{
  "id": 6737061,
  "title": "This powerful free tool is your secret weapon against phone scams",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/this-powerful-free-tool-is-your-secret-weapon-against-phone-scams",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-09-11T09:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Fast Company",
    "slug": "fast-company",
    "url": "https://www.fastcompany.com/91590641/look-up-scam-phone-numbers"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, making them harder to detect. Artificial intelligence is making it easier to mimic people and create convincing calls that appear official or even personal. The best defense against these scams is to stay one step ahead and remain vigilant. I have a powerful tool that can help you stay safe from phone scams, and it's a free service called Scan Number Check.\n\nAlthough smartphones have improved their call scanning capabilities, especially on Android and Pixel devices, they're not foolproof. Different phones offer varying levels of protection, so Scan Number Check provides an extra layer of security. You can use it in just five seconds by visiting the site in your browser, typing or pasting the unknown number, and receiving an instant report on its likelihood to be associated with a scam.\n\nScan Number Check relies on Malwarebytes' extensive database of scam attempts, which includes records of numbers linked to suspicious activity. This allows the site to check any number you enter against its database, regardless of the country, to determine if it's associated with any scam risks. While it's not 100% foolproof, the tool serves as an excellent extra protective measure in your arsenal against phone scams. The service is web-based, free, and requires no installation or sign-up.",
  "summary": "I don’t know if you’ve noticed—honestly, I hope you haven’t!—but scams are starting to get scarily sophisticated. And that means they’re tougher and tougher to spot, even for the more savvy land mammals among us. That’s in large part thanks to AI and all the ways it’s making it easier than ever to imitate people and create convincing calls that sound like someone official—or even someone specific…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}