What Is a Shelby County Reverse Phone Lookup?
Numerous online services do a number lookup. Interested persons can use these services to resolve questions like "who called me?" or "who owns this number?" While there are free-of-charge reverse phone search websites, the information offered by these services pales in comparison to paid reports.
Both versions of reverse phone search will definitely provide essential info like the caller's name, basic address, and phone type. Yet, paid reverse phone search options are generally a lot more comprehensive in the info readily available on their database. In addition to the aforementioned standard information, searchers can equally see the unknown caller's public records and social media profiles.
What You Can Do With Reverse Phone Search
A reverse phone search searches the Texas phonebook for information on the registered owner of a phone number. While there are many uses for this search, the most helpful use is for identifying unknown callers.
Residents can use this tool to spot scam callers before they've had the chance to steal money or sensitive, personal information.
There are also other use cases, like reconnecting with lost contacts and using it when you forget the name of someone who gave you their number.
What Are Shelby County Area Codes?
Shelby County area codes are the special 3 numbers that begin every contact number belonging to individuals in a location. A typical Shelby County telephone number begins with 936, the area code designated to the county by the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA).
NANPA launched area codes to simplify long-distance calls. Today, all North American numbers have area codes. These digits distinguish neighborhoods into Numbering Plan Areas, or NPAs, for the purpose of making phone calls.
Although the NANPA designates area codes in North America, the Public Utility Commission of Texas monitors the assignment of area codes to towns in Texas. There is currently 1 area code that covers Shelby County.
Area Code 936
Calls from phone numbers that begin with 936 probably come from someone in Shelby County. However, Shelby County is simply one of a number of counties under the 936 NPA. It is likely that a number beginning with 936 possibly even belongs to a specific in a nearby town under the specific very same NPA.
What Are the Best Cell Phone Providers in Shelby County?
The best phone plan to choose in Shelby County relies on the user’s location and the service provider’s coverage. Telephone service is normally much better in the cities than in the hillsides and the non-urban areas. The 3 significant telephone networks in Shelby County are AT&T, Verizon Wireless, and T-Mobile.
Telephone operators in Shelby County have varying phone coverage levels. AT&T offers the very best cellular coverage, followed by Verizon Wireless. T-Mobile reportedly has the least range among these operators, but it is not far from the others.
These operators likewise rent out their systems to a number of Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs). In turn, MVNOs use the facilities to provide more affordable mobile phone plans in Shelby County.
VoIP Phone Service in Shelby County
Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) is a service that lets users make low-cost, quick calls online instead of conventional lines or radio waves.
The service works like a regular line, you still get designated a telephone number and you can call other telephone numbers, even if they are not on VOIP. These unique particular make VOIP calls much quicker, clearer, safe, and cheaper than conventional services.
What Are Shelby County Phone Scams?
A phone scam is when a person uses false pretenses to steal money or important personal information like social security numbers or bank account details over the phone.
In Shelby County, phone scams frequently take place when an individual receives an undesirable phone call. The anonymous caller uses various methods to con a person into sending money or revealing private information about themselves.
Phone scams can be targeted when the scammer has some details regarding the unsuspecting victim. But with robocalls, fraudsters can reach a lot of people at the same time without even knowing anything about them.
What Are Shelby County Robocalls and Spam Calls?
Robocalls are automated calls from tools made to get to various individuals simultaneously and cheaply.
Political organizers and telemarketers trying to get to a mass customer base were the common customers of robocalls. These entities typically work off a phone list to solicit votes or market an item to numerous people at the same time.
Similarly, phone scammers seek to reach many people. However, they do not always have access to the phone lists that political advocates and telemarketers have. So, they buy stolen phone lists or use software to make up random numbers.
How to Spot Shelby County Phone Scams
Modern smartphones have scam call detectors that can cross-check incoming phone calls with a database of identified scam callers and instantly prevent the call from going through.
Despite their usefulness, these detectors are less effective against spoofed caller IDs or when the unknown caller is a human impostor. In this scenario, you'll need to keep an eye out for normal dead giveaways in a phone scam.
Signs of a Phone Scam
For one, be wary of a caller claiming to be a government official or a business's staff. Many public and personal establishments send mails instead of calling.
Furthermore, a caller is most likely a scammer if they request money or specific details like your full name, social security number, banking details, and account passwords. A genuine representative of a government agency or service does not need this information to help you.
Above all, watch out for threats of arrests, prosecution, or unsavory penalties. These are scare tactics scammers use to put potential victims under pressure and force them to make hasty decisions.
How to Report Shelby County Phone Scams
Scam phone calls breach United States laws. If you have been defrauded or had your money stolen in a phone scam in Shelby County, report the incident to law enforcement as soon as you can.
The information you provide can help law enforcement trace the scammer, build a case against them, and make them face justice. More importantly, your report increases the odds of recovering the money lost.
You can report phone scams to the following agencies:
Shelby County Sheriff’s Office
The Shelby County Sheriff's Office is the county's primary police. Locals should file reports of phone scams with the Sheriff's Office by calling (936) 598-5600. Alternatively, you may visit the agency’s office during business hours at this address:
100 Hurst Street
Center, TX 75935-4320
Phone: (936) 598-5600
Texas Attorney-General’s Office
The Texas Attorney-General’s Office uses legal and administrative measures to ensure consumer protection in Texas. Furthermore, the Office maintains useful resources on spotting and avoiding common phone scams in Texas. Persons affected by phone scams may file an online complaint with the Attorney-General's Office. Alternatively, call the Consumer Protection hotline at (800) 621-0508.
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
The FTC is the government agency charged with consumer protection. The FTC set up the National Do Not Call Registry to protect residents from undesirable calls from telemarketers and companies.
Including your number on this registry prohibits telemarketers from reaching you in the first place. For additional information on call-blocking and avoiding scams, visit the FTC resource page. Concerned persons may also report scams and robocalls to the FTC by calling 1 (888) 382-1222.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
The FCC controls interstate and international communications in the U.S. and safeguards consumers from prohibited or scam calls. Tips on preventing unwanted robocalls as well as phone scams are available on the FCC website. Furthermore, victims of robocalls and phone scams can submit complaints to the FCC online.