Phone Number Intelligence: What It Is and Why It Matters

What is Phone Number Intelligence?

Phone number intelligence is data about phone numbers that goes beyond the digits themselves. It includes information about who owns the number, which carrier provides service, what type of line it is, and whether the number has been associated with fraud or spam.

Businesses use phone intelligence to:

• Validate contacts — Ensure phone numbers are real and reachable
• Identify carriers — Know which network serves each number
• Detect fraud — Screen for high-risk or suspicious numbers
• Optimize routing — Send calls and messages through the best paths
• Improve contact rates — Reach the right person on the first try

Types of Phone Intelligence Data

CNAM (Caller Name)

CNAM lookup retrieves the name associated with a phone number — the caller ID that appears when someone calls. Use cases include:

• Verifying caller identity
• Enriching CRM records
• Fraud screening (mismatched names)

Learn more about CNAM lookup →

LRN (Local Routing Number)

LRN data shows which carrier currently serves a number, accounting for number portability. This is essential because over 30% of US numbers have been ported to different carriers.

Learn more about LRN lookup →

LRN Activation Date (Exclusive)

LRN Activation Date shows when a phone number was last ported to its current carrier. This exclusive data helps detect:

• Recently ported numbers — Potential SIM swap fraud
• Stable numbers — Long-term carrier relationships indicate trust
• Number reassignment — Newly activated numbers may be recycled

VeriRoute Intel provides LRN Activation Date at no extra cost with every LRN lookup.

Learn more about LRN Activation Date →

Line Type

Line type identifies whether a number is:

• Wireless — Mobile phones
• Landline — Traditional wired phones
• VoIP — Internet-based phone services
• Toll-free — 800/888/etc. numbers

This affects SMS delivery (landlines typically can't receive texts) and fraud risk (VoIP numbers are easier to obtain anonymously).

Learn more about line type detection →

Carrier Information

Carrier lookup reveals:

• Current carrier — Who serves the number now
• Original carrier — Who originally owned the number
• OCN — Operating Company Number for the carrier
• Porting status — Whether the number has been ported

Learn more about carrier identification →

Common Use Cases

Contact Validation

Before calling or texting, validate that numbers are real and reachable:

• Remove disconnected numbers from lists
• Identify line type for appropriate channel selection
• Update carrier information for ported numbers

Fraud Prevention

Screen phone numbers for fraud indicators:

• Recently ported numbers (potential SIM swap)
• VoIP numbers (easier to obtain anonymously)
• Known spam/fraud reputation
• Mismatched CNAM and provided name

Lead Validation

Before sales outreach, verify leads have valid contact information:

• Confirm numbers are active
• Identify decision-maker numbers vs. general lines
• Score lead quality based on number attributes

CRM Enrichment

Enhance customer records with phone intelligence:

• Add carrier and line type information
• Update ported numbers to current carriers
• Flag numbers that need updating

Implementation Approaches

Real-Time Lookup

Query individual numbers as needed:

• During form submission (validation)
• Before dialing (routing optimization)
• At time of contact (fraud screening)

curl -X POST https://api-service.verirouteintel.io/api/v1/cnam \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"phone_number": "15551234567"}'

Batch Processing

Process large lists efficiently:

• Upload CSV files with phone numbers
• Preview results before paying
• Download enriched data when complete
• Email notification when jobs finish

API Integration

VeriRoute Intel provides a simple REST API for phone intelligence:

# CNAM lookup
curl -X POST https://api-service.verirouteintel.io/api/v1/cnam \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"phone_number": "15551234567"}'

# LRN lookup
curl -X POST https://api-service.verirouteintel.io/api/v1/lrn \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"phone_number": "15551234567"}'

Response includes all requested data points with consistent formatting. View full API documentation →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is phone number intelligence?

Phone number intelligence is data about phone numbers including carrier information, line type (wireless/landline/VoIP), caller name (CNAM), porting history, and reputation scores. It helps businesses validate contacts, prevent fraud, and optimize communications.

What is LRN Activation Date?

LRN Activation Date shows when a phone number was last ported to its current carrier. This helps detect recent porting activity that might indicate SIM swap fraud or account takeover attempts. VeriRoute Intel provides this data at no extra cost.

How accurate is phone number lookup data?

VeriRoute Intel's data comes from authoritative sources including the NPAC database for LRN data and carrier CNAM databases. Real-time lookups provide current information. Accuracy varies by data type, with carrier/LRN data being highly accurate and CNAM data depending on what carriers report.

Can I look up phone numbers in bulk?

Yes, VeriRoute Intel supports bulk lookups via CSV upload. You can preview results before paying, and we'll email you when your batch job completes. This is ideal for validating large contact lists or enriching CRM data.

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