Who called me?
Read the area code first, then check the number.
Start with the area code, which tells you the region but, in Canada, never tells you whether the number is a cell or a landline: both share the same codes. Toll-free numbers begin 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877 or 888, so calling back costs nothing, while 900 is premium rate and calling back costs you money. A verified checkmark on an incoming call comes from STIR/SHAKEN and means the number was not spoofed, which is useful but is not a statement that the caller is honest.
What the area code tells you
- 416, 647, 437
- Toronto. Overlaid codes covering the same area, so a newer code does not mean a newer or less legitimate caller.
- 905, 289, 365
- The Greater Toronto Area outside the city, plus the Niagara region and Durham.
- 613, 343
- Ottawa and eastern Ontario. Worth noting when a caller claims to be a federal department.
- 604, 778, 236, 672
- Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. All four overlay the same territory.
- 403, 587, 825, 780
- Alberta. Calgary and southern Alberta on 403, Edmonton and the north on 780, with 587 and 825 overlaying both.
- 204, 306, 709, 902
- Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Nova Scotia with Prince Edward Island.
- 867
- Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, all on a single code.
- 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877, 888
- Toll-free. Calling back costs nothing. Verify the number on the organization's own website rather than trusting the one you were given.
- 900
- Premium rate. Calling back costs money per minute. Never return a 900 call you did not start yourself.
Scam patterns that actually run in Canada
These are the scripts Canadians report most. None of them is proof on its own, but each is a reason to stop and check the number before doing anything else.
CRA impersonation
A call or message claiming you owe tax and will be arrested unless you pay today. The Canada Revenue Agency does not threaten arrest by phone and never asks for payment in gift cards or cryptocurrency.
Canada Post delivery texts
A parcel that could not be delivered, a shortened link and a small fee to release it. Real delivery notices reference a tracking number and never ask for card details on a linked page.
Interac e-Transfer interception
A message about a transfer that needs you to re-enter your banking login on a linked page. Real transfers are completed through your own bank's app or site, never through a link sent to you.
Bank fraud department calls
Somebody claiming to be from your bank says your account is compromised and money must move to a safe account. No such account exists. Hang up and call the number on the back of your card.
Grandparent emergency calls
A caller claims a grandchild is in jail or in hospital and needs money immediately, and asks you not to tell the rest of the family. Call the family member directly on the number you already have.
Remote access and tech support
A caller says your computer is infected and asks you to install software so they can fix it. Installing it hands them your screen and your banking session.
Common questions
Should I call back an unknown Canadian number?
Not straight away. If it rang once and stopped, do not call back at all. If it left a voicemail naming an organization, look that organization up yourself and call the number on their own website rather than the one you were given.
Does the checkmark on a call mean it is safe?
No. That mark comes from STIR/SHAKEN and only means the calling number was not spoofed. A real number belonging to a real scammer will still be verified.
Where do I report a scam call in Canada?
Report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. If you have lost money, call your bank first, immediately. Unwanted telemarketing can be reported through the National Do Not Call List, which the CRTC oversees.
Can I find out who owns the number for free?
Sometimes. Searching the number in quotes works well for businesses, because they publish their own numbers. Personal cell numbers are in no open directory, which is where a reverse lookup gets further.
Guides for Canadian numbers
Whose number is this?
An unknown Canadian number called or texted. Three ways that actually work: read the area code, search it properly, run a reverse lookup. 1M+ lookups.
Who keeps calling me?
The same Canadian number keeps calling. Read the calling pattern, identify who it is, and stop it. Private check in about 60 seconds. 1M+ lookups.
Free phone number search in Canada
What you can find on a Canadian number for free, what you cannot, and where the free routes stop working. Honest limits, no guessing. 1M+ lookups.
Is this number a scam?
The scam signals that actually matter on a Canadian number, what each one means, and what to do next. Private check in 60 seconds. 1M+ lookups.
CRA and government phone scams
A caller claims to be the CRA and threatens arrest over a tax debt. What the real agency never does, and how to check safely. 1M+ lookups.
Canada Post and delivery text scams
Fake delivery texts imitate Canada Post and couriers. How the real notice differs from the fake, in the link, the sender and the ask. 1M+ lookups.
Find out who is really behind the number
The check is private and takes about 60 seconds. The person is not notified and never finds out you looked.
Check a number now