Blog
Guides and tips to protect yourself from unwanted calls and phone scams.
TelCheck report categories explained
A breakdown of TelCheck report categories: spam, scam, telemarketing, survey, debt collection, legitimate and other — when and how to use each one.
Read article →How to embed the TelCheck widget on your website
Technical guide to embedding the TelCheck widget via iframe (/embed/{number}) or the REST API (/api/phone/{number}): code, use cases and best practices.
Read article →How to report a number on TelCheck: step-by-step guide
Report a suspicious number on TelCheck in a few clicks: find the entry, choose the category, write a helpful comment and submit the report.
Read article →TelCheck reputation score explained
How TelCheck's 1-to-9 reputation score works: calculation, meaning of each level, sources used and how to interpret a result.
Read article →How to use TelCheck to check a phone number
Complete TelCheck guide: search bar, score 1-9, community reports, submitting a comment, risk badge, related numbers and embeddable widget.
Read article →A scammer has your phone number — what should you do?
Your number is in the hands of scammers? Here are the immediate steps: reporting, blocking, data protection and CNIL procedures.
Read article →How to sign up for Bloctel — and does it actually work?
Sign up for Bloctel.gouv.fr, delays, legal exceptions and real-world limits: everything you need to know before joining the opt-out register.
Read article →How to avoid telemarketing calls in France
Complete guide to ending telemarketing calls in France: Bloctel, GDPR, DGCCRF complaints, filtering apps and best practices.
Read article →How to permanently block a number on iPhone
Block a number on iPhone via iOS settings, Silence Unknown Callers, carrier filtering and third-party apps. Step-by-step guide for iOS 17 and 18.
Read article →How to permanently block a number on Android
Block a number on Android in seconds: native method, via the Phone app, carrier settings and recommended third-party apps.
Read article →Fraudulent international calls: how to avoid them?
Complete guide to identifying and avoiding fraudulent international phone calls in France: wangiri, spoofing, offshore centres and ARCEP reporting.
Read article →Premium rate numbers: the list of prefixes to know
Complete list of French premium rate number prefixes (08xx, 118xx) with ARCEP pricing and the associated scams you must absolutely avoid.
Read article →Why am I called by a UK, Dutch or Belgian number?
Calls from +44, +31 or +32 in France: legitimate reasons, VoIP spoofing and how to distinguish a professional call from an international scam.
Read article →Suspicious foreign country codes: should you call back?
List of suspicious foreign country codes used for wangiri (one-ring scam) and how to spot an international scam before calling back.
Read article →What do numbers starting with +33 mean?
+33 is France's international dialling code. This guide decodes all +33 prefixes, what they mean, spoofing risks, and how to verify their trustworthiness.
Read article →09 numbers: should you answer?
09 numbers are non-geographic VoIP lines heavily used by canvassers. This guide explains how to identify them and when it is safe to answer.
Read article →06 and 07 numbers: how to tell spam from a real call?
How to tell a genuine call from spam on a French 06 or 07 mobile number: warning signs, Bloctel regulations and TelCheck verification.
Read article →What do numbers starting with 01, 02, 03, 04, 05 mean?
Meaning of French geographic prefixes 01 to 05: ARCEP zones, trustworthiness, spoofing risks and how to check an unknown landline on TelCheck.
Read article →How does a reverse directory work?
How a reverse directory works in France: PagesJaunes, TelCheck community database, search engines and GDPR legal limits for private individuals.
Read article →Finding the identity behind a number legally
What French law and GDPR allow for identifying the caller behind an unknown number: legal methods, judicial routes and what is prohibited.
Read article →How to report an unwanted phone number?
Report an abusive number in France: TelCheck, Signal Conso, ARCEP Signaux Faibles, Bloctel and official complaint. Complete guide to reporting channels.
Read article →How to tell if a phone number is trustworthy?
Assess the trustworthiness of a phone number in France: TelCheck score, ARCEP prefix, official directories, call context and red flags.
Read article →Landline, mobile, VoIP or premium-rate: what is the difference?
Understanding the different types of phone numbers in France (01–05, 06–07, 09, 08xx): nature, associated risks and how to check them on TelCheck.
Read article →Silent calls: why do they happen and what should you do?
Why are you receiving silent calls? Predictive dialling, ping call or scam: identify the origin and adopt the right reflexes.
Read article →Masked number: how to find out who is calling?
Masked, private or unknown number: why numbers are hidden, can you identify them, and how to handle these calls safely.
Read article →How to search a phone number for free
The best free methods to identify a phone number in France: TelCheck, search engines, PagesJaunes and social networks.
Read article →An unknown number keeps calling me: what should I do?
The same unknown number keeps calling back? Understand the behaviour, check on TelCheck, and learn how to block and report a harassing number.
Read article →Who called me? How to identify an unknown number
Complete methods to find out who called you from an unknown number: TelCheck, prefix analysis, search engines, carrier tools and next steps.
