A VoIP number makes and receives calls over the internet instead of being tied to a specific SIM card or phone line. Most VoIP numbers are used legitimately, but they are cheap and easy to obtain, which makes them popular with scammers.
What VoIP means
VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. Instead of traveling over a traditional phone line or directly through a mobile network, the call is turned into data and sent over the internet. At some point it connects to the regular phone network, so the person you call doesn’t need any special equipment.
A VoIP number is a phone number assigned by a VoIP provider. It looks like any other number. It may use a local area code or a national prefix, and you can’t tell it’s VoIP just by looking at it.
You probably use VoIP more than you realize. Many office phone systems, home phone services delivered over broadband, video calling apps that can dial real numbers, and “second number” apps all rely on it.
Why VoIP numbers are useful
There are plenty of legitimate reasons to use one:
- Businesses use them for call centers, customer support lines and staff who work remotely.
- People use a second number for online selling, dating or job applications, to keep their personal number private.
- Companies abroad can get a local number in another country so customers can call at local rates.
- Doctors’ offices, schools and delivery services often call from VoIP systems.
So a VoIP result on its own does not mean a number is a scam.
Why scammers like VoIP numbers
The same features that make VoIP convenient also make it attractive for fraud:
- Low cost and easy setup. Some providers let you get a number in minutes, sometimes in bulk, with limited identity checks.
- Disposable. When a number gets reported and blocked, it can be dropped and replaced.
- Location-independent. A caller anywhere in the world can use a number with a local area code, which makes the call feel familiar.
- Automation. VoIP systems can place large numbers of calls automatically, which is how many robocall campaigns work.
- Caller ID manipulation. Some VoIP systems let the caller set the number that appears on your screen. This is the basis of spoofing.
What “line type” means in a phone lookup
When you search a number on MobileTracking, the result includes a line type. This describes the kind of number it is, based on numbering plan data and carrier information. Common types are:
- Mobile: a number issued for use with a mobile network and SIM card.
- Landline (fixed line): a number tied to a fixed telephone service, typically at a specific address.
- VoIP: a number issued by an internet calling provider.
- Toll-free: a number that is free (or cheap) for the caller, with the cost paid by the receiving business.
- Premium-rate: a number that charges the caller a higher rate, part of which goes to the service provider.
- Shared-cost or special services: other non-geographic numbers, depending on the country.
- Unknown: the type couldn’t be determined from available data.
Line type is useful context, not a final answer. Numbers can be ported from one carrier to another, and the original block of numbers may have been assigned to a different type of provider than the one using it today. Data for some countries is also more detailed than for others.
If a caller says they are from your bank or a government office and the number shows as VoIP, treat that as a reason to hang up and call the organization back on a number you trust.
How to judge a call from a VoIP number
- Look at the context. Were you expecting a call from a business, a delivery service or an appointment line? A VoIP number fits that well.
- Check the spam score and reports. A VoIP number with many recent reports describing the same script is a strong warning. A VoIP number with no reports tells you less, because new numbers have no history yet.
- Compare the claim with the line type. Someone claiming to be a friend “on a new phone” from a VoIP number deserves extra checking. Contact your friend on the number you already have.
- Don’t share codes or payment details with any unexpected caller, whatever the line type.
- Report your experience. If the call was a scam, a quick report helps the next person.
Can a VoIP number be traced?
A VoIP provider usually knows which account a number belongs to, and law enforcement can request that information through legal processes. A public lookup can’t reveal who is behind a VoIP number or where they are. MobileTracking shows the approximate registered location of the number, which for VoIP often says little about where the caller actually is. Our guide to what a phone number’s location really means explains why.
For practical steps to reduce unwanted calls, see how to stop robocalls and spam calls.
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Read our editorial policy.