The reputation score is TelCheck's core feature. A single number between 1 and 9 summarises the TelCheck community's confidence in a phone number. Understanding how it is calculated and what each level means lets you interpret TelCheck pages precisely and make the best decisions when facing an unknown call.
The 1–9 scale: what each level means
- Score 1–2 (dark green) — Very trustworthy : unanimously recognised as legitimate by the TelCheck community — verified business, official service, GP, government body.
- Score 3–4 (green) — Trustworthy : generally reported positively with few or no negative comments. Likely a legitimate call.
- Score 5–6 (orange) — Neutral / undetermined : few reports, or mixed opinions. Caution advised for unsolicited calls.
- Score 7–8 (red) — Suspicious : multiple negative reports. Aggressive canvassing, deceptive practices or likely scam.
- Score 9 (bright red) — Very dangerous : strongly and unanimously reported as a confirmed fraud or harassment campaign. Do not call back under any circumstances.
How the score is calculated
TelCheck's reputation score combines TelCheck community reports (their number, category and recency) with data from multiple complementary sources. A large volume of recent, consistent negative reports carries more weight than a single old report. The score is dynamic: it rises as reports accumulate during a scam campaign and falls when positive signals predominate.
Category weighting and a number with no score
A scam or harassment report pushes the score up far more strongly than a telemarketing or survey report. A legitimate service report pulls it down. If a number has not yet been reported, the page shows a neutral status — this does not guarantee trustworthiness. Use other signals: the prefix, the call context and the time of day. If you do receive such a call, report your experience to help the next person.