Truecaller launches Scam Checker in India

Truecaller launched Scam Checker in India on September 28, offering free checks of suspicious phone numbers, web links and messages through a website and an Android app. Basic web checks do not require users to create an account or install Truecaller’s main app, the company said. The service is designed to help people assess potential scams that arrive through links and messages, in addition to suspicious calls. For a submitted URL, Scam Checker expands shortened links, follows redirects to the final destination and compares it with fraud signals, including reports from Truecaller’s ScamFeed community. Users can also enter a phone number or describe a suspicious message; the tool can identify links or numbers in the text and surface related reports. Looking up the name associated with a phone number still requires signing in to Truecaller’s existing service, according to the company’s description. The basic checks are otherwise available without an account. Truecaller has not announced dates for planned expansion beyond India or for an iOS version. Truecaller said ScamFeed had about 20,000 live reports in India, with roughly 1,300 added each week.