If you’ve received a phone call from someone who claims to be on a VoIP service or your caller ID indicates that someone is using a VoIP phone number, you may be wondering what that is.
So, what is a VoIP caller? The short answer is that it’s someone who’s calling you via a VoIP service, which stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. However, it can also be a scammer, telemarketer, or something else entirely.
The good news is that we’re here to help you get to the bottom of who’s on the other line. Read our guide on who VoIP callers are below.
What Is a VoIP Caller?
A VoIP caller refers to someone who’s calling you with a VoIP service. This refers to Voice over Internet Protocol, and it’s a service that allows you to make calls via WiFi instead of cellular service, which is what most traditional phone service providers offer.
These services are popular for businesses that will only be using phones that are connected to WiFi, but individuals and families may use them as a replacement for the classic landline.
Overall, it’s a different style of phone service but serves the same purpose. In fact, VoIPs can even send text messages and leave voicemails, so there aren’t many differences there.
Who Uses VoIP Services?
If you’re worried about the type of people or entities that use VoIP services, don’t worry, we completely understand. However, you’ll find that it’s a mix of people who don’t use traditional phone services, businesses that may just want to sell you something, and sometimes scammers.
The latter is the one you have to worry about, and there are plenty of tools that will help you identify a VoIP caller.
How to Identify VoIP Callers
Identifying the identity of a VoIP caller is essential. Failing to do so can result in spam calls, scam calls, or an endless number of robocallers trying to sell you something.
The good news is that there are tools that can help you put an end to VoIP callers, with one of our favorites being PublicRecord.com.
1. PublicRecord.com
PublicRecord.com offers a reverse phone lookup tool that helps you learn more about who’s on the other line. All you need to do is enter the phone number into their system to begin your search. Then, PublicRecord.com will comb through millions of public records until it finds a match. Once it does, you’ll find all available public records associated with the caller.
What you’ll find includes the caller’s name, where they’re calling from, businesses they’re associated with, and much more. Plus, even if you only have a name, PublicRecord.com will still help you find more information about who’s on the other line. Simply enter their information into the people search tool instead.
2. Call Screening Services
Your phone tends to have some type of caller ID. For this reason, when you get a call from a VoIP number, there should be some additional information displayed on your device. For example, you should be able to find their name or location.
However, if it’s just a phone number, you can try taking things a step further with a call screening service. Google offers this for their VoIP numbers, and many phones come with it built in. Many of these services allow you to ask questions before you answer the phone, so you can figure out who’s on the other line without even talking to them.
3. Contact the Authorities
If you’re ever worried about being harassed by a VoIP caller, then we recommend contacting the authorities. They can trace the call and identify the owner of the number.
While they may not share the details with you, they can at least force the person or entity to stop calling you. Therefore, if you’re ever concerned, we always recommend contacting local police agencies to assist you.
What Is a VoIP Caller? Our Final Thoughts
VoIP callers can be a lot of things, and sometimes not even a person at all. So, what is a VoIP caller? Essentially, it’s just someone or a business that’s using a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service.
While there’s nothing inherently malicious about these services, it’s important to note that many scammers and spammers use them because they can be harder to trace. Luckily, services like PublicRecord.com help you put an end to these types of calls or learn more about who’s on the other line.