General / About the Site
What is Check It First?
A free community tool to check phone numbers, domains, and email addresses for scam signals before you respond.
Is this service free?
Yes, completely free. No account needed. We rely on ads to cover costs.
Do I need to create an account?
No. You can search and view reports without signing up or logging in.
Who runs this?
An independent UK-based project, not affiliated with anyone.
Does "safe" mean guaranteed?
No. We show community signals and blocklist data, but we can't guarantee any contact is legitimate. Always use your own judgement.
Phone Number Checks
What information do you show about phone numbers?
We show community reports, the type of number (mobile, landline, premium rate), the network provider where available, and any scam signals reported by other users.
Where does your phone number data come from?
Number type and provider data comes from Ofcom's publicly available numbering database. Reports come from our community of users.
Can scammers spoof caller ID?
Yes, scammers can make calls appear to come from different numbers. If something feels suspicious, trust your instincts regardless of what the caller ID shows.
Why does my number show as "Unknown"?
If a number hasn't been searched before or has no community reports, we may not have data on it yet. You can be the first to add a report.
How do I report a scam call?
Search for the phone number, then use the "Report this number" button on the results page. You can describe what happened and categorise the type of call.
Domain / Website Checks
How do you check if a domain is safe?
We cross-reference domains against known phishing blocklists, show community reports, and indicate if a domain is on our trusted list (e.g., major banks, government sites).
What does "blocklisted" mean?
A blocklisted domain has been flagged by security researchers as being used for phishing, malware, or scams. We recommend avoiding these sites.
What if a domain was previously blocked but is now clean?
We show historical data so you can see if a domain was ever on a blocklist. This helps you make informed decisions even if the current status has changed.
Can I report a domain I know is legitimate?
Yes! Positive reports help build trust signals for legitimate businesses and websites. We welcome reports confirming a domain is safe.
Why isn't my domain showing any data?
If a domain hasn't been searched or reported before, we won't have data on it. The domain will be added to our database when first searched.
How do I report a suspicious website?
Search for the domain, then use the report form on the results page. You can describe what made it suspicious and how you encountered it.
Email Address Checks
What do you check about email addresses?
We check the domain part of the email against our blocklists and trusted domain lists, show community reports, and indicate if it's from a public provider (like Gmail) or a private domain.
Why are email pages not indexed by search engines?
For privacy and GDPR compliance, we don't allow search engines to index individual email address pages. You can still search for and view them directly on our site.
What's the difference between public and private email domains?
Public providers (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo) are free services anyone can use. Private domains belong to specific organisations. Scammers sometimes use lookalike private domains to impersonate companies.
How do I report a suspicious email address?
Search for the email address, then use the report form on the results page to describe what made it suspicious.
Can you tell me who sent an email?
No, we can't identify individuals. We can only show you community reports and blocklist status for the email address and its domain.
Reporting & Appeals
Can I submit positive reports?
Yes! You can report phone numbers, domains, and emails as trustworthy. This helps build accurate community data and supports legitimate businesses.
How do I appeal if my number/domain/email was wrongly flagged?
Use the appeal form linked from the results page. Reports cannot be submitted by email.
How long do appeals take?
We aim to review appeals within 7 days. Complex cases may take longer.
Are reports anonymous?
Yes. We don't store personal information about reporters. We only collect enough data to prevent abuse and spam.
Privacy & Data
What data do you collect?
We collect minimal data: search queries (without identifying who searched), anonymous reports, and standard web analytics. See our Privacy Policy for full details.
Do you track my searches?
We record that a search was made (to show search counts and trending numbers), but we don't link searches to individual users or store IP addresses long-term.
How long is data retained?
Report data is retained indefinitely to maintain the community database. Technical logs are automatically deleted after 90 days.
Still have questions?
If you couldn't find what you're looking for, feel free to get in touch with us.
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