Identify who called from an unknown California landline or cell phone number using our free reverse phone lookup service. Search a phone number to find the caller's name, address, carrier, and other details. Identify the unknown callers, verify California businesses, or research potential scam calls.
Federal Data
State Data
County Data
City Data
California has approximately 57.9 million active phone numbers. Cell phones are the dominant service with 48.7 million users, while traditional landlines are declining with 1.6 million connections statewide. Internet phone services account for about 7.5 million numbers.
This indicates that when you search a California phone number, it's very likely a cell phone. The continued decrease in landlines suggests that newer phone numbers may be more challenging to trace compared to older landline numbers that historically had more readily available public information.
California Voice Subscriptions (in thousands):
| Service Type | June 2023 | Dec 2023 | June 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile telephony | 47,209 | 48,351 | 48,696 |
| Local exchange telephone service | 2,274 | 2,115 | 1,646 |
| VoIP subscriptions | 7,864 | 7,521 | 7,549 |
| Total | 57,347 | 57,987 | 57,891 |
Source: FCC Voice Telephone Services Report
Most phone numbers are cell phones, and most cell phone numbers come from the top three United States wireless companies. Here are the top five US Cell Phone Companies in Q1 2025:
To identify the location of an California phone number, you need to understand the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) structure that all California numbers follow: +1 NPA NXX XXXX.
The area code (NPA) is your key to determining location. By matching the three-digit area code to California's regional assignments, you can identify which part of the state the phone number originates from. Each area code corresponds to specific cities and counties throughout California, making it possible to narrow down the caller's general location.
Here's a complete list of California area codes with major cities:
For latest California phone numbering regulations, contact Siamack "Bubba" Donighi at the California PUC via [email protected] or 916-894-5642.
California residents experienced a decrease in unwanted calls in 2024, with complaints totaling 287,916—a decrease from the peak of 622,417 complaints in 2021, according to the latest National Do Not Call Registry Data Book.
Key Facts for California Residents:
According to the Federal Trade Commission's 2024 data, phone calls and text messages make up 35% of all fraud contact methods nationwide:
More than 1 in 3 fraud attempts happen through phone communication. Phone call fraud costs victims a median of $1,500 per case. Text message fraud costs a median of $1,000 per victim.
In 2024, California residents reported 238,705 fraud cases resulting in total losses of $1,678,703,608, with a median loss of $$542 per victim. With phone-based fraud representing such a significant portion of these cases, phone owner verification has become a critical consumer protection tool.
When you receive calls from unknown numbers, take a moment to research the caller's identity. Reverse phone lookup services allow you to search a phone number to find information about who's calling—including whether the number has been reported for fraudulent activity.
Received fraudulent calls or fallen victim to phone fraud? Report it immediately. Each report helps authorities identify fraud patterns and protect other consumers from similar scams.
Additional Contact:
California Attorney General
Rob Bonta
(916) 445-9555
Sometimes, a simple reverse phone lookup isn't enough to identify a California phone number. If you need more information, these alternative search methods can help. With a population of over 39 million and over 1 million business establishments in California, finding the information you need might require trying a few different ways.
Social media platforms can be surprisingly useful when trying to identify a phone number. For example, if you're meeting someone new and want to verify their phone number legitimacy, social media searches can help. You can often find a phone number listed on a profile or used for account recovery.
Here are some helpful links:
If you suspect a phone number belongs to a California business, you can verify it using official state databases. This is useful if you're considering business partnerships with California companies. You can confirm their legitimacy before engaging in large purchases or contracts.
Here are some useful California state resources:
For the best results, it helps to use these methods together.
Yes, reverse phone lookups are legal in California, but your phone number and related personal information are protected under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). You have specific rights to control how businesses collect, use, and sell your phone data.
Your phone number qualifies as "personal information" under the CCPA when it can identify, relate to, or be reasonably linked to you or your household. This includes:
However, phone numbers in publicly available government records (like business licenses) are not protected under the CCPA.
As a California resident, you have five key rights regarding your phone data:
Timeline Requirements:
How to Submit Requests:
Verification Process:
Primary Enforcement:
Limited Private Lawsuits:
You can only sue businesses under very specific circumstances - when your unencrypted personal information (including phone numbers combined with other identifying data) is stolen in a data breach due to inadequate security practices. You must give the business 30 days written notice to cure violations before suing.
Exceptions:
Some information cannot be deleted, including:
ThisNumber database includes over 28 million name and address records for about 23 million United States phone numbers. Our free reverse phone lookup results may include available information on owner's: