Phone fraud in South Africa has become frighteningly sophisticated. Scammers now spoof legitimate bank numbers, impersonate SARS officials with alarming accuracy, and use social engineering tactics that fool even cautious people. Without proper verification, you’re making decisions blind.
That’s exactly why this reverse phone lookup resource exists — to give you verified information before you answer, call back, or share anything personal. We’ve built South Africa’s most comprehensive caller identification platform by connecting ICASA telecom registries, provincial area code databases, mobile network assignments, and real-time community scam reports into one accessible tool. Need to check this phone number quickly? Want to know who is calling me from that persistent landline or unfamiliar mobile number? You’ll find all the information: which carrier issued the number, whether it’s been flagged for fraud, if it’s linked to a registered business, and what other South Africans experienced when they answered. Our phone number reverse search guides show you exactly which free resources deliver accurate results and how to cross-reference when something feels off.
| Category | Details |
| Country | South Africa |
| Country Calling Code | +27 (for incoming international calls) |
| National Trunk Prefix | 0 (used before area/mobile code domestically) |
| International Direct Dial (IDD) | 00 (to call abroad from South Africa) |
| Standard Number Format | +27 X XX XXX XXXX (international) / 0X XX XXX XXXX (domestic) |
| Example Mobile | +27 82 123 4567 (domestic: 082 123 4567) |
| Example Landline | +27 11 555 1234 (domestic: 011 555 1234) |
| Area Codes (Geographic) | 010/011 Johannesburg, 012 Pretoria, 021 Cape Town, 031 Durban, 041 Gqeberha, 051 Bloemfontein, 053 Kimberley, 057 Welkom, 031–039 KwaZulu-Natal, 021–028 Western Cape, 041–049 Eastern Cape, 051–058 Free State, 053–058 Northern Cape, 012–018 Gauteng/NW/MP/Limpopo (various) |
| Regulator | ICASA (Independent Communications Authority of South Africa) |
| Notable Features | Closed 10-digit plan, mobile & geographic portability, 087 VoIP/non-geo, 0800 toll-free, 086 shared-cost/service, 090 premium-rate, mandatory SIM registration (RICA). |
How to Identify South Africa’s Phone Number
Reading type at a glance helps you avoid expensive callbacks, filter robocalls, and confirm that a “bank/courier” call actually uses a credible range. Use the table to classify the number first, then combine with your device’s spam filter or a lookup tool for final action.
How to identify the number:
- Note the first two–three digits after the leading 0 (domestic) or after +27 (international).
- Find the matching range below.
- Use the description to judge cost, purpose, and risk.
| Number Type | Prefix / Range (domestic) | Description |
| Mobile | 060–069, 071–079, 081–084 | Mobile services across Vodacom, MTN, Cell C, Telkom, Rain & MVNOs (portable). |
| Landline (Geographic) | 010–059 | Fixed lines tied to regions/cities (see regional table). |
| VoIP / Non-geographic | 087 | Cloud PBX and internet telephony for businesses. |
| Toll-Free | 0800 | Free-to-caller hotlines and customer care. |
| Shared-Cost / Service | 0860 / 0861 / 0862 | Business service numbers with standardised caller charges. |
| Premium-Rate | 0900–0909 (and selected 091/092) | High-tariff content/services; avoid unless trusted. |
| Short Codes / Emergency | 112 (mobile), 10111 (police), 10177 (ambulance) | Public safety lines; never used for payments or OTPs. |
Check South Africa’s Mobile Number Carrier
Portability means a number’s current carrier can differ from its original issuer, but prefixes still provide a useful sense-check. This helps you validate inbound “network messages,” detect unusual marketing ranges, or sanity-check contact details on invoices and websites.
What to do:
- Read the first three digits after the 0 (e.g., 082, 073).
- Match to the original allocation below (today’s routing may differ).
- Use a live lookup to confirm current network when it matters (e.g., fraud disputes).
| Prefix (0XX) | Original Allocation (now portable) | Notes |
| 082, 072, 079, 076 | Vodacom | Legacy + expanded ranges; very common nationwide. |
| 083, 073, 078 | MTN | Widely used for personal and business mobiles. |
| 084, 074 | Cell C | Also hosts multiple MVNOs. |
| 081 | Telkom Mobile (formerly 8ta) | Often appears on newer or data-heavy plans. |
| 060, 061, 062, 063, 064, 065, 066, 067, 068, 069 | Mixed allocations (Telkom, Rain, MVNOs, expansion) | Newer capacity ranges; verify with a live lookup due to portability. |
South Africa Area Codes & Sub-Regions
Geographic prefixes help corroborate a caller’s claimed location. If a supplier says they’re in Cape Town, a line beginning 021 is consistent; a mismatch is a red flag worth verifying.
