Truecaller Expands Scam-Fighting Technology to the Open Web, Advancing Beyond Caller Identification

After more than ten years of creating a caller ID service that caters to over 500 million users, Truecaller is now extending its scam detection capabilities to the internet, allowing users to access it without needing an app or an account.

On Sunday, the Swedish firm introduced Scam Checker, a new service for the web and Android that enables users to enter a potentially fraudulent phone number, link, or message to verify its legitimacy. The service retrieves relevant reports from Truecaller’s community, known as ScamFeed. However, more detailed information about specific phone numbers, including the associated name, is only accessible via Truecaller’s existing sign-in service.

Initially, this free tool will be available in India, with plans for expansion to Latin America, the Middle East and Africa, and Southeast Asia in the future.

In addition to generating interest for its primary app, the community reports help Truecaller gain insights into the prevailing scams. This information may also enhance the fraud detection and risk services offered to businesses through Truecaller for Business, though Scam Checker primarily targets individual consumers, according to Jhunjhunwala.

To function, Scam Checker examines the link provided by the user by expanding any shortened URLs and tracking redirects to the ultimate destination. It then compares these against its proprietary risk database and various fraud indicators. Users can also input suspicious messages, prompting the service to extract any associated phone numbers or links and display relevant community reports.

The rollout coincides with an increase in scams that extend beyond phone calls to encompass text messages, messaging apps, and web links. A survey conducted by GSMA in 2025 revealed that 46% of Indian adults who reported scams were contacted via messaging apps, 37% via SMS, and 32% through phone calls.

Truecaller estimates that approximately 14 million web searches are performed monthly to check suspicious links and numbers. According to CEO Rishit Jhunjhunwala, this behavior informed the development of Scam Checker.

“When you need it, you’re usually somewhere else. The link shows up on WhatsApp. Your mum gets a message about a traffic fine. A friend forwards you a screenshot and asks, ‘Is this real?’” Jhunjhunwala explained. “What people do in that moment is search.”

The Truecaller community plays a vital role in the company’s anti-scam measures. The company noted that around 20,000 scam reports are currently available on ScamFeed in India, with about 1,300 new reports added weekly. From September 14 to 20, Truecaller assessed 12.9 billion messages globally and identified 20.3 million as fraudulent.

In the near future, Truecaller plans to enhance Scam Checker’s capabilities by broadening the types of scams it can identify and allowing users to upload screenshots for further examination.

As Truecaller evolves beyond its caller ID services, it faces new challenges in India, its most significant market with over 350 million users. Telecom companies are implementing a government-backed Caller Name Presentation system, while Apple and Google have introduced their own caller ID and spam protection features. Recently, India’s telecom regulator mandated that caller-ID apps share user-reported spam data with telecom operators, a move Truecaller criticized as a “one-way exchange.”

Consequently, Truecaller’s focus is shifting beyond caller identification.

“Caller ID was the first challenge we tackled, and it’s still how many users discover us,” he remarked. “However, scams have transitioned to a more multi-channel format involving links and messages, as well as voice and video. Our protective measures need to adapt to the evolving tactics of scammers.”