How to Investigate Indian Phone Numbers Using OSINT

Have you ever received a call from an unknown number and wanted to know who it belongs to?

Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) helps you to uncover details about phone numbers and emails using publicly available information. Cybersecurity experts, law enforcement, and even everyday people use OSINT to verify contacts, detect scams, and protect themselves from fraud.

In this article, we will explore different ways to investigate Indian phone numbers using Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT).

Simple Google Search Using Google Dorking

One of the easiest ways to check a phone number is by searching it on Google. Follow these steps:

Open Google and type the phone number in double quotes and Check the search results.

Sometimes, the number appears on websites like social media profiles, business listings, or classified ads.

Many phone numbers are listed in public databases:

Company Websites – Search if the number belongs to a business by checking:

Search on Social Media

Many people use their phone numbers to create social media accounts. You can find details by checking:

• Facebook:

Go to Facebook and enter the phone number in the search bar.

If the number is linked to an account, the profile may appear.

• Instagram & Twitter:

Sometimes, people share their contact details in their bio or posts. Try searching for the number.

• Telegram:

Save the number in your contacts and open Telegram.

Check if the person has a public username or display picture.

• WhatsApp :

Save the number in your phone contacts.

Check if the person has a Profile Picture (may give clues about the person)

Use OSINT Tools and Websites

These websites allow you to search for phone numbers and see if they are linked to a real person or company:

• Truecaller — Identifies caller names and spam reports.

• NumLookup — Finds carrier and location details.

• Sync.me — Detects spam calls and linked social profiles.

• WhoseNumber — Helps identify unknown callers.

• PhoneInfoga — Detects if a number is mobile, landline, or VoIP.

• WhitePages — Offers people search and background checks

• ScamNumbers.info — Lists known scam phone numbers.

• EmobileTracker — Tracks mobile numbers in different countries.

• CallerName — Provides additional lookup details.

Reverse Image Search

If you found a profile picture through WhatsApp or Truecaller, you can check where else it appears:

Save the image. Then go to Google Images (images.google.com) and upload the picture.

Google will show similar images or profiles linked to the same photo.

Some phone numbers are reported for spam, fraud, or scams. Check these sites:

• ScamCaller , https://www.scamcaller.com/

• Indiatrace , https://www.indiatrace.com/

If the number has been used for scams, these websites may have reports.

Find Location Using STD Code & SIM Details

Every phone number in India starts with a specific STD (Subscriber Trunk Dialing) code that can help identify the city or state. Websites like Emobiletracker show which telecom provider (Airtel, Jio, Vi, etc.) issued the number.

Combine Information & Analyze

• After collecting all details, cross-check the information:

• Name (from Truecaller, WhatsApp, Facebook, etc.), Location (from STD code & business listings), Social Media Profiles (to verify identity)

• Once you gather enough information, you can make an informed decision about the caller.

Investigating a phone number using OSINT is a step-by-step process. Many of these tools are free and easy to use. However, always respect privacy laws and ethical guidelines when conducting OSINT investigations With the right techniques, you can find out if a number is genuine or suspicious.