How to Find an Email Address Using a Phone Number Methods, Risks and Alternatives

It may sound impossible, but you can find an email address by phone number. And despite this possibility, it is important to note that the success of this process solely relies on the tools and methods you will choose. 

But before you go ahead and find an email address using a phone number, it is advisable to understand that your approach, no matter what it is, should follow the privacy laws and ethical standards implemented for data privacy regulations like GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) and CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act). Some of the concerns you need to consider are:

• Privacy Concerns: Email addresses are considered as personal data, and may contain professional and personal information that is crucial for how a person conducts their business, and overall lifestyle. Accessing or using them without prior consent are subject to violations of privacy laws. 
• Respect for Consent: Most people are not keen on providing their information, let alone having someone obtain them without prior consent or permission. You can indeed find email with a phone number, but you can also use that phone number to at least contact the person to whom you would like to obtain information and email to. 
• Reputable Tools: There are a variety of tools available that you can use as an email lookup by phone number, but note that not all tools are created equal, some can be shady and unreliable which can compromise the security of the information you are trying to access. 

Tools such as Anybiz.io can help you search for emails, business addresses and other key details about some professionals or companies. Anybiz.io also offers an AI-lead generation tool  that is vital for many companies to generate leads and transform their sales search through companies and their associated contacts.

Common Methods to Find an Email Address by Phone Number

Method 1: Use of Reverse Lookup Services

Reverse phone lookup services are one of the most common ways to find email via phone number. 

How does it work?

These tools have databases of publicly available information, that identify the unique identity of phone numbers and determine its associated email address. 

You can use tools such as Whitepages, Truecaller, and Book Your Data. These tools offer a reverse lookup tool that searches for contact information. Tools, such as Book Your Data, however, are more effective in finding B2B contact information, which sometimes include the email address. 

Keep in mind that not all reverse lookup services are free, and its accuracy can still vary.

Method 2: Social Media and Networking Sites

If you want to find someone, chances are they are registered to a social media and networking site. Registering for these sites will require an email address, and most often social media users link their phone numbers to their accounts. 

For social media platforms such as Facebook you can simply put the phone number in its search bar and press enter. 

However, LinkedIn and Instagram can be more effective, especially if it’s for professional purposes. LinkedIn is a valuable social media platform to establish professional relationships, and sometimes this necessitates the LinkedIn user incorporating their mobile number and email address. 

Meanwhile on Instagram, business owners usually list their entire professional contact details including phone numbers and email addresses for business inquiries.

Method 3: Contact Syncing Apps and Tools

Some apps can sync your phone’s contact list with email accounts,helping you identify email addresses linked to phone numbers.

• Google Contacts: Syncing contacts via Google may occasionally reveal associated mail addresses.
• WhatsApp: Although its messaging platform the email address can still be shown on WhatsApp profiles if users select to input them.
• Bardeen: An automation tool for integrating contact information across multiple platforms.

These methods can work, but you often need the phone number saved in your contacts or connected to a public profile.

Risks and Limitations

While these methods can be useful, there are several risks and limitations to consider:

Accuracy

Although phone number or other data point-based email address finder tools can be useful, the accuracy of the data is not always assured. 

Specific details, such as phone numbers, city or country records, etc., can be outdated or incomplete. This happens if the person seeking citizen services changes their contact details but does not update them in the databases. 

It’s common for the email addresses garnered from these techniques to be redundant. This can waste time and resources. Even legitimate services may sometimes yield incorrect results due to the constantly changing nature of information on the web.

Risk of Privacy Violations

The biggest risk of using email lookup services is the potential violation of privacy.

If you use someone’s personal contact information without consent, you may be violating privacy laws. Laws such as GDPR in Europe or CCPA in California are designed to protect people’s personal data and privacy rights. 

Make sure to verify compliance with applicable laws before using any service that involves access to or sharing of personal data.

Costs

Most well-known and trusted email lookup tools and services do not come with a price.

Some of the best, and most trusted platforms offer a paid subscription service or tiered pricing based on the threshold of access you need. If you search frequently, these tools offer accurate information and detailed data.

You may also find that the service does not always align with your specific needs or desires. That said, this doesn’t mean the service is unhelpful. As always, weigh the cost against the potential benefits, and be sure to read reviews before committing to paying for a service.

Potential Scams 

One of the main risks is falling for a scam or unreliable service claiming to provide email lookup. 

Some websites entice users with free or low-cost services, but they may sell incomplete, outdated, or inaccurate data instead. Some of these websites could be designed to steal your personal information or infect your devices with malware.

It’s important to ensure that any email lookup service you use is reputable. Check for reviews, testimonials, and user experiences. Whenever possible, verify that the site is secure (i.e., it uses HTTPS) before providing personal, financial, or credit card data.

Alternatives to Finding an Email by Phone Number

If those methods fail or they’re too intrusive, try these other options:

Request for the Email Directly

The simplest solution is sometimes the best solution. Call the person using the phone number and kindly ask them for their email. Make your purpose clear and formal.

Leverage Mutual Connections

If that person has some mutual contacts with you, ask him to introduce you or share the mail (if permitted).

Use Professional Tools

For professional purposes tools such as Linkedin Sales Navigator, Hunter.io and AnyMail Finder can find verified emails for pro outreach. These tools are designed with compliance in mind and often come with email verification capabilities.

Search Publicly Available Records

Businesses and professionals may publish their contact information in open records or company websites in certain situations. For publicly available information, a few places to check are directories, official websites, and industry listings.

How to Verify the Accuracy of Contact Information

Locating an email: Finding an email address is half the battle; once you land on an email address, you will also need to ensure that it is accurate. Make a mistake with accuracy and you could waste your time, or send the information to the wrong person. Simple checks to verify that the email address is correct:

Cross-Check Multiple Sources:

Checking other sources can be a good idea to confirm the accuracy of the email you found. If possible, try to use different tools or websites to compare your results. The more sources that tell you the same email address, the more likely it is to be accurate. That may be necessary if there are differences.

Send a Test Email:

And when you’re ready, you can use email to verify that you have the email address correct. Make sure you keep a professional tone to your message. Do not use any trickery or pressure tactics. The point is simply to check whether the email address is live and able to receive messages. If that email bounces back, you know something’s wrong.

Use Email Verification Tools:

Some tools are designed specifically to validate email addresses. Services like NeverBounce and ZeroBounce can help. These tools ensure the email is still alive and not stale. They also can save you time and save you from sending emails to fake addresses.