Have you ever wanted to carry out a toll-free phone number lookup? Most businesses set up these phone numbers to build relationships with their customers, which is probably why you often receive calls from them. Plus, they are also easier to trace than regular phone numbers. In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know to find out who owns a toll-free number.
What is a toll-free number?
A toll-free phone number allows callers to reach businesses or organizations without being charged for the call. When you call in, the company takes care of the bill for the call. Usually, systems like International Toll Free Service (ITFS) and Universal International Freephone Numbers(UIFN) also enable cross-border calling without charges to the caller.
However, you might still be charged other fees attached to that call as well, especially when it’s a long-distance call. Toll-free phone numbers are used for customer service, telemarketing/sales calls, or helplines to encourage customer engagement. It’s also important to note that toll-free numbers vary by country. Here are some examples of toll-free numbers in the U.S.
- 800
- 888
- 877
- 866
- 855
- 844
- 833
Why look up a toll-free number?
There are many benefits and expectations of checking out who owns a toll-free number. They include:
- Identify the company or organization: First, running a phone number lookup helps you gain clarity about who you’re contacting.
- Verify legitimacy: You can check that the person or organization behind that number isn’t fraudulent or involved in malicious activities.
- Report unwanted calls: It also helps protect you from harassing or persistent calls from the wrong people.
How to look up a toll-free phone number
Now that we’ve discussed the importance of looking up these numbers, you might want to know the most effective ways to do so. Granted, not all toll-free phone number search techniques will turn up helpful information. But our list includes methods that will find valuable insights in a few minutes.
Use the toll-free reverse directory
Specialized toll-free reverse directories offer a direct path to the results you want. These directories will provide accurate business details, including the name of the business and much more.
800forall
800forall is a free directory that allows you to search for toll-free phone numbers to find registered businesses in no time. Note that this lookup service won’t find the name of the particular brand using that number. Instead, you’ll find the carrier company that the brand is registered with and the reference number, which is the centralized support point that you can reach out to. Here’s how it works:
- Visit the 800forall website.
- Enter the number in the search bar and click the “See who owns it” button.
- Review results, which include the carrier (network provider) name, status, and reference number.
Toll-Free Number Directory
This directory is also a great searchable database for toll-free numbers. Specifically, this database will help you find the actual name of the business that uses it. However, note that not all 800 toll-free numbers are searchable via this directory. To use it:
- Go to the toll-free number directory and type in the number.
- Click the “Search business name or number” button.
- Wait for the results.
With reverse phone lookup
If you don’t find the results you desire using a toll-free directory, you can try a reverse phone lookup tool. Services like LocatePhone will scan public records, property records, business listings, and more to identify unknown callers. LocatePhone is especially thorough. With this tool, you can look up toll-free numbers to uncover the name of the individual or business behind that call, their social media profiles, addresses, and more. Here’s how it works:
- Go to the LocatePhone reverse phone lookup website.
- Set the country code.
- Enter the toll-free number and hit the lookup button.
- Wait for the search to commence.
- Click the “Unlock All Results” button.
- Enter your email address to continue.
Search toll-free number on Google
If the company using that toll-free phone number has an established website or simple page on the internet, then your Google search can easily find them. Usually, searching like this would lead to their support or contact ages as well. And in the same vein, if the toll-free number isn’t used by a business but a scammer, you may find forum results created by people narrating their own experience. Here’s how it works:
- Type the number directly into the Google search bar and hit the Enter key.
- Try again using the country code.
- Check search results for business listings, forums or scam reports.
- You can also add keywords like “who owns” or “company” to refine the results.
Check the company website
Often, you may have curiously picked a call from that toll-free number and they made claims about belonging to a certain company. If this happens, then you need to verify by checking out the original company website. This is where you’ll find insights about the company’s reputation, insights about the campaign they claim to be running and more. Here’s how to do this:
- Visit the official website you were given.
- Try again by typing just the name into Google to see if they spoofed a real company.
- Look for the contact pages and compare the listed number with the one you’re researching.
- If the number is different, consider calling the number on the company’s website for clarification.
- You should also search manually for the company on forums and social media.
Call the number
If other methods fail, you can also call the toll-free phone number directly. Usually, you’ll listen to an automated greeting where the business might likely state their name. You should ask to speak to a representative who represents the company. That said, use this method only as last resort. Usually, if it’s scammers, they might provide false information about a legitimate company to confuse you. When in doubt, if the offer sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.
FAQ
How to trace an 800 number?
You can trace an 800 number or any other toll-free prefix by using toll-free directories like 800forall or reverse phone lookup tools like LocatePhone. If you also have caller ID enabled on your phone, it might automatically pick up who’s behind that call. Also, note that you won’t always find information on every toll-free number especially when it’s unlisted.
Can anyone get a toll-free number?
Yes, any business or individual can get a toll-free number. Usually, they will register the phone number through a phone carrier or VOIP provider and pay annual or monthly fees. So, in the same way, scammers can also obtain toll-free numbers. Hence, you should always verify unknown callers even when they claim to be from legitimate businesses.
Who owns 877 numbers?
877 numbers are owned by businesses, nonprofits, or individuals who registered them through telecom carriers, VOIP providers or toll-free resellers. You can find who owns that toll-free number by using a reverse phone lookup tool like LocatePhone or searching the number on Google.
Do toll-free numbers have Caller ID?
Yes, toll-free numbers support Caller ID. However, businesses often customize the display for that toll-free number. And in the same way Scammers can use real names of legitimate companies. Some numbers may also show as “toll-free” or “unknown” if blocked. This is why you should always lookup toll free numbers to verify legitimacy.
Conclusion
Toll-free numbers are often set up by businesses to connect with their customers. But scammers and malicious actors can also use them. This is why you should always carry out a toll free phone number lookup. Fortunately, there are different ways to do so which we have talked about in this article.
Remember, not all toll-free numbers can be traced because some would be unlisted or newly registered. But these techniques we’ve talked about improve your chances of identifying who’s behind them. By using these techniques, you can confidently screen calls and protect yourself.
