Reverse phone lookup or reverse phone search is the process of using a phone number to identify the caller details associated with it. It is not always advisable for Virginians to answer unknown calls without first running an online reverse check on the numbers calling them. While it could be a friend, family, or acquaintance, an unknown number could also be a scammer, robocall, or malicious person. Phone lookup services maintain comprehensive collections of landline and cellphone numbers and can provide the customer details attached to them. The search results will help you decide whether you want to call back, ignore, or block future calls from that number.
What are Virginia Phone Numbers?
Citizens and residents of Virginia usually use landline, cell phone, or VoIP phone numbers. While consumer choices are in favor of cellphones and more recently, VoIP, a small percentage of people are still using landlines exclusively.
According to the report published by the Center for Disease Control National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) in 2018, only 4.1% of Virginia households are using landlines only. This means that many Virginia homes have given up their landlines, with almost 50% of them using mobile phones exclusively. Along the same line, about 15% of the state’s households have an ambivalent relationship with phone technology, using both landlines and cell phones.
The carrier networks used by most Virginia phone users are AT&T, Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile, and Sprint. Verizon has the widest network coverage and enjoys the status of the best network in Virginia. AT&T comes second at a very close margin while T-mobile and Sprint are in third and fourth places, respectively.
Nearly four-fifth of voice calls in the U.S are wireless. People and businesses in Virginia are increasingly opting for modern and cheap voice communication options provided by Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services. As of 2018, more than 118 million people were using VoIP subscriptions in the United States alone. This day, the number of these subscribers is expected to be higher.
Can I Search a Phone Number and Find Out Who it is?
Yes, you can search for any landline, VoIP, and mobile phone number and find out who it belongs to through the online tools provided by reverse phone search services. These phone lookup portals sift through their extensive databases to uncover callers’ information.
To get the best results, there are many ways to search through these comprehensive online directories. They include phone number lookup by address and phone number lookup by name. You can also use a search term that includes a carrier like Verizon’s phone number lookup. When no result is found, it is possible that the phone number is fake or spoofed, which is very common with scammers, robocall operators, and other malicious actors.
What are Phone Lookup Services?
Phone lookup services provide online search tools for finding customer details associated with phone numbers. Caller ID phone feature has allowed users to identify callers before answering their phones. It is very common to get incoming calls from unfamiliar numbers, and the best way to identify unknown callers is by using phone number lookup services.
Unsurprisingly, scammers have found ways to bypass and fool caller ID in order to get people to answer their phones. These malicious users can disguise their caller IDs and modify them to show familiar numbers at the receivers' end. They use this tool to perpetrate a wide range of frauds and identity thefts. Knowing how scammers use VoIP, spoofed phone numbers, and fake caller IDs to scam unwary users is required to avoid falling victim.
What Information Can You Get from a Virginia Phone Number Lookup Search?
All reverse phone lookup services can find the full names of the individuals linked to phone numbers submitted for search. Most can also provide more specific biodata, such as the ages, genders, and addresses of the subjects of these searches. Paid phone lookup services can provide additional details related to this key information.
For example, they can search social media accounts to find current information about the individuals identified. By pulling data from public posts on social media platforms, they may be able to show subjects’ photos and their most recent activities shared online. Paid reverse phone lookup services may also be able to find historical records as long as these are publicly available.
A phone number lookup service is useful for identifying an unknown caller and determining whether they are robocalls, spam calls, or potential scammers. You can also use this tool to research callers claiming to represent businesses, charities, and government agencies. A reverse phone lookup search can determine the veracity of the claimed identities. Premium lookup services available for paid users can also alert users about phone numbers commonly associated with scammers, robocalls, and organizations with bad reputations.
What is a VoIP Number?
Modern phone technology has altered the conventional way of connecting with people. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is an internet phone service that allows users to make phone calls without having a traditional fixed phone line. With additional advantages such as flexibility, portability, cheaper costs, and wider reach, VoIP services have dramatically expanded the telecommunication landscape in the US.
Many available VoIP providers in Virginia assign virtual numbers that can be routed to many computers and mobile devices at the same time. These virtual numbers usually allow voice calls, texting, voicemails, and video calls and can support connections from any location in the world. Unfortunately, these superior benefits of VoIP are also very attractive to scammers and fraudulent people. For instance, scammers from any country in the world can obtain a virtual phone number bearing Virginia local codes. Hence, a call from a familiar area code may be from Virginia or anywhere else in the world.
Another VoIP feature embraced by scammers is the ability to create a fake caller ID that cannot be tracked to a particular name, location, photograph, device, or IP address. Also, because of the virtual nature of VoIP, scammers can create and destroy as many numbers as they wish. These tricky features make it complicated for reverse phone search services to look up and find the owners of these numbers.
Recognizing VoIP numbers from regular cell phone numbers requires technical savvy and the best precaution is to avoid answering calls from unknown numbers, even when the number is very familiar. At best, looking up the number on a reverse phone tool can reveal whether the call is from a registered phone user or not. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Virginia Attorney General’s Office (OAG) have raised awareness on how to spot and avoid malicious calls and emails from bad actors. Read on to learn some of these precautionary tips.
What is a Virginia Phone Number Area Code?
Virginia phone number area codes are the first three digits of every 10-digit phone number assigned in the state. These area codes are not included when dialing numbers in all local calling areas. The North American Plan was established in 1947 to be able to formulate a uniform phone numbering system. Area codes were established to indicate the regions or cities where calls originate.
What is a Virginia Phone Number Prefix Code?
Prefix codes are the first three digits of a 7-digit phone number and the middle three digits of a 10-digit phone number. In Virginia, prefix codes are also known as central office codes or exchange codes because they correspond to specific towns and localities within the state. Using (757) 123-4567 as an example:
- 757 is the area code
- 123 is the prefix code
- 4567 is the line number
+1 precedes every Virginia phone number that includes the country code. Using +1 (757) 123-4567, for example:
- +1 is the United States country code
- 757 represents the area code
- 123 is the prefix code
- 4567 is the line number specific to each phone line
Is There a Way to Lookup a Phone Number for Free in Virginia?
Yes, inquirers may use free reverse phone lookup websites to look up Virginia phone numbers. Reverse phone lookup websites allow individuals to search for information related to a phone number in order to discover who owns the number and other details, like their name, location, and address. Alternative to reverse phone look sites, inquirers can use social media platforms like Facebook or LinkedIn to search for a Virginia phone number. If the owner has their contact information posted on their account, it may be possible to determine who owns the number.
Inquirers may also use public record resources to search for a phone number in Virginia. Public records such as court documents, tax records, and business filings are often available online and can be used to trace the identity of an owner associated with a particular phone number.
Additionally, inquirers may contact their local government or law enforcement agencies in order to try and obtain information on who owns the phone number.
Finally, public libraries can also be great sources for finding information about Virginia phone numbers. Libraries usually have access to public records and often have staff who can help locate the information an individual is seeking.
Is Reverse Phone Lookup Legal in Virginia?
Yes. The Commonwealth of Virginia considers phone lookup searches legal to use to identify owners of unknown phone numbers. While the state does not have specific laws governing the use of this tool, it also does not regulate reverse phone lookup service providers but recognizes the importance of the service they provide, especially in curbing phone scams.
Therefore, residents of the state can use reverse phone number lookups as long as they do not use them to scam or harm others. While phone number lookup searches deliver personal details about subscribers registered to the numbers submitted, this does not constitute an invasion of privacy because they only pull information from public records.
