How to Tell if Someone Is Using a Fake Phone Number on WhatsApp

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Learn to spot scammers using fake WhatsApp numbers

Co-authored by Nicole Levine, MFA Reviewed by Stan Kats

Last Updated: January 13, 2026 Fact Checked

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• Identifying a Fake Number
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• Protecting Yourself from Scams
|
• FAQ
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• Q&A

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Are you worried that the person who's chatting with you on WhatsApp isn't who they say they are? While WhatsApp does require all users to verify a phone number, some people use free SMS or VoIP services to mask their real phone numbers. This wikiHow article will teach you how to find information about a WhatsApp phone number, and how to stay safe from WhatsApp scammers.

Tracing a Fake WhatsApp Number: Quick Steps

1. Search for the number on a reverse lookup site like zlookup.com.
2. Make sure the phone number's area code matches where they live.
3. Call the number from your phone to see who answers.
4. Report phishing, fraud, spam, and suspicious activity to WhatsApp.

Steps

Section 1 of 3:

How can I tell if someone is using a fake phone number?

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1. 
   1
   Watch out for messages from people who aren't in your contacts. Scammers often find phone numbers and family/associate names on the dark web and use that information to scam WhatsApp users. If someone chats you from an unrecognized number claiming to be one of your friends or family members, it could be a scam–especially if they claim they've lost their phone and need money to buy a new one.
2. 
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   • Call or text that person directly (using their real phone number) to ask if the person who is messaging you on WhatsApp is really them.
   • Ask the person to video chat with you so you can confirm that they are who they say they are.
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3. 
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   Do a reverse phone number lookup. Depending on the phone number, you may be able to find identifying information by searching for it on a reverse lookup website. Reverse lookups work better for landlines, but you can now reverse-lookup mobile numbers to find basic information as well. Just be aware that if someone is using a VoIP number from a service like Google Voice or Burner, the information won't necessarily be accurate to the person's true location. Try these reverse-lookup tricks to identify a fake WhatsApp number:

   • Go to zlookup.com to trace a phone number in any country. The service is completely free and will even show you which mobile carrier the number belongs to.
   • To find a US-based mobile or landline number, use ThatsThem. This site can even tell you any physical addresses associated with the phone number.
   • You can also try searching for the phone number in Google, both with and without the country code. You might even find the phone number on a website warning people about scammers!
4. 
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   Make sure their country code matches where they live. For example, if the person you're talking to says they are from India and their phone number is from the UK, be wary. If you're not sure which country the person's number is from, look up the first few numbers of their phone number at Countrycode.org. While there are many reasons why someone might have a phone number from a country other than the one they live in, if you're already doubting that the person is who they say they are, this should be another sign that the person isn't being honest with you.

   • There are many apps that allow users to create fake or temporary SMS phone numbers, which can be used to register for WhatsApp. These apps might have country codes from all over the world, but a lot of them use the +1 (US, Canada, some Caribbean islands), +44 (UK), or +234 (Nigeria) country codes. If you're not in one of those countries and see one of these country codes, someone might be using a fake number.
5. 
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   Call the phone number from a private line. If you're still stumped on whether the phone number on someone's WhatsApp profile is legitimate, you can call the phone number (from your phone, not using WhatsApp voice chat) to see who answers. To keep the call private, you can hide your phone number in your Android or iPhone settings or use a blocking code on a landline.
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Section 2 of 3:

Protect Yourself from WhatsApp Scammers

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1. 
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   Don't give out any personal information or private data. Even if the person contacting you is in your contacts, be mindful of what you share with them on the app. If any of your contacts falls victim to a WhatsApp scam that results in someone else gaining access to their account, the scammer could be trying to get information from you next. Always think twice before sharing private photos, videos, files, or voice messages with anyone on WhatsApp.
2. 
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   Avoid chatting with phone numbers you don't recognize. Even if someone claims to be someone you know, make sure their phone number matches the phone number you have for them in your phone contacts. If you think the new phone number does belong to that person, don't take their word for it—ask them to prove their identity to you via video chat or phone.
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   Hide your profile and information from people who aren't in your contacts. While it's not possible to preemptively block all non-contacts from sending you messages, you can easily hide your statuses, last seen, about, and profile photo from non-contacts so strangers won't know when you're active on the app.

   • Tap the three dots at the top of WhatsApp (Android only).
   • Go to Settings > Account > Privacy (Android and iPhone).
   • Select Last Seen and choose either My Contacts or Nobody.
   • Repeat for Profile Photo, About, Status, and Groups.
4. 
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   Report phishing attempts, spam, fraud, and suspicious activity to WhatsApp. If someone is trying to scam you, reporting them to WhatsApp can help ensure that the person doesn't successfully scam someone else. To report phishing and other scams on WhatsApp:

   • Tap the phone number in the chat.
   • Tap Block Contact.
   • Tap Report Contact.
   • Tap Report and Block.
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Section 3 of 3:

FAQ

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1. 1
   Can someone fake a number on WhatsApp? Yes, a scammer could use a fake number on WhatsApp, and they usually do this while impersonating someone you know. If someone from an unrecognized number contacts you claiming to be someone who should already be in your contacts, it's likely a scam.
2. 2
   How can you tell if you're being catfished on WhatsApp? If they've sent you photos, try doing a reverse image search to see if it's used anywhere else, and make sure the image isn't AI using a tool like SynthID. Catfishers also make promises that seem too good to be true, do a lot of love bombing, want to get sexual fast, connect with you on other social media, and encourage you to share personal photos and secrets.
3. 3
   Can a fake number be traced? Fake numbers are hard to trace, as they're usually not connected to real people's identities. People can use services like Burner, which offer virtually untraceable phone numbers.
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• Question

  How can I tell if I'm being catfished on WhatsApp?

  

  wikiHow Staff Editor
  Staff Answer

  This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

  

  wikiHow Staff Editor

  Staff Answer

  Some typical signs of a catfish include refusing to participate in a video call, love bombing, asking for personal information immediately, requesting money, or telling inconsistent stories.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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• Question

  Can a fake number be traced?

  

  wikiHow Staff Editor
  Staff Answer

  This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

  

  wikiHow Staff Editor

  Staff Answer

  Yes, fake numbers can be traced, but only by law enforcement. Tracing a phone number may also be illegal without a warrant in your jurisdiction, so it's not advisable to do it on your own. If you suspect someone is using a fake number on WhatsApp, report and block them.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
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• Question

  What do WhatsApp numbers look like?

  

  wikiHow Staff Editor
  Staff Answer

  This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

  

  wikiHow Staff Editor

  Staff Answer

  WhatsApp numbers look exactly like regular phone numbers, so it's usually not possible to tell if a number is a WhatsApp number just by looking at it.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

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