Truecaller Rolls Out Scam Checker Tool For Suspicious Users
Truecaller has launched Scam Checker, a web, and Android tool that allows users to check suspicious phone numbers, links, and messages without opening the company’s main app.
The company said the service brings its scam detection tools and community reports together in one place. Users can paste a suspicious link, enter a phone number or submit a message for analysis.
Scam Checker draws information from Truecaller’s ScamFeed, where users report and discuss suspected scams. The tool can also detect a phone number or link within a suspicious message and check it against the information available in its database.
For links, Scam Checker follows shortened URLs and redirects to determine their final destination. It then checks the link against Truecaller’s risk database and other fraud indicators to assess whether it may be associated with a scam.
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Users can search for phone numbers and view reports related to similar scams. However, accessing more detailed information about a number, including the name associated with it, still requires users to sign in through Truecaller’s existing service.
Truecaller initially launched Scam Checker in India and plans to expand the service to Latin America, the Middle East and Africa, Southeast Asia and other markets.
The launch expands Truecaller’s focus beyond identifying unknown callers. As scammers increasingly use text messages, messaging platforms and malicious links to target victims, the company wants to give users another way to verify suspicious content before clicking on a link or responding to a message.
Rishit Jhunjhunwala, Truecaller’s CEO, said people often turn to search when they receive something suspicious.
“When you need it, you’re usually somewhere else. The link shows up on WhatsApp. Your mum gets a message about a traffic fine. A friend forwards you a screenshot and asks, ‘Is this real?’ What people do at that moment is search,” he said.
The company said its ScamFeed already contains about 20,000 scam reports in India, with around 1,300 new reports being added each week.
Truecaller also said it evaluated 12.9 billion messages globally between September 14 and 20, of which 20.3 million were flagged as fraudulent.
The company estimates that users conduct about 14 million searches every month for suspicious links and phone numbers. Truecaller said this behaviour helped inform the development of Scam Checker.
The service also gives Truecaller insight into the types of scams users encounter. Community reports can show which forms of fraud are being reported at a particular time, although the company said Scam Checker is designed primarily as a consumer-facing service.
Truecaller plans to introduce additional scam detection features to the platform. The company also expects to add screenshot uploads, allowing users to submit images of suspicious messages for analysis.
The expansion comes as Truecaller’s traditional caller identification business faces changes in India, its largest market, where the company has more than 350 million users.
Telecom operators in India are introducing the government-backed Calling Name Presentation service, while Apple and Google already offer their own caller identification and spam protection features. India’s telecom regulator has also ordered caller ID apps to share user-submitted spam reports with telecom operators, a decision that Truecaller has criticised.
As a result, scam detection is becoming a larger part of Truecaller’s consumer offering rather than remaining focused primarily on incoming calls.
“Caller ID was the first problem we solved, and it’s still how most people find us. But scams moved to a more multichannel approach with links and messages, and increasingly to voice and video. Our protection has to follow the scammer,” Jhunjhunwala said.
Benefits of Truecaller Scam Checker
Checks suspicious phone numbers: Users can search unfamiliar numbers and see reports associated with potential scams.
Detects suspicious links: The tool can analyse links, including shortened URLs and redirects, to identify potentially risky destinations.
Checks suspicious messages: Users can submit messages for analysis to determine whether they may be linked to fraudulent activity.
Uses community scam reports: Scam Checker draws on Truecaller’s ScamFeed, which contains reports submitted by users about suspected scams.
Helps users avoid phishing: By checking suspicious links and messages before clicking or responding, users can reduce their exposure to phishing attempts.
Works outside the main app: Users can access Scam Checker through the web or Android without having to open the main Truecaller app.
Provides additional scam context: Phone-number searches can show reports of similar scams, helping users understand how a number may have been reported.
Checks the final destination of links: The service can follow shortened URLs and redirects before assessing the destination for potential risks.
Supports faster verification: Users can quickly check suspicious content when they receive it, rather than relying solely on guesswork or searching manually.
Expands protection beyond phone calls: Scam Checker addresses scams delivered through calls, messages and links, reflecting the increasingly multichannel nature of online fraud.
Truecaller is a Swedish technology company best known for its caller identification, spam detection and communication services. Founded in 2009 by Alan Mamedi and Nami Zarringhalam, the company developed a service that helps users identify unknown callers and block unwanted calls and messages. Over time, Truecaller expanded its platform to include features such as spam reporting, call blocking, messaging and fraud protection, supported by data from its large global user community.