How to use this table
- Identify the first two–three digits after 0 (e.g., 011, 021, 031).
- Match the Area Code and scan sub-prefixes to see common blocks.
- Compare the format to the example; if structure looks off, double-check before engaging.
| Area Code | Province / Region | Common Sub-Prefixes | Example Number | Major Cities / Regions |
| 010 / 011 | Gauteng (Johannesburg) | 2–8XX | (011) 555 1234 | Johannesburg, Sandton, Randburg |
| 012 | Gauteng (Pretoria/Tshwane) | 3–8XX | (012) 345 6789 | Pretoria, Centurion |
| 013 | Mpumalanga | 7–9XX | (013) 753 1234 | Mbombela (Nelspruit), Ermelo |
| 014 | North West / Limpopo (border zone) | 5–8XX | (014) 592 1234 | Rustenburg, Brits |
| 015 | Limpopo | 2–6XX | (015) 297 1234 | Polokwane |
| 016 | Southern Gauteng | 3–8XX | (016) 422 1234 | Vereeniging, Vanderbijlpark |
| 017 | Mpumalanga (Highveld) | 6–8XX | (017) 631 1234 | Secunda, Bethal |
| 018 | North West | 2–7XX | (018) 381 1234 | Klerksdorp, Mahikeng |
| 021 | Western Cape | 3–9XX | (021) 461 1234 | Cape Town & Peninsula |
| 022 | Western Cape (West Coast) | 4–8XX | (022) 482 1234 | Malmesbury, Vredenburg |
| 023 | Western Cape (Boland) | 3–8XX | (023) 347 1234 | Worcester, Robertson |
| 027 | Northern Cape (Namaqualand) | 2–6XX | (027) 712 1234 | Springbok, Calvinia |
| 028 | Western Cape (Overberg/Garden Route) | 3–8XX | (028) 313 1234 | Hermanus, Caledon |
| 031 | KwaZulu-Natal (eThekwini) | 2–8XX | (031) 310 1234 | Durban |
| 032 | KZN North Coast | 5–8XX | (032) 946 1234 | KwaDukuza (Stanger), Ballito |
| 033 | KZN Midlands | 3–7XX | (033) 345 1234 | Pietermaritzburg |
| 035 | KZN North/East | 5–8XX | (035) 789 1234 | Richards Bay, Empangeni |
| 039 | KZN South Coast | 3–7XX | (039) 312 1234 | Port Shepstone |
| 041 | Eastern Cape (Nelson Mandela Bay) | 3–8XX | (041) 365 1234 | Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) |
| 043 | Eastern Cape (Buffalo City) | 7–9XX | (043) 721 1234 | East London |
| 044 | Western Cape (Garden Route) | 3–8XX | (044) 873 1234 | George, Knysna |
| 045 | Eastern Cape (Amathole) | 6–8XX | (045) 839 1234 | Komani (Queenstown) |
| 046 | EC (Sarah Baartman) | 6–8XX | (046) 603 1234 | Makhanda (Grahamstown) |
| 047 | EC (OR Tambo) | 5–8XX | (047) 531 1234 | Mthatha |
| 048 | EC (Joe Gqabi) | 6–8XX | (048) 881 1234 | Aliwal North |
| 049 | EC (Karoo) | 2–6XX | (049) 891 1234 | Graaff-Reinet |
| 051 | Free State | 4–8XX | (051) 444 1234 | Bloemfontein |
| 053 | Northern Cape (Kimberley) | 8–9XX | (053) 832 1234 | Kimberley |
| 057 | Free State (Lejweleputswa) | 3–8XX | (057) 391 1234 | Welkom |
| 058 | Free State (Thabo Mofutsanyana) | 3–8XX | (058) 303 1234 | Bethlehem |
Trusted Reverse Number Lookup Resources for South Africa
Reverse lookups are most reliable when you combine plan rules with user reports and business registries. Start broad, then verify.
| Tool / Website | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scannero | Tool | Advanced reverse phone lookup service with global coverage, supports South African (+27) numbers. |
| Tellows (South Africa) | Free | Community-driven spam reports, user comments, and risk ratings for SA phone numbers. |
| PersonLookup (South Africa) | Directory | Local South African lookup database offering phone number, address, and identity searches. |
From Databases to Results: How Phone Lookups Actually Work
Curious about what happens behind the scenes when you search for an unknown caller? Reverse phone lookup isn’t some mysterious black box—it’s essentially a sophisticated matching game played across multiple information sources simultaneously.
