How to use truecaller to identify and report scammers

By Mfidie Last updated Sep 14, 2022

In addition to identifying unknown numbers, truecaller also allows you to report unwanted calls as spam, which you can then choose to block in the future.

There are numerous reasons why you may want to report an unknown number as spam; these include scareware calls and phishing attempts, or simply someone who won’t stop calling you. Here’s how to use truecaller to identify and report scammers

About truecaller

Truecaller is a Swedish company that allows people to identify unknown callers, numbers, or businesses. It also helps with the process of reporting fraud or scams by connecting users with relevant authorities.

When you receive a phone call from someone not in your contacts list, the app will ask you if you want to identify the number. Once identified, it’s up to you whether or not you want to answer their call.

How does truecaller works

Truecaller searches your phone contacts, social media networks, address book, and call logs. If there is a match with the number you are looking up (given access), it will give you their name if they are in your address book.

If they are not in your address book or social media profile but you have their phone number saved as a contact, then it will let you know that this number belongs to someone with this particular phone number who has at least once called you.

How to use truecaller to identify scammers

Download the app for your phone
Register or login with your credentials.
Run the search for the number you want to investigate.
Click on their name and a screen will pop up with all of their info.
If they are identified as a scammer, click on report.
You can also call them from your truecaller app by clicking on their number if you have a premium account and then pressing Call.
Press the Record button before you answer. You’ll be able to talk with them live.
When they hang up, it will automatically save the conversation in your folder.

How to use truecaller to report scammers

Once you’ve identified a number that’s either called you or sent you a message as a scammer, open the Truecaller app on your phone and tap on the Profile icon in the top right corner.
Tap on the Block button under their name to block them so they can’t bother you again.
To report the number, tap on their profile to view all their information.
Tap on Report in red text at bottom of their profile. A popup window will then open, giving you two options: I don’t know or Spam.
If you think it’s a spam number that is not yet blocked by Truecaller, choose I don’t know as your reason for reporting them so we can keep improving our detection mechanisms.
If you’re sure it’s a scammer, choosing Spam will make sure they get banned from using Truecaller.
Once you’ve chosen your reason for reporting, tap on Report, and scammed numbers will be kept away from you.

How to block scammers with truecaller

On the Truecaller app, you can set up phone numbers you want ignored. This can be very helpful if you are dealing with a scammer who keeps calling your phone number and you are unable to get them off of the line. You can block their number on the app so that they cannot contact you at all from that point forward. To do this,

Open and log into the app with your credentials.
Go to My Number in the left-hand menu on the app and click Blocked Numbers in the right-hand menu.
From there, you will see a list of any blocked phone numbers. Find the number that is bothering you by scrolling through or searching for it by name or number.
Click on it to confirm it is blocked, then click Block Contact to finalize the process.

Conclusion

Use Truecaller to find out who’s on the other end of a phone call. If it is a number that you don’t recognize, tap Block on the contact details page.

The person will be prevented from texting or calling you again. You can also tap Report in order to send your complaint about the number directly to Truecaller for further investigation. Remember, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.