When it comes to online communications, email still stands as one of the most common and essential ways people communicate online. While the invention of social media platforms, messaging apps, and video conferencing tools have transformed the way we connect online, email remains integral to our everyday lives. Unfortunately, one of the issues with email is the prevalence of spam, phishing, and scam messages. To address this problem, people utilize a reverse email lookup as a way to verify the identity of the sender. However, what is reverse email lookup, and how does it work?
In this article, we aim to provide you with a comprehensive guide to reverse email lookup. We’ll explain what it is, why it’s essential, and the various ways you can use it to protect yourself online. We’ll also review top reverse email lookup services available online, and provide you with tips on how to do a reverse email lookup yourself.
What is a reverse email lookup?
A reverse email lookup is a process of investigating the identity of an email sender. It’s a tool that enables you to search online public records databases for information relating to an email address, such as the owner’s name, location, phone number, and other relevant details. You can also use a reverse email lookup to verify the authenticity of an email address and protect yourself against fraudsters, by checking if an email address is legitimate.
Why is reverse email lookup important?
Reverse email lookup is essential for various reasons, among which include:
1. Protecting Yourself Against Scams and Phishing
One of the most common ways cybercriminals lure people into their traps is through phishing scams. They send malicious emails that appear legitimate, and the victims unwittingly download malware or reveal their confidential information. Reverse email lookup can help you investigate and verify the source of suspicious emails and block potential phishing scams from reaching your inbox.
2. Verifying Email Addresses
Sometimes you may receive an email from an unknown sender that appears to be a legitimate company requesting you to take further actions. In such a case, you should not hastily give out your confidential information, but instead reverse lookup the email address to know whether it’s genuine.
3. Exposing Online Liars and Frauds
Another reason you may need to use reverse email lookup is to expose liars and frauds. In online dating, for instance, it is not uncommon for people to use fake email addresses and identities to dupe their victims. With a reverse email lookup tool, you can rapidly uncover these frauds before they cause you more harm.
Top Reverse Email Lookup Services
Several online services offer reverse email lookup services, but not all of them are equally reliable or effective. Here are the top ones to consider:
1. Spokeo
Spokeo is one of the best reverse email lookup services available online. It provides you with a comprehensive report on the owner of an email address, including their name, age, photos, social media profiles, phone number, address, and more. Spokeo also has an excellent reputation for accuracy and timely updates.
2. BeenVerified
BeenVerified.com is another popular reverse email lookup service that provides you with a wealth of information about the owner of an email address. With this service, you can obtain information on the owner’s criminal records, education, property ownership, and more.
3. TruthFinder
TruthFinder is a comprehensive background check service that can perform reverse email lookups and provide vast amounts of information about the email owner. This service provides you with access to information about email owner’s phone records, social media accounts, criminal history, and other relevant profiles.
4. Pipl
Pipl is perfect for cases where you only have an email address and nothing else to go on. It combs through the unindexed parts of the internet, such as public records, social media, and personal websites, and provides you with a list of possible profiles and identifying information for the email address.
Doing a Reverse Email Lookup Yourself
If you’re not keen on using a paid reverse email service, you can still perform a reverse email lookup on your own. Here’s what to do:
1. Use a search engine
Start by doing a search in a search engine. Enter the email address in the search bar and see what comes up. You may find the owner’s social media profile, a business website, or other identifying information that leads you to the person behind the email address.
2. Search Social Media
Next, perform a search of the address on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram, among others. You might find links to posts, comments, or images that can help you identify the whereabouts of the sender or their personal information.
3. Check Public Records
Check out online public directories, archives, and property records online, which may give you details like the name, address, and contact number of the sender.
In conclusion, reverse email lookup is an essential tool for anyone who wants to protect themselves against spam, phishing scams, and frauds. With most of the internet communications taking place through email, it’s essential to use the available resources to investigate emails and verify the identity of the sender. By utilizing the various reverse email lookup tools available online, you can easily get peace of mind and protect yourself from unscrupulous people.
