It is common for people to ask, “How do I find out who called me on this number?” Often this happens when you’ve received a surprise call from an unknown phone number. Then you’re plagued by indecision about whether to respond. Chances are, you want to avoid scams and fraudulent calls. But unknown callers can also be delivery drivers, essential calls from your doctor or your children’s school, among others. This article will show you the exact steps to identify who called and decide how to respond confidently.
Understanding Brazilian phone numbers
To effectively find out whose number called you for free, the first step is truly understanding Brazilian phone numbers. Typically, in its full international format, a Brazilian phone number includes the country code (+55), a two-digit area code and an eight or nine-digit local number.
When you call phone numbers in Brazil from abroad, you use the complete international format (For example, +55 (XX) 8XXX-XXX). However, if you are also in Brazil and calling someone else in the country, you only need the area code and their local number. Hence, your calls look like XX 8XXX XXX.
Beyond that, mobile subscriber phone numbers are usually nine digits long and always start with the digit 9. Hence, calls from mobile phone numbers in Brazil would look like this (+55 (XX) 9XXXX-XXXX).
In contrast, landline numbers are eight digits long, beginning with 2, 3, 4, or 5, and would look like XXXX-XXXX.
Don’t forget the area code, which ranges from 11 to 99 to specify the geographic region within Brazil. For example, Sao Paulo is 11, Brasilia is 61, and Rio de Janeiro is 21.
How can I find out who called me by number in Brazil?
Now, let’s talk about all the best strategies to identify an unknown number in Brazil. These techniques work whether you’re trying to seek information about a local Brazilian phone number or not.
Call back
The most immediate action you could take is simply dial the number back. However, you must proceed carefully. If you suspect it’s a scam, avoid it. If it were a legitimate call, you would get the information quickly. That said, if the call goes through or the person on the other end doesn’t know what you’re talking about, there’s a good chance it was a telemarketing robot or scam attempt.
Search the number on Google
Google is one of the most powerful solutions to the question: How do I see whose number called me for free? You could copy and paste their complete phone number on Google and instantly scan billions of records. If the phone number is associated with a company, you’ll see the results immediately, usually on their website, Google Business Pages, or directories. If other people have reported it on forums or complained about it on social media, you’ll also get that information. Here are some ways to maximize the results:
- Copy and paste the phone number with and without the +55 country code.
- Also, try again using parentheses or spaces to force Google to identify it as a phone number (e.g., “(11) 98765-4321” or “11 98765 4321”).
- You can also paste the phone number alongside key terms like “scam”, “social media’ “company” and so on.
With the Brazilian phone number lookup
Online tools specialized in reverse phone lookup can yield more results than a simple Google search. This is because they can cross-reference millions of public databases, property records, and more.
CellPhone Location
CellPhone Location is a fantastic reverse lookup tool that helps you uncover extensive information about hundreds of Brazilian phone numbers. With this tool, you can identify their carrier, property records, location information and even the associated name. It’s a fantastic solution that lets you find all the information you’re looking for in a single report. To use this convenient tool:
- Enter the number you want to search for (plus the country and area code).
- Wait for the search to commence.
- Enter your email address.
Lookup number in Brazilian spam databases
If you already suspect the person on the other end of the call, then you should check Brazil’s official spam databases. These websites depend on official and community channels to help you access complaints and other information that other people have uploaded about those spam numbers. Even though malicious hackers change their phone numbers all the time, there’s always a chance they would use it. You’ll access this information on this website to see their reputation.
Qual Empresa Me Ligou
The Qual Empresa Me Liguo website is an essential platform for identifying unknown business callers. Hence, if you’ve received a call from someone claiming to be from a government organisation or a Brazilian company, you can verify the information there. What’s really beneficial about this website is that when the phone number isn’t connected to any legal entity, you’ll find reports made by other users. Hence, it’s a handy tool for viewing crowdsourced user reports on telemarketing, collections, and potential scam numbers. To use this:
- Go to the Qual Empresa Me Ligou website.
- Enter the phone number and access reports made by others.
Consulta Número Anatel (ABR Telecom)
Consulta is an official portal linked to Anatel, the Brazilian telecommunications agency. On this platform, you won’t find the identity of the owner of that phone number. However, you’ll see whether the phone number is legally registered, active, suspected, and more. In some cases, you’ll be able to identify the company responsible for 0300 and 4000-type numbers. Therefore, it is useful when you want to verify the legitimacy of corporate numbers. Here’s how it works:
- Go to Consulta Numero Anatel
- Type in the phone number in the space provided.
- Hit the enter key.
Check WhatsApp
People generally add their profile picture and any other information to their WhatsApp account. You can add the phone number to your contact list and try to start a conversation with them via the messaging app. However, note that if the person has kept the information private, you might not find it. Also, if they are scammers, you might only see the information they’ve intentionally placed there. Note that you don’t have to send a message to perform the check.