- Multiple databases constantly collect phone information. ICASA maintains official records of which carriers own which number ranges. Telkom and other providers publish business directories. Community platforms gather real-time reports from people flagging dodgy callers. Some advanced services even scan publicly available social media profiles where people have listed their contact details. All this information sits in separate databases, waiting to be connected.
- Your search triggers instant cross-referencing. Enter a number, and algorithms scan telecom registries, business listings, scam reports, and public directories in seconds. They search for exact matches, related numbers, and fraud indicators.
- The results vary. Sometimes you get full details like business name, address, or reviews. Other times it’s basic — just mobile or landline info, city code, or carrier. In some cases, you’ll only see warnings like “suspected scam, didn’t answer.” Premium services may access deeper historical or online data, depending on how publicly the number has been used.
Why Different Lookup Tools Show Different Results
Ever notice how one lookup service gives you a full profile while another returns absolutely nothing for the same number? It’s frustrating, but there are genuine reasons behind those inconsistencies.
- Some numbers, such as unlisted or certain mobile numbers, are intentionally kept private, making them difficult to find.
- Databases can quickly become outdated. If the information isn’t regularly updated, you might be looking at old, incorrect details.
- Scammers can disguise their number to look like a legitimate one through a technique called “spoofing.” This makes it hard to know if you’re speaking with a trusted source or someone trying to deceive you.
The key difference between these services is the number of databases they check. Single-source platforms often miss information. That’s where services like Scannero come in. They provide more complete details by checking telecom data, user reports, and real-time scam alerts, making them a better option when other directories fall short.
Scam & Spam Patterns in South Africa — What to Watch
Scammers lean on familiar ranges and pressure tactics. Use this table to spot red flags quickly and choose the safest next step.
How to use this table
- Compare the number’s prefix/shape to the indicators below.
- Note the scam type and read the recommendation.
- Block and report behaviour that matches these patterns.
| Indicator | Type of Scam/Spam | Example Format | Comment / Recommendation |
| 087 non-geo with payment links | VoIP phishing (courier/bank “fees”) | 087 123 4567 + URL | Don’t click; sign in via the official app/site to verify. |
| 0800 callback demands after missed call | Toll-free spoof bait | 0800 123 456 | Real hotlines don’t demand urgent callbacks with threats—verify on the company site. |
| 0861/0860 pushing OTP disclosure | Account takeover / social engineering | 0861 234 567 | Never share one-time PINs; your bank/operator will not ask for them by phone. |
| 090x prize/refund lines | Premium-rate bill shock | 090 123 4567 | Avoid calling premium lines unless you initiated the process and trust the provider. |
| +27 mobile claiming SIM-swap alert | Fraud team impersonation | 081 234 5678 | Hang up and call your bank’s number on the back of your card. |
| International one-ring (+225, +234, +255, +263) | Wangiri call-back fraud | +263 77 123 4567 | Ignore and block; calling back can incur high charges. |
| Rapid short rings then SMS “reply STOP” | Robocall list building | 072 000 1234 | Don’t reply; use device/carrier spam blocking and report. |
Top tips to keep yourself safe
- Keep caller ID spoofing in mind — even “local” numbers can be faked; if pressured to act fast, hang up and initiate contact yourself.
- Avoid calling back premium or unknown ranges (e.g., 090x, unfamiliar international prefixes); charges can be high and often fuel fraud.
- Never share OTPs, PINs, CVV or card numbers — South African banks and mobile operators will never ask for these on a call or SMS.
- Treat 087 and 0861/0860 service calls with caution — don’t click payment links or disclose info; verify via the company’s official website or app.
- Confirm deliveries and customs fees only inside official portals (e.g., courier apps/sites); ignore SMS links claiming to be from “Customs” or a local courier.