It starts with one missed call. Then two. Now, it’s every afternoon like clockwork, and you’re still wondering who’s on the other end. A landline from Toulouse? A mobile from Nice? Maybe a premium-rate number hoping you’ll call back and run up a bill? Welcome to the frustrating world of unknown French numbers.
That’s exactly why we built this reverse phone lookup resource. This resource is actionable intelligence: ARCEP registries, telecom operator databases, community scam alerts, and verified business directories. All designed to help you check this phone number before you waste time or fall for fraud.
So who is calling me from that persistent 01 Paris number or mysterious 09 VoIP line? Our phone number reverse search platform shows exactly what you’re dealing with: which carrier issued it, whether others have flagged it for suspicious activity, if it’s linked to a registered business, and what previous recipients experienced when they answered.
You’ll also discover the patterns French scammers favor — why certain 08 prefixes are red flags, how they spoof legitimate bank numbers, which “official” calls are actually elaborate phishing attempts. Don’t let unknown numbers interrupt your day. Look up the number, see what other people have said, and then decide whether to answer or block with total confidence.
| Category | Details |
| Country | 🇫🇷France |
| Country Calling Code | +33 (used from abroad) |
| National Trunk Prefix | 0 (used inside France before the area/mobile prefix) |
| International Direct Dial (IDD) | 00 (to place calls from France to other countries) |
| Standard Number Format | +33 X XX XX XX XX (international) / 0X XX XX XX XX (domestic) |
| Example Mobile | +33 7 12 34 56 78 (domestic: 07 12 34 56 78) |
| Example Landline | +33 1 44 55 66 77 (domestic: 01 44 55 66 77) |
| Area Codes (Geographic) | 01 Île-de-France • 02 Nord-Ouest/West • 03 Nord-Est • 04 Sud-Est • 05 Sud-Ouest |
| Regulator | ARCEP |
| Notable Features | Closed 10-digit plan, number portability, 06/07 = mobile, 09 = non-geographic/VoIP, 0800 = toll-free, 08 9x = premium-rate, national Do-Not-Call (Bloctel). |
Read a French Number by Type
Before you return a call, knowing its service type tells you cost, intent, and likely origin. Mobile ranges (06/07) are typical personal or business mobiles; landlines (01–05) are geographic and useful for location checks; VoIP (09) often power cloud PBXs and startups; toll-free (0800) are free to the caller; and premium-rate (08 9x) can be costly.
Recognizing short codes (e.g., 112, 15, 17, 18, 114) helps you separate public services from spoofed attempts. This table helps triage unknown calls, validate that a business number looks legitimate, and avoid expensive callbacks to premium services. Combine it with the spam-pattern table below to make quick, confident decisions.
How to identify the unknown number:
- Note the first one–two digits after the leading 0 (domestic) or after +33 (international).
- Match that prefix to the range below.
- Use the description to judge cost, purpose, and risk.
| Number Type | Prefix / Range (domestic) | Description |
| Mobile | 06, 07 | Personal/business mobiles and MVNOs; portable across operators. |
| Landline (Geographic) | 01, 02, 03, 04, 05 | Fixed lines tied to broad regions (see regional table). |
| VoIP / Non-geographic | 09 | Cloud/Internet telephony, business PBX, NGOs, startups. |
| Toll-Free | 0800–0805 | Free-to-caller business/government hotlines. |
| Shared/Service | 0806–0809, 081X–089X (various tariffs) | Service/helpline ranges with regulated pricing disclosures. |
| Premium-Rate | 0890–0899 | High-tariff services; avoid unless you know the provider. |
| Short Codes / Emergency | 112, 15, 17, 18, 114 | EU & national emergency/assistance numbers (voice/SMS/TTY). |
Who Issued That Mobile Range?
Portability means any 06/07 number can move between networks, so prefix ≠ guaranteed carrier. Still, ranges indicate original allocation and help spot obviously invalid formats. Use this table as a sanity check, then rely on a lookup tool for current routing.
What to do:
- Take the first two digits (06/07).
- Confirm it’s a valid mobile prefix.
- Treat the operator column as original issuer; final routing may differ due to portability.
| Prefix (domestic) | Major Operators (original allocations; now portable) | Notes |
| 06 | Orange, SFR, Bouygues Telecom, Free Mobile | Legacy mobile range; widely used across all operators and MVNOs. |
| 07 | Orange, SFR, Bouygues Telecom, Free Mobile, MVNOs | Newer mobile range added for capacity; common for new activations. |
France Geographic Landlines
Geographic prefixes (01–05) help you corroborate the caller’s stated location (e.g., a “Paris office” should use 01). This reduces spoof risk and improves lead qualification for local services.
How to use this table:
- Identify the first two digits after 0 (01–05).
- Match the region and scan sub-prefixes to sanity-check.
