Who called me? Checking a phone number

Finding a phone number: find out who called you

It has probably happened to you: you get a call from a number you don’t know. Or you see a missed call from an unknown mobile number. This could be an anonymous number, but it could also simply be a number that you don't recognize. So how to find out who it is? You can take a wild guess and say it's the daycare center, or the furniture store you bought your new dining table from. But it could also be someone you don't know who is trying to reach you.

There are several ways to look up a phone number or find out who called you. In this article, we'll share useful tips to get you started on your search.

Checking a phone number with WhatsApp

WhatsApp is great for all your messaging needs, but you can also use the app to find out whose number called you. Here's how to check a phone number:

1. Add the unknown number to your contact list
2. Open WhatsApp again
3. Search your contact list for the name you gave to the unknown number.
4. Found the contact? Check whether the caller has a visible profile photo on WhatsApp, added their name, or whether it is a business profile with more information.

The caller's profile photo could only be visible to known contacts. This may also be because of their settings. In other cases, it only appears once you've started a conversation. If you think it’s worth a try, you can always send a message to quickly find out who called you.

Is it not a mobile number? In that case, you can't use this trick. Fortunately for you, there are plenty of other methods for checking unknown phone numbers.

Find out who called you with Google

No luck using the WhatsApp method to find out who called you with the unknown number? Or was it not a mobile number? Don't worry: Google can help with a reverse phone number search. Here's how you can search for a name using a phone number:

1. Enter the phone number directly into the search bar
2. See if you can find any information about who called you
3. Also check if you can find a company that uses the phone number

Found a name on Google, but do you still have no idea who called you? You can also check Facebook or LinkedIn. Search their name for more information. Seeing their profile picture might help you remember who they are.

Find out who called you with Facebook

Still not sure who the number belongs to? Facebook can also help you find out who called you. It's possible someone created their Facebook account with their phone number. If their contact information is public, you can search for their profile using the phone number. It's worth a try.

Using a database to find a phone number

Did searching the number with Google not help? Don't worry. If you want to search for a phone number in the Netherlands, you can find out who it belongs to with various databases. You can enter the number in one of these databases and see if any results come up.

First, you could try wieheeftgebeld.nl or wieheeftmijgebeld.nl . These forums are maintained by a community, which you can also contribute to. If you search for a number in Google, you will also notice that you quickly end up at such databases.

If you search for the number in one of these databases, you may find that some posted a comment about the person or company behind the call. This way, you not only know who called you, but also if it's an unwanted caller. That will tell you if you want to call that person back.

Check the phone number in the Autoriteit Consument en Markt database

You can also use the database of the Autoriteit Consument en Markt (ACM) . You can use the database on their website or download a .csv file (a type of spreadsheet) and open the list in Excel. This database shows phone numbers of various companies. It's worth checking to see if you can find the phone number you were called by.

Look up a phone number in an online phone directory

In addition to online databases, there are also online telephone directories. These online versions of the old telephone books allow you to search for a telephone number or search by name to find out who called you. In the Netherlands, you can try:

• nationaletelefoongids.nl for individuals, companies, and reverse searches
• telefoonboek.nl for reverse searches
• detelefoongids.nl for finding a person
• goudengids.nl for finding companies

How to find out who called you with a private number

Private numbers can’t be called back. Were you called by an unknown number and do you want to know who it belongs to? Your only chance would be if there's a voicemail message that mentions the name, company name, or address. In that case, you can use Google to search them with that information. Do you often receive calls from anonymous callers? You can block anonymous numbers on both iPhone and Android:

Blocking a number on an iPhone:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Tap 'Recent' at the bottom.
3. Find the phone number you want to block
4. Tap the 'i' button
5. Tap 'Block Caller'.

Blocking a number on an Android or Samsung phone:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Go to your call history
3. Tap the phone number you want to block.
4. Tap 'Block'.

Still don't know who called you? Call them

If all the methods discussed in this blog didn't work for you, there's still one last option: call the number. Check if the number is international before calling back, as this can mean extra costs or getting into contact with potential scammers or phishing numbers.

How to find your own phone number on iPhone and Android?

Need to look up your own phone number on your phone. Here's how to look up your own number on your phone:

iPhone

1. Go to 'Settings'
2. Scroll down and tap 'Phone'
3. Next to 'My number,' you will see your phone number

Android

1. Open 'Settings'
2. Scroll down and tap ‘About device’
3. Tap ‘Status’
4. Your phone number will be listed as 'Phone number' or something similar

The exact steps can vary depending on your Android version.

Did the above steps not work for you? Call a family member or friend, or use WhatsApp , where you can find your own number when you send a new message.

How do I get a new mobile number?

Have you used our tips to find out who has been trying to call you, but still getting calls from unknown numbers? In addition to blocking the number, you can also choose to get a new number. While this is a drastic measure, you can request a new number by contacting the Simyo customer service .

It is not possible to choose your own mobile number or make requests for you new number. Received your new number? Then you can turn off caller ID via Mijn Simyo . Your fresh start does mean that you will have to send your new number to everyone you know, so they don't have to search for your phone number.