
5. Click "Save Changes" to apply your updates

You can update your email address, password, notification preferences, and other account settings from this page. For security reasons, changing your email address or password may require confirmation through your current email.

If you wish to delete your CheckScamNumber account:

1. Log in to your account
2. Go to "Settings" from your profile dropdown menu
3. Scroll to the bottom of the page to find the "Delete Account" section
4. Click "Delete My Account"
5. Confirm your decision by entering your password

When you delete your account:

• Your personal information will be removed from our system
• Your scam reports will remain in the database but will become anonymous
• You'll lose access to your report history and custom alerts
• This action cannot be undone

If you're experiencing issues with our service, please consider contacting us before deleting your account, as we may be able to address your concerns.