Do You Know? Many scams now arrive through messaging apps, SMS and web links rather than voice calls. Truecaller is responding with a new tool that brings some of its scam intelligence to the open web.
What Truecaller launched
Truecaller launched Scam Checker, a web and Android service that allows people to submit a suspicious phone number, link or message to check whether it may be fraudulent. The service does not require an app or sign-in.
The tool initially launched in India, with Truecaller saying it plans to expand it to Latin America, the Middle East and Africa, and Southeast Asia.
How Scam Checker works
For links, Scam Checker expands shortened URLs and follows redirects to the final destination. It then compares the result with Truecaller’s proprietary risk database and other fraud signals.
Users can also paste a suspicious message. The service can identify a phone number or link in the message and show related reports from Truecaller’s community-driven ScamFeed.
- Checks suspicious phone numbers, links and messages.
- Uses community reports from ScamFeed.
- Analyzes links, including shortened URLs and redirects.
- Provides access through the web and Android without requiring sign-in.
Community reports are central to the service
Truecaller told TechCrunch that about 20,000 scam reports were live on ScamFeed in India, with around 1,300 new reports added each week. The company also said it evaluated 12.9 billion messages globally between September 14 and 20 and flagged 20.3 million as fraudulent.
These figures are claims from Truecaller and were reported by TechCrunch. The company estimates that people conduct about 14 million web searches each month to check suspicious links and phone numbers, based on its analysis of search volumes and traffic to existing verification services.
Why the move matters
Truecaller has built its business around caller identification and says it serves more than 500 million users. The company now says scam activity has become more multi-channel, extending to links, messages, voice and video.
India is Truecaller’s largest market, with more than 350 million users, according to the report. The company’s caller-ID business is also facing increased competition from telecom operators, as well as caller-identification and spam-protection features from Apple and Google.
Truecaller’s shift toward web-based scam checking gives people a way to investigate suspicious content at the point where they encounter it, including in messages and links shared outside the phone app.
What happens next
Truecaller said it plans to broaden the types of scams Scam Checker can detect and add screenshot uploads for further analysis. The company also plans to expand availability beyond India to additional regions.
FAQ
Does Scam Checker require a Truecaller account?
No. The web and Android service is described as not requiring an app or sign-in.
What can users check?
Users can submit a suspicious phone number, link or message.
What information is not available without signing in?
More detailed information about a phone number, including the name associated with it, remains available through Truecaller’s existing service, which requires sign-in.
Where is the service available?
It initially launched in India. Truecaller said it plans to expand to Latin America, the Middle East and Africa, and Southeast Asia.
Bottom Line
Truecaller’s Scam Checker extends its fraud-detection tools beyond caller ID, allowing people to check suspicious numbers, links and messages on the web or Android without signing in. Its next steps include broader scam detection, screenshot analysis and regional expansion.
Source
This report is based on information published by TechCrunch.
