TextNow Number Lookup: Who’s Behind That Anonymous TextNow Number?
4 Revisions
TextNow is a hit with over 100 million users around the USA and Canada, thanks to its affordable phone service. But with great popularity comes… weird calls, spam texts, and even the occasional creepy impersonation storyies shared on Reddit. Sound familiar? Don’t worry—you’re not the only one dealing with this.
Instead of taking the risky route of confronting the sender directly, let’s talk about some safer, smarter ways to figure out who’s behind that mysterious TextNow number. Whether it’s a scam, spam, or just plain curiosity, we’ve got your back with methods that are worth a shot.
🎯 TL;DR:
- Reverse phone lookup: Advanced tools like BeenVerified or Intelius could be more effective for detailed results on the number, including owner info and social media links.
- Google it: A manual search might turn up results if the number’s used in scams or business.
- Voicemail check: Try Spydialer to see if there’s a voicemail you can use to ID the caller
- Social media sync: Link the number on platforms like Facebook or IG to find possible profiles.
Are TextNow numbers hard to trace? (and when you might get lucky)
TextNow numbers can be tough to trace, mainly because they operate over the internet as VoIP numbers, and are not linked to specific addresses.
Users can pick any area code from the U.S. or Canada, regardless of their actual location, making it difficult to pinpoint where the number originates. Since all communication occurs online through encrypted data packets instead of traditional phone lines, the usage data remains private and is not stored in a centralized database. Moreover, TextNow numbers are highly flexible—if they remain inactive, they can be reassigned to a new user in as little as a week, compared to the typical 1-to-3-month reassignment period for regular numbers. This rapid turnover adds another layer of difficulty when trying to trace them
Situations where traces might exist
- Accumulated digital footprint: If the TextNow number has been used frequently on websites, apps, or other services, it may leave a trail. Sometimes, people use VoIP numbers to register for social media, messaging apps, or other online accounts, which can create digital footprints that connect the number to specific profiles.
- Business listings: Some companies use VoIP numbers for customer support or other business purposes, and these may be publicly listed on websites or directories, making it easier to identify the business owner.
- Connections with personal data: If a user has linked the TextNow number to an email address, username, or other personal data, cross-referencing with people search engines or social platforms could yield some insights.
In the next section, we’ll introduce the most effective method as well as some other tricks that we’ve found through research and testing to help you identify a TextNow number!
How to look up an anonymous TextNow number
We’ve tested various methods suggested by forums and online posts for looking up a TextNow number. But let’s be honest—not every of them works well.
If you really need to get answers, what you probably need are practical, effective ways that actually have a chance of working. That’s why we’re starting with one of the most dependable approaches: using reverse phone number lookup tools.
✨ Cross-reference on reverse phone number lookup tools
Reverse phone lookup services, usually offered by people search engines, are like little data detectives. They gather, compare, and match indexed info from public sources and social network data. These tools process vast amounts of data behind the scenes, yet they’re user-friendly. All you need to do is enter the phone number—whether it’s a landline, mobile, or VoIP like TextNow—and you may uncover valuable details about its owner. Just think of it as reversing the process of a phone book or directory to trace the caller.
Option 1: BeenVerified
- How It works: BeenVerified searches billions of phone data points and telecom records, providing detailed reports that include personal and business numbers.
It also flags possible spam numbers. In our tests, most TextNow numbers returned results, though the level of detail in owner information varied. - Extra features: Besides phone lookups, it offers other search types like background checks, email lookups, username searches, and even vehicle lookups. These features can help you gather more information about someone in various aspects of your daily life.
- Subscription plan: $23.98/month for access to seven search types and a 100-search monthly quota.
Option 2: Intelius
- How It works: Founded in 2003, Intelius collects data from public records and social networks. It scans for information like owner details, carrier info, social media profiles, and addresses linked to the phone number.
While its success rate for TextNow numbers was slightly lower than BeenVerified, the reports it generated often included more detailed information when successful. - Subscription plan: $35.30/month for unlimited phone number lookups.
Option 3: Free caller ID lookup tools
- How It works: For a cost-effective approach, supplement paid tools with free caller ID lookup services like CallerID Test or FreeCallerLookup. These tools provide basic information such as the caller’s name, phone provider, and the state represented by the area code.