Read article →Block spam calls on iPhone and Android
Practical guide to permanently blocking unwanted calls on iPhone and Android: native settings, dedicated apps and Bloctel registration.
Read article →Spoofing: when the displayed number looks legitimate
Phone spoofing allows any number to be displayed on your screen. Understand this technique so you are no longer fooled by an apparently official number.
Read article →What to do after receiving a suspicious call?
Received a suspicious call? Here are the steps to take immediately: do not call back, report on Signal Conso, block the number and protect your data.
Read article →CPF, energy and parcel scams by phone
A breakdown of the three most common phone scams in France: fake CPF advisors, energy canvassers and fake parcel notifications.
Read article →Fake bank advisors: protect yourself on the phone
Fake bank advisors on the phone claim thousands of victims. Learn to unmask them, protect your accounts and react if you fall victim to fraud.
Read article →How to check if a number is a scam?
Practical methods for checking whether a phone number is fraudulent: databases, community reports, suspicious prefixes and free tools.
Read article →Ping call: the premium callback scam explained
Understanding the ping call or wangiri scam: how it works, which numbers are used, and how to avoid paying exorbitant sums by calling back.
Read article →Unknown numbers: call back or hang up?
Should you call back an unknown number? A breakdown of the risks, the numbers to absolutely avoid, and alternatives for identifying a caller.
Read article →15 phone scams rife in France
Overview of the 15 most widespread phone scams in France: fake advisors, CPF, parcels, energy, AI vishing and many more.
Read article →How to recognise a fraudulent call in 2026?
The tell-tale signs of a fraudulent call in 2026: suspicious numbers, typical scenarios, voice AI and essential reflexes to avoid being caught out.
Read article →Call from a foreign number: should you call back?
How to react to a call from an unknown foreign number: high-risk prefixes, one-ring scam, and how to assess the context.
Read article →Fake prize and contest phone scams: the golden rules
How to spot fake prize phone scams: "You've won a trip/iPhone" — golden rules to avoid ever paying for a supposed win.
Read article →Vishing: the voice phishing that empties bank accounts
Everything about vishing (voice phishing): common scenarios, manipulation techniques, and how to protect your finances.
Read article →How to verify that a business call is legitimate
Practical methods to authenticate a business or service call: number verification, calling back on the official number, red flags.
Read article →Fake energy supplier scam calls: how to respond
Recognising and countering fake energy supplier phone scams (EDF, Engie): techniques, your rights, and how to report them.
Read article →Short service numbers in France: what do 3 and 4-digit numbers mean?
Guide to French short numbers: emergency services (15, 17, 18, 115), public services (3939, 3646), commercial numbers and their pricing.
Read article →Phone scams targeting seniors: a prevention guide
Phone scams targeting elderly people (fake police, grandparent scam, fake insurance) and how to protect your loved ones.
Read article →Crypto scams by phone: don't fall for the trap
How to spot crypto investment phone scams: fake advisers, fraudulent platforms, and what to do if you've been targeted.
Read article →Protecting your phone number: GDPR rights and best practices
Your GDPR rights over your phone number: access, correction, deletion, portability. How to limit the spread of your number.
Read article →Tech support scams by phone: "Your computer is infected"
How fake Microsoft or Apple tech support phone scams work and how to protect yourself effectively.
Read article →Fake parcel delivery scams: how to avoid the trap
Recognising and avoiding fake parcel delivery scams (DHL, La Poste, Chronopost): fraudulent SMS, calls and links.
Read article →Private or masked caller: should you answer?
Private, masked or unknown caller: who is calling and why? How to tell a legitimate call from a scam attempt.
Read article →Robocalls and automated calls: how to stop them
Everything about robocalls in France: how to identify them, block them via Bloctel and carrier tools, and report them to ARCEP.
Read article →Phone spoofing: when scammers display your bank's number
Understanding phone spoofing: how scammers fake caller ID, warning signs to watch for, and what to do if you've been targeted.
Read article →Premium rate numbers in France: what you need to know before calling back
Complete guide to French premium rate numbers (08xx, 118xx): ARCEP tariffs, one-ring scams, how to dispute unfair charges.
Read article →How to stop telemarketing calls in France
Complete guide to blocking telemarketing calls in France: Bloctel registration, carrier tools, mobile apps, DGCCRF reporting.
Read article →Guide to French phone number prefixes
Meaning of all French telephone prefixes: 01-05 geographic, 06-07 mobile, 09 VoIP, 08 special premium rate. Complete ARCEP guide.
Read article →What to do when a suspicious number calls you
Practical step-by-step guide to reacting to a suspicious call: TelCheck verification, context analysis, reporting and prevention.
Read article →Phone scams in 2026: new techniques to watch out for
Overview of the new phone scams in 2026: AI voice cloning, fake bank advisers, one-ring scam and health insurance fraud.
Read article →How to identify an unknown number in France
Practical methods to identify an unknown phone number in France before calling back: TelCheck, prefixes, internet search, carrier tools.
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