Best Scammer Lookup Tools (2026): Where to Search Scammer Names for Free

No single site catches every scammer. Here's what each free scam search tool actually covers, when to use it, and how to combine them before you send money or trust a stranger.

Side-by-side comparison

ToolNamesPhonesWebsitesCryptoCourt recordsFree
scamers.org
ScamSearch.io
BBB Scam Tracker
ScamAdviser
WhoCallsMe / 800notes
FTC / FBI IC3

Each tool, and when to use it

1. scamers.org

Best for: Names, aliases and convicted scammers

Covers: Names, phones, emails, usernames, wallets, websites, DOJ/FBI dossiers, stolen photos

Moderated records with source citations, typo-tolerant ranked search and autocomplete. Free, no signup.

2. ScamSearch.io

Best for: Community scammer list

Covers: Emails, usernames, phones, names

Large user-submitted list; less source verification, some features gated.

3. BBB Scam Tracker

Best for: US/Canada business scams

Covers: Business names, websites, phone numbers

Strong for consumer and business fraud in North America; weak on individual romance scammers.

4. ScamAdviser

Best for: Is this website legit?

Covers: Website trust scores

Automated domain scoring (age, hosting, reviews). No people or phone records.

5. WhoCallsMe / 800notes

Best for: Unknown callers

Covers: Phone numbers

Crowd comments on numbers. Useful for robocalls, noisy and unmoderated.

6. FTC / FBI IC3

Best for: Official reporting

Covers: Alerts and complaint filing

Where to report to authorities. Complaint data is not publicly searchable by name.

A 4-step check that catches most scams

  1. Search the name, phone, email or wallet on scamers.org scammer lookup.
  2. Reverse image search their profile photos — compare with our Stolen Faces gallery.
  3. Check any link on our scam domain list, or paste a message into the scam text checker.
  4. Still unsure? Don't pay. Report it and read how to report a scammer.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best free site to search scammer names?

For individual names and aliases, scamers.org combines moderated community reports with court-verified DOJ/FBI dossiers and typo-tolerant search. For businesses in the US, add BBB Scam Tracker.

How do I check if a phone number is a scammer?

Search the number on scamers.org, then check 800notes for caller comments. If it claims to be your bank or a government agency, hang up and call the official number yourself.

How do I check if a website is a scam?

Use the scamers.org scam domain list and ScamAdviser's trust score together, and check the domain's age. New domains offering big discounts are a common red flag.

What if no tool has a record?

No record does not mean safe — scammers change aliases constantly. Run a reverse image search on profile photos, never send money to someone you haven't met, and report them so the next person is warned.

Comparison based on publicly available features as of October 2026. Third-party names are trademarks of their owners; we're not affiliated with them.