- Limitations: Free tools often have weaker capabilities with VoIP numbers like TextNow and may return limited or no results. However, they can still be a useful starting point for traditional phone numbers or as a quick way to cross-check basic details.
Comparison of tools
| Tool | Cost | Features | Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|
| BeenVerified | $23.98/mo | – 7 search types – 100 monthly lookups | Not all reports include detailed owner info |
| Intelius | $35.30/mo | – Unlimited lookups – Often detailed results when successful | Slightly lower success rate with TextNow numbers |
| Free tools | Free or limited | – Useful for quick checks | – Weak for VoIP numbers – Basic caller ID info |
By using a mix of these tools, you may get a better shot at figuring out who’s behind that anonymous TextNow number. You can start with the paid options for the juicy details, and then use the free tools to double-check and back up what you find.
Other ways you can give a shot
If the more effective methods don’t quite work out or you’ve got some extra time, there are a few other ways you can try. These approaches might have lower success rates, but they’re still worth a shot.
1. Google the TextNow number
While TextNow numbers are virtual and less likely to show up in traditional directories, you might still uncover something useful if the number is tied to business marketing, a scam, or has been flagged online.
Here are some tips to optimize your search:
- Enclose the number in quotation marks to look for exact matches (e.g., “123-456-7890”).
- Try different formats for the number, like 123-456-7890 or (123)-456-7890.
- If you suspect the number might be linked to scams, add relevant keywords to your search, such as “123-456-7890 scam” or “123-456-7890 fraud complaint.”
- Don’t limit yourself to Google—try other search engines like Bing or DuckDuckGo, which may index unique results.
2. Use Spydialer for voicemail lookup
TextNow offers a voicemail service, and some users may have it enabled. Spydialer can sometimes access a number’s voicemail greeting, which might not give you a name directly but could reveal the caller’s voice. If it’s someone you know—like a prank caller or an acquaintance—you might recognize them right away.
3. Sync the number on social media
You might already know that if a TextNow number goes unused for a while, it gets reassigned. To prevent this, some users opt for the Lock-in Number add-on, often because they use the number as a contact for their social media or business accounts.
This means you can try syncing the number with social media platforms to see if any profiles are linked to it. While many services—like cash apps or messaging platforms—don’t allow VoIP numbers for registration, some social media platforms, like Facebook and Instagram, still do.
FAQs
Yes, reverse phone lookup tools are legal because they gather information from publicly available sources. However, it’s crucial to use the information responsibly and follow privacy laws to avoid any legal or ethical issues.
This method is generally unreliable. If the person uses a VPN, the IP address would only show the VPN server’s location, not the user’s actual whereabouts.
Getting harassing or scam calls is never fun, but don’t worry—here are a few steps you can take:
– Block the number: First things first, text#STOPto the number. It’s a simple step to stop them from messaging or calling you through TextNow.
– Report it to TextNow: If blocking isn’t enough, send an email to abuse@textnow.com. Include the number and any relevant details—like screenshots or descriptions of the calls or messages.
– Take it to the authorities if needed: If things get really out of hand, like repeated harassment or threats, don’t hesitate to involve your local law enforcement. TextNow has a policy of cooperating with authorities, so they can help if needed.
Wrapping it up
That’s everything we’ve got for you in this post! We’ve covered both tested, effective methods and a few additional approaches that might take a bit more time but are still worth a shot.
While TextNow’s nature as a VoIP number service makes tracking down the owner a bit trickier than traditional phone numbers, it’s not impossible. With the methods shared here, you may get clues to help you figure out whether that mysterious call or text is legitimate—and decide your next steps.
🙋♀️ If you’ve tried any of these methods (or even discovered some new tricks of your own), we’d love to hear about it! Feel free to share your experiences or ask any questions in the comments below. Your insights could help others in the same situation.
Good luck, and we hope this guide helps you take control of those puzzling TextNow numbers!
There’s no guarantee you’ll find the information you’re looking for with the tools discussed in this article. They all source their information from publicly available data sources, such as county, state and federal courts, government departments, and police records, and those sources may contain incorrect or incomplete data. It’s illegal to use these tools to make decisions about employment, admission, consumer credit, insurance, tenant screening, or any other purpose that would require FCRA compliance. Read the Fair Credit Reporting Act to learn more....
View all of Evie Gan's posts.