Social media networks like Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn are also suitable for finding out who called you from that Brazilian phone number. Many users, especially those connected to small businesses, publish posts with their phone numbers for easy access. Other private individuals might link their profiles to their phone numbers as well. Here’s how you could use both situations to your advantage. Here’s an example using Facebook:
- Go to Facebook.com on your mobile or computer.
- Enter the phone number and press the search button.
- If it’s connected to any posts, you’ll see it right away.
- Alternatively, go to your smartphone and store the phone number.
- Then sync your phone contacts to Facebook.
- Finally, go to Facebook’s “People You May Know” and their account would be suggested to you.
Use third-party apps
Some fantastic third-party apps work in real time to identify unknown numbers. These apps usually have community-generated databases that they can cross-reference these numbers against. Many also have other features to block spam calls and look up complaints about such phone numbers from other users.
Truecaller
Truecaller is one of the most popular apps for real-time caller ID lookup in Brazil. It works by leveraging an extensive social network of phone numbers. Plus, when someone with Truecaller reports a spam number, you’ll see that label when that phone number calls you. You’ll also like the extra features, such as the blocklist and manual search. Here’s how you can begin using Truecaller:
- Go to the Truecaller website or download it directly from your app store.
- Install the app and follow the prompts to register your account.
- You’ll have to give permission and access to your own phone book.
- Once set up, Truecaller will identify any spam calls in future.
Real Caller
Real Caller is a fantastic caller ID lookup that’s also popular in Brazil. You can set up this app on your Android phone to seek information about any other person on the app. There’s also the added feature for adding numbers to the block list to stop them from calling you again. To begin using this solution:
- Install the app from the Android Play Store.
- Follow the prompts to set up as your default caller ID app.
- After setting up, once you receive calls, it works automatically.
Common unknown calls in Brazil
Unknown calls remain a significant nuisance in Brazil, partly due to a lack of effective regulations and the ease of contracting automatic dialling services. Here are the reasons why you might receive high volumes of these unwanted calls.
- Telemarketing & sales call: You might receive unwanted calls from companies selling their products, services or data plans.
- Delivery drivers: If you’ve previously bought something online, you might receive calls from the delivery driver asking for directions on how to get your items to you.
- Verification calls: Banks and services might call to confirm suspicious transactions or the authenticity of a registration.
- Data sharing: Your phone number could be added to call lists and sold to marketing companies if you subscribed to a service or shared your number with a business.
- Improper debt-collection calls: Many Brazilians receive calls from collection agencies seeking information about people they don’t know.
- Technical/network issues: Sometimes technical glitches or differences in international telecommunications systems can prevent a caller’s information from being transmitted. Instead, you get the “Unknown caller” or “No Caller ID” label even when it’s a friend.
- Scam attempts: Scammers use unknown numbers to try various kinds of fraud, such as fake kidnapping schemes, impersonation of banks/government agencies, and more.
Tips to stay safe when receiving unknown calls
While you can’t completely stop receiving unknown calls, there are a few tips you can bear in mind to minimize being exposed to scams or spammers.
- Never share PIX codes, SMS codes, passwords, or bank account details: Be wary of any unknown caller who asks for personal information, including your bank account details, codes sent via SMS, passwords, or your Brazilian CPF (taxpayer ID). Legitimate companies would never ask for that over the phone.
- Use call-blocking apps: Consider third-party apps that let you automatically block calls from spam numbers.
- Avoid clicking links sent by unknown callers: If you receive an SMS or WhatsApp message with a link, don’t click it. It’s a typical “phishing” tactic to steal your login credentials.
- Block and report suspicious numbers: Your smartphone includes caller-blocking features. You can use that to diligently block spammers and scammers from calling you again.
FAQ
How do I know if the call came from São Paulo or Rio?
Look at the DDD (area code). If the phone number starts with 11, the carrier registered the link in the São Paulo region. Alternatively, if it began with 21, it’s from the Rio de Janeiro region. You can also use tools like CellPhone Location to find as much information as possible about the number’s base location.
How can I identify the contact’s name when receiving a call?
The most effective way is to use a caller ID app, which helps you check. You can always check online, either on Google or with tools like CellPhone Location. These tools would check the number against a database and find their registered name, address, social media profiles and more.
What if the number is private or withheld?
When the phone number is private or withheld, it usually shows as “Private Number” or “No Caller ID”. In such cases, identification is more difficult because the caller has intentionally hidden their identity. The best action is not answering. If it’s essential, they might try contacting you through another means or sending you a message.
Conclusion
We’ve shared many excellent tools to help you find out who called your phone number in Brazil. You can use these solutions whether you’re just trying to satisfy your curiosity or protect yourself. Always start with a quick Google search, and you can use a reverse phone lookup tool like CellPhone Location. Remember, you can increase your chances of finding as much information as possible by combining different techniques. And above everything else, never provide your personal information over the phone.
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