How Effective Is Truecaller at Protecting You from Scams?

Truecaller has become a vital tool for many users seeking to protect themselves from scam calls and unwanted communications. By leveraging a comprehensive database of phone numbers and real-time identification, the app helps users make informed decisions about whether to answer incoming calls. But how effective is Truecaller at safeguarding you from scams? This blog explores the app's features, privacy concerns, and community-driven efforts to block and report spam, offering insights into its effectiveness and trustworthiness.

What Is Truecaller?

Truecaller is a popular mobile application designed to help users identify unknown callers and block unwanted communications. Launched in 2009 by True Software Scandinavia AB, Truecaller has grown to become one of the most widely used caller identification and spam-blocking apps globally. The app leverages a vast Truecaller lookup database of phone numbers collected from various sources, including its user community, to provide real-time identification of incoming calls. When an unknown number calls a Truecaller user, the app cross-references the number with its database and displays the caller's name and other relevant information, allowing users to decide whether to answer the call.

In addition to caller identification, Truecaller offers several other features aimed at enhancing user communication and privacy. It includes a robust spam-blocking system that automatically filters out unwanted calls and messages based on user reports and a global spam database. Users can also search for phone numbers within the app for finding phone number owners and mark numbers as spam for the benefit of the community. Furthermore, Truecaller provides a smart messaging platform, enabling users to chat, share media, and make voice calls within the app. By integrating these features, Truecaller aims to create a safer and more efficient communication experience for its users.

Is Truecaller Safe?

When considering the question, "Is Truecaller legit?" it is important to examine the app's safety and privacy practices. It is a legitimate application with millions of users worldwide. Truecaller reviews are mostly positive as well. The app currently has an average 4.4/5 rating out of 22.2M reviews on the Google Play Store and a 4.5/5 rating out of 245K reviews on the Apple App Store. However, like any app that handles personal data, it has its pros and cons regarding safety.

What Is the Downside of Truecaller?

Truecaller requires access to your phone's contacts to function effectively, which raises privacy concerns for some users. The app's database is built by aggregating user-contributed contact information, meaning your contacts may be uploaded to Truecaller's servers. This practice has led to debates about data privacy and the extent to which Truecaller can be trusted with personal information.

One of the primary concerns is the potential misuse of information. Although Truecaller employs security measures, the risk of data breaches or unauthorized access cannot be entirely eliminated. Users should also be aware that their contact information might be shared without their explicit consent if one of their contacts uses Truecaller. This data aggregation can lead to unintended exposure of personal information if the data is not adequately protected.

Moreover, some users have reported issues with spam filtering and caller identification accuracy. While Truecaller is generally effective, it may not always correctly identify spam calls or may inadvertently block legitimate calls. These occasional inaccuracies can affect the user experience and the app's reliability.

In addition to privacy and accuracy concerns, Truecaller users often encounter ads within the app, which can be intrusive and affect the user experience. While there is an option to remove ads through a premium subscription, this comes at an additional cost. The premium subscription also offers other features such as advanced blocking options and the ability to see who viewed your profile, which may appeal to users looking for enhanced functionality.

For those wondering, "Can Truecaller be trusted?" it ultimately comes down to an individual's comfort level with sharing personal data and the steps they take to manage their privacy settings within the app. Despite these concerns, many users choose to use the app, valuing its ability to identify unknown callers and block spam.

Why Is Truecaller Not Illegal?

Despite the concerns, Truecaller is not illegal because it operates within the framework of existing data protection and privacy laws. The app's developers have implemented measures to comply with regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe, which mandates strict guidelines for data collection, processing, and storage. Truecaller provides users with transparency regarding their data usage and offers options to manage privacy settings and control how their information is shared.

Truecaller's practice of collecting contact information is based on user consent. When users install the app, they are prompted to agree to the terms and conditions, which include permissions to access their contacts. This consent is a crucial factor that makes Truecaller's operations legal, as it aligns with the principles of informed consent under data protection laws.

Additionally, Truecaller includes features that allow users to opt-out of data sharing and request the removal of their information from the database. These options help address privacy concerns and ensure that users have control over their personal data.

How Do I Report a Caller on Truecaller?

When you receive a call from an obvious spammer, you can view the details of the number by searching for it or clicking on the icon provided. From this interface, you have the option to block and report the number. Additionally, when searching for the number, you also get the option to block and report it. You can contribute further by adding information about the caller, such as the company name and an appropriate tag like 'sales.' This makes the information more relevant for the next person searching for the same number. You can also leave a comment about the number, either anonymously or under your name.

When you block and report a number, it is blocked for you, but it requires more people to mark it as spam for it to be flagged as “possibly spam” or “blocked by Truecaller” for others. This collective effort helps the community, ensuring that numbers marked as spam are verified by many users. If you believe a number has been mistakenly reported as spam, you can search for the number, go to the detail view, and tap “unblock” or “not spam” to reduce its spam score. Helping to report spam numbers benefits everyone, as a community of millions of people can collectively identify and block spam calls globally. In 2020 alone, this collaborative effort resulted in the blocking of 31.3 billion spam calls, providing a safer experience for users worldwide, even when traveling to different countries.

How Do I Check if My Number Is Spam on Truecaller?

To check if your number is marked as spam on Truecaller, open the app and use the Truecaller phone number search function to look up your own phone number. If your number has been flagged as spam by other users, it will be indicated in the search results. You can tap on your number to view the details and see any comments or tags associated with it. If you find that your number has been mistakenly marked as spam, you can request its removal by selecting the option to report it as "not spam" or contacting Truecaller support for assistance. This process helps ensure that your number is accurately represented within the Truecaller community.

Closing Thoughts

In summary, Truecaller is a powerful tool designed to identify unknown callers and block unwanted communications, making it a valuable app for enhancing your communication experience. With its extensive database and user-contributed information, the app offers real-time identification of incoming calls, helping users make informed decisions about answering calls. While the app is legitimate and widely used, it does raise some privacy concerns, such as the aggregation of contact information and potential misuse of data. However, Truecaller's commitment to security, transparency, and compliance with data protection regulations helps mitigate these risks.

Despite some drawbacks, such as occasional inaccuracies in spam filtering and the presence of ads unless a premium subscription is purchased, many users find the Truecaller scammer call filtering tools to be beneficial. Similar services that also provide caller identification and spam blocking features (such as the Batch Append tool to easily find the property owner associated with a phone number) contribute to the collective effort in combating social engineering and vishing scams. By reporting and blocking spam numbers, users help build a global community that can identify scammers and protect against fraudulent activities. With the support of these tools, individuals can enhance their communication security and maintain better control over their privacy. 

Compass IT Compliance specializes in IT security and compliance, committed to assisting businesses in improving their data security and privacy protocols. Our firm excels in managing intricate regulatory landscapes and establishing strong security frameworks, guaranteeing that your company's data practices adhere to the highest standards. We provide social engineering assessments along with security awareness training, helping organizations educate their staff on identifying threats and promoting a culture of security awareness. Reach out to us today to discover how we can aid in safeguarding your data.