- Use the example format when validating how a number should look.
| Area Code | Region | Common Sub-Prefixes | Example Number | Major Cities / Areas |
| 01 | Île-de-France | 40–79 (various) | 01 44 55 66 77 | Paris, Boulogne-Billancourt, Saint-Denis |
| 02 | Nord-Ouest / Ouest | 18–99 (various) | 02 43 12 34 56 | Rennes, Nantes, Rouen, Orléans |
| 03 | Nord-Est | 20–99 (various) | 03 88 12 34 56 | Lille, Reims, Strasbourg, Besançon |
| 04 | Sud-Est | 20–99 (various) | 04 91 23 45 67 | Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Grenoble |
| 05 | Sud-Ouest | 20–99 (various) | 05 56 12 34 56 | Bordeaux, Toulouse, Limoges, Pau |
Best Reverse Number Lookup Tools for France
A solid result blends official numbering data with community-reported activity. Use more than one source for confidence.
| Tool / Website | Type | Description |
| Scannero.io | Reverse lookup tool | Global search with spam reporting, number type detection, and identity signals. |
| ARCEP – Plan de numérotation | Official regulator resource | Rules and allocations for French numbering (formats, ranges, tariffs). |
| SignalConso / DGCCRF | Government reporting | File complaints about abusive commercial calls/SMS. |
| WhoCallsMe / SpamCalls.net | Community databases | User reports on nuisance and scam callers in France. |
| Service-Public Annuaire | Government directory | Official contacts for administrations and public services. |
| INSEE SIRENE (societe.data.gouv.fr) | Public company index | Verify a company’s legal identity and contact details. |
What Happens Behind a Reverse Phone Lookup
Ever wondered what actually happens when you search for an unknown caller? In France, reverse phone lookup isn’t magic — it’s about connecting dots across multiple information sources. Imagine you’re just asking around in a bunch of different neighborhoods, hoping someone recognizes the address you’re trying to find.
Here’s the process broken down simply:
- Databases gather phone information from many sources. Telecom registries track numbers and carriers. Public directories list businesses and individuals. Community platforms collect user reports on callers. Some services even scan social media for publicly shared contact details.
- Enter the number, and algorithms instantly scan millions of records for matches. It checks official sources, user databases, business listings, and complaint logs simultaneously.
- You receive any available information. Sometimes it’s basic: mobile/landline, city, or carrier. Other times, you’ll find names, business details, or caller warnings. Premium services can uncover online profiles or historical data, depending on the number’s public use.
What Impacts Accuracy?
Here’s the honest truth: lookup results can be frustratingly inconsistent. One service gives you a full business name, another returns absolutely nothing. Why?
- Privacy choices create blind spots. Plenty of users keep their numbers unlisted intentionally. Mobile numbers especially tend to stay anonymous unless someone’s registered them with businesses, posted them online, or been reported by other users.
- Update schedules vary drastically. One platform might refresh weekly, another hasn’t updated in six months. Someone who switched carriers last week? Older systems will still show their previous provider.
- Scammers are getting sophisticated. They don’t just hide—they actively fake caller IDs to display legitimate-looking French numbers. When the displayed number doesn’t match who’s actually calling, even the best lookup tools hit walls.
The real game-changer is data coverage. Basic services pull from one or two sources and hope for the best. More comprehensive platforms cross-reference telecom records, community warnings, and real-time fraud alerts simultaneously. That’s why services like Scannero often succeed where simpler directories come up empty — they’re checking more places and combining fresher information.
Scam & Spam Patterns Seen in France
Knowing common patterns helps you refuse risky calls and avoid costly callbacks.
What you need to do:
- Compare the suspicious number’s prefix/shape with the patterns below.
- Read the risk and recommendation.
- Block/report numbers that match these behaviors.
| Indicator | Type of Scam/Spam | Example Format | Comment/Recommendation |
| 08 99 / 08 97 / 08 96 | Premium-rate bait (callback traps) | 0899 12 34 56 | Do not return missed calls; charges can be high. Validate on ARCEP tariff lists. |
| 09 VoIP with delivery/Banque “link” SMS | Phishing (La Poste, Carte Vitale, banque) | 09 72 12 34 56 + URL | Never click payment/update links. Access services via official apps/sites only. |
| “Neighbor” spoofing with 01/02/03/04/05 | Local identity spoof (business/administration) | 01 44 55 66 77 | Hang up and call back using the official number from a trusted source. |
| International one-ring (+225, +216, +234…) | Wangiri callback fraud | +225 01 23 45 67 | Ignore and block; returning the call may incur high fees. |
| 07 mobile claiming CPF/Ameli refunds | Government impersonation | 07 56 12 34 78 | French agencies don’t request card codes over phone/SMS. Report via SignalConso. |
| Repeated short rings then SMS to “confirm” | Robocall list building | 06 12 34 56 78 | Don’t reply “STOP” to unknown senders; use device/app blocking and report as spam. |
| “Bank security” asking for validation codes | Account takeover / SCA interception | 06/07 any | Banks never ask for one-time codes by phone. Call your bank on the official number. |
Some safe tips to protect yourself:
- Missed a call from a number starting with 08 99 or 08 97? Our advice is to steer clear of calling back – these are often premium-rate traps! Feel free to block the number, and if you’re curious about the tariffs, ARCEP has all the info you need.
- If someone from a “local” number (starting 01–05) is pressuring you to act quickly, it’s a good idea to hang up and call the company back using the official number from their website.
- Getting single-ring calls from foreign numbers (like +225, +216, +234)? These are often Wangiri scams. It’s safest to just ignore and block them without calling back.
- If “bank security” calls asking for SMS codes, be aware that your bank will never ask for one-time passwords over the phone. You should end the call right away.
Free Telephone Number Directories in France
Use these public sources to validate businesses and authorities. They don’t sell paid listings and are suitable for cross-checks.
| Directory | Type | What It’s Good For |
| ARCEP – Numbering Information | Regulator | Official guidance on formats, ranges, and tariffed services. |
| Service-Public.fr Annuaire | Government | Verified contacts for ministries, prefectures, local administrations. |
| societe.data.gouv.fr (INSEE SIRENE) | Public registry | Legal company identity and contact data; cross-check business callers. |
| Annuaire de l’Éducation nationale / Santé | Government portals | Verified numbers for schools, hospitals, and agencies. |
| EU 112 Info (France) | Public service | Emergency information and correct short-code usage across the EU. |