How I Tracked a Scammer Using His Phone Number

Ever wondered how to track a scammer through phone number? I did too, until one strange call set me off on a wild journey to find out who was really behind it.

Let’s be honest: most of us get robocalls, weird texts, and random WhatsApp messages almost every week. Usually, we roll our eyes, block the number, and move on.

But what if I told you that those strings of numbers lighting up your screen are more than just an annoyance? For the right person with the right tools, that phone number can unravel an entire scam operation.

I spent three months diving into the world of scam-busting, armed with nothing but the same internet tools you could use yourself. Here’s what happened, and how a single phone number led me straight into the heart of a global scam network.

Step 1: The Suspicious Call

It all started with the classic “IRS” call: a robotic voice, a threat of arrest, and a callback number with a New Jersey area code. Most people would delete it. But I couldn’t help myself, I had to dig deeper.

Step 2: The Search Begins

My first stop? Truecaller, the app millions use to spot spam calls. Instantly, I saw the number flagged by hundreds of other people as a scam. Next, I tried Whitepages and Spokeo.

The result: no real person or company tied to that number. It was likely a VoIP number—the kind scammers buy for just a few bucks online or get free from apps like TextNow.

But even these cheap, disposable numbers leave digital footprints.

Step 3: Social Media Clues

I plugged the number into Google in quotes: “609…”. Boom! A Facebook post warning others about the scammer, and a comment saying the same number had popped up on WhatsApp.

Sure enough, on WhatsApp, the number was active. There was a blurry profile pic of a guy in a baseball cap, not much, but it was something.

Over on Telegram, that number was linked to groups offering fake jobs to people overseas. This wasn’t just a lone scammer, it was a whole network.

Step 4: Hidden Connections

Next up: data breach checkers. On HaveIBeenPwned, nothing. But on Dehashed, I hit pay dirt. The number was tied to a Gmail address and, more disturbing, to a leaked database from a Nigerian fraud forum, listing emails, IP addresses, and part of a name.

I won’t share the details here, but now I had a likely suspect, a starting location, and evidence of past scams.

Step 5: Following the Trail

I used FreeCarrierLookup.com to see which company issued the number. It was a VoIP carrier called Bandwidth.com, which keeps logs (but only hands them over with a court order).

Since that route was blocked, I tried something else: I sent bait emails with tracking pixels. When they were opened, I could see the location, Lagos, Nigeria.

Step 6: The Bigger Picture

It turned out this wasn’t just one scammer. The Telegram group had thousands of members, all swapping numbers, fake identities, and scripts. I realized I’d stumbled onto an entire industry, not just a lone operator.

What I Learned and What You Can Do

A phone call that could have ended in a shrug led me from Texas to Lagos, New Jersey to New Delhi. And the crazy thing is, I didn’t use anything you can’t access yourself:

• Reverse phone lookup apps
• Data breach search sites
• Social media sleuthing
• Tools like Maltego, Spiderfoot, and PhoneInfoga

The biggest lesson? A scammer’s phone number is more than a number—it’s their digital fingerprint. If you’re patient and curious, you can follow it all the way back to the source.

So next time you get a weird call, don’t just delete and forget. Take a minute to check it out, report it, and maybe help someone else avoid the same trap.