A missed call from a number starting with 06 or 07 that you do not recognize raises two distinct questions: identifying the line holder and determining whether this call is lawful since the enactment of law n° 2025-594. The identification method depends on the type of number displayed, and the legal response has radically changed since August 2026.
Anti-solicitation law of August 2026: what changes for identifying an unknown call
Since August 11, 2026, the Bloctel list has been abolished. The regime has reversed: it is now the professional’s responsibility to prove that they have valid consent for each called number, with an obligation to retain this proof for at least three years.
Any commercial call received without prior consent is therefore, in principle, unlawful. We observe that this change alters the recipient’s stance. Identifying the owner of an unknown number is no longer just to satisfy curiosity: it is the first link in a reporting chain that can trigger sanctions against the caller.
Exceptions remain very limited. A professional can contact you without consent only within the framework of an existing contractual relationship or for a service directly related to an ongoing contract. Outside of these cases, an unsolicited call constitutes a punishable offense.
If you manage to find the owner of a number and the call turns out to be commercial without your agreement, reporting to the DGCCRF becomes relevant. Proof of the call (screenshot of the call log, timestamp) constitutes an admissible element.
Reverse search on mobile numbers: actual reliability of tools
Reverse search works very differently depending on whether the number is landline or mobile. For landlines, traditional directories (Yellow Pages, 118 712) remain relatively effective because landline numbers are mostly registered in the universal directory.
For a mobile number starting with 06 or 07, the resolution rate drops drastically. Most mobile subscribers do not appear in the universal directory, either due to lack of configuration by the operator or by explicit choice (unlisted or private numbers).
What Google can actually retrieve
Entering a phone number into Google does not initiate a “reverse search” in the technical sense. The engine simply indexes web pages where this number appears openly. This works for professional numbers published on business websites, online directories, or forums.
For a personal number, Google will only return a result if the holder has published their number somewhere: professional profile, classified ad, indexed contact form. A private mobile number that is not published remains invisible to Google.
Free reverse directories: structural limits
Services like Yellow Pages or 118 000 query the universal directory database. Their limits are mechanical:
- A number on the unlisted list does not appear in any reverse directory, free or paid, due to the legal obligation of the operator
- Prepaid numbers without complete identification of the holder (old prepaid SIM cards) do not appear in any public database
- VoIP numbers assigned by virtual operators often escape the universal directory due to lack of systematic declaration
We recommend considering these tools as a first filter, not as a definitive answer. A negative result does not mean that the number is fraudulent.
Call identification apps: Truecaller and alternatives on Android and iOS
Truecaller remains the reference app for real-time identification of incoming calls. Its operation relies on a collaborative database: each user contributes, voluntarily or not, to enrich the shared directory.
Truecaller identifies a number using the address books of its users. If three people have saved the same number under the name “Plumber Martin,” the app will display this information to any user receiving a call from that number.
Personal data and trade-offs
The effectiveness of these apps comes at a cost in terms of data. By installing Truecaller or Hiya, you generally agree that your own address book will be analyzed, sometimes synchronized on the publisher’s servers. Check the permissions granted, especially on Android where access to contacts and call logs can be very broad.
On iOS, Apple restricts access to call data more. Identification apps work via a CallKit extension that filters incoming numbers against a local database, without direct access to the call stream. Identification is less complete, but personal data protection remains stricter on iOS.
Blocked number and spoofing: two situations where identification fails
A blocked number (displayed as “Private Number” or “Unknown”) and a number spoofed by caller ID spoofing pose fundamentally different problems.
In the case of a blocked number, no consumer tool allows for lifting the anonymity. Only the telephone operator, upon judicial requisition, can associate a blocked call with a line. In cases of proven harassment, filing a complaint allows for this procedure to be initiated.
Spoofing is more insidious. Authorities have warned against fraudulent calls displaying the number 17 (emergency police). The number displayed on your screen is not that of the originating line. Identifying the displayed number is useless when that number is itself falsified.
How to distinguish between the two situations:
- An unknown number that displays normally can be verified by reverse search or callback
- A displayed number corresponding to an institution (bank, police, administration) asking for personal information is likely spoofing
- A repeated blocked call without a voicemail justifies reporting to your operator, who can activate network-side filtering
The most effective combination remains pragmatic: never call back a premium number (08), verify numbers starting with 01-05 via a reverse directory, and for unknown mobiles, let it ring. A legitimate caller will leave a message or send a text.
