Getting a call from an unknown spam number can be incredibly frustrating, especially when you’re waiting for an important call. Today, hundreds of thousands of spam calls are sent out in the United States every day. This phenomenon has changed the way we use our phones, as many people refuse to pick up unknown numbers.
Dodging phone calls can be tiresome, especially when you’re getting 2-3 calls a day. Number Guru strives to put the power back in your hands by providing a free-to-use reverse phone lookup. This way you can finally see who is leaving all of those pesky calls.
Number Guru is a free service that allows you to look up information about the owner of a telephone number. It was launched by background check company Been Verified in 2011, and quickly became one of the most popular reverse phone services on the web. Number Guru has been featured by a number of prominent publications, including PCworld, BGR, Mashable.
Number Guru allows users to search for any North American telephone number. Search results will provide you with information such as the owner’s name, age, address, and social media profiles. It also allows you to see whether the number belongs to a telemarketer, scammer, or debt collector.
How Does Number Guru Work
Number Guru can be accessed through a website or downloaded through the Apple App Store. The service prompts you to enter a 10-digit North American phone number. Currently, Number Guru has information that covers about 100% of landlines, 100% of 800 numbers, and roughly 50% of cellphones.
Once you’ve entered the number, Number Guru brings you to a new page that shows any information they have on the entered number. This includes the phone type, general location, carrier, and the ‘spammer score.’ The spammer score is calculated by the amount of spam reports, which reported by other users who have received calls from that number.
More information can be extracted by clicking the Full Report button. This will provide a more detailed report on the caller, and lets you scroll through all other user comments. You will need to make a Number Guru account in order to access a Full Report.
Ways To Use Number Guru
Number Guru is a tool that helps you look up phone numbers and protect you from spam. There are a few different ways you can use Number Guru to gather information and make informed decisions.
Identify Unwanted Calls
Number Guru allows you to look up unknown callers and reveal whether or not they’re spam. Customers that use the site are able to report numbers as spam, and can leave comments describing the nature of the caller. Many users include details of the type of spammer, such as a telemarketer or robo-call.
Number Guru can also be used to verify debt collectors and toll free 800, 877, and 866 numbers.
Verify Background
Another popular use for the Number Guru service is using numbers to verify if someone is who they say they are. For example, say you’re looking to buy something online, but you aren’t sure whether the seller is legitimate. Searching their number will let you confirm their identity and make sure they’re not a scammer.
You can also use Number Guru to do background checks on people who you want to learn more about, such as someone who will be spending time with your family. This can be a community leader, your child’s coach, or a potential carpool co-worker.
Number Guru Limitations
Number Guru can look up just about any number in the United States, but there are various limitations that may prohibit the service use. Let’s take a look at a few of the legality issues that may inhibit your ability to look up a number through Number Guru.
Fair Credit Reporting Act
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a legislation that was created to protect the accuracy, fairness, and privacy of consumer information from consumer reporting agencies (CRAs). This law prevents inaccurate information from being reported on a credit report.
While Number Guru does not technically classify as a CRA, the service is still affected by the FCRA. The FCRA dictates that certain types of information searching must be accesses through credited CRAs, such as Equifax or TransUnion. These specific situations typically involve the user having a position of power over the subject of their search.
Educational Qualifications
There are times when you may want to check the validity of someone’s educational qualifications, such as when you’re looking to hire them. According to the FCRA, you cannot attempt to access a person’s educational qualifications through a non-CRA service such as Number Guru.
If you’re looking to follow up on educational qualifications, you may be able to contact the educational institution directly.
Employment Decisions
If you’re looking to hire someone for a company, it might be tempting to look up their number for more information. However, the FCRA states that information used for hiring must be found through a credited CRA service. Those who are looking to get more information on potential hires can use a CRA such as GoodHire or Complete Payroll.
This is also true when looking to hire domestic employees, such as house cleaners, babysitters, or landscapers. However, employees can use the service to screen their employers to make sure there’s nothing concerning in their background.
Financial Screening
You are unable to use the Number Guru services to make a decision regarding someone’s financial situation. For example, a company that sells insurance would be unable to use Number Guru to check an applicant’s credit worth.
All background checks involving a subject’s financial situation must be submitted through a proper CRA. Many of the most trusted CRAs provide these services, such as Experian’s Credit Profile Report.
Screening Tenants
Roommates and tenants are a complicated subject in the FCRA, and the rules can change based on the situation. All tenant background checks must be reported through a CRA to ensure the most accurate information. This rule also applies to any current tenant looking to sublet their property.
Users who are entering a new lease with are free to use Number Guru to look up information on potential roommates. This exception applies since you would have no landlord power over the roommate. As long as the roommate is also signing a lease with your landlord, you are free to check on them through Number Guru.
Ways To Access Number Guru
As we mentioned before, there are several ways that you can access Number Guru. Below is a brief description of the various ways to access Number Guru’s services.
Website
The Number Guru website is easy to use, and does not require any personal information. The main page has a search bar that allows you to look up any 10-digit number without needing to sign up. They also show you recent activities, and provide links to view the most searched and most commented numbers.
The Number Guru website also has more information on the service, including FAQ and Do’s and Don’ts pages. These provide more information on the best ways to use the service.
App Store
The Number Guru is currently free to download on the Apple App Store, though there are upgrades you can purchase. The main service is similar to the website in that you can search for any 10-digit US number. However, you will need to watch an ad or buy the premium app to access the retrieved information.
The Number Guru app has a special Spam ID feature, though it is currently in Beta testing. This feature allows the app to indicate whether or not an incoming call is from a spam number. There’s also a feature that connects directly to your Contacts app, which the app claims helps “provide better search results.”
Android App
There is a Number Guru app for Andriod users, which you can currently download from Amazon Appstore. The Andriod version is very similar to the Apple app, though some customers complain that it is not as stable. Many customers complain that most of the numbers they check come back as ‘unavailable.’
According to their website, the Number Guru app should be available on the Google Play store in the near future.
Do We Recommend Number Guru?
Spam calls can be frustrating, especially if you get several calls a day. If you’re curious about who is calling you, Number Guru can be a great way to get a little more information at no cost. It can also be used to verify that someone is who they say they are, such as an online seller.
No matter what number you’re looking for, Number Guru will provide you with relevant information that is constantly updated.
