This takes me back… I remember my early days in OSINT when I spent hours—sometimes days—trying to link a phone number to an email. It felt like chasing shadows. I’d sit in front of my screen, juggling a dozen browser tabs, testing every method I could find on obscure forums. More often than not, it was pure trial and error. But over time, after plenty of missteps and a few accidental successes, I found reliable strategies that actually worked.
And here you are, probably wondering how to do the same. Whether you need this for prospecting, research, or just to connect the dots on a lead, I’m going to walk you through the exact steps I use today.
Ready? Let’s dive in.
Part 1: Finding Someone’s LinkedIn Profile from Their Email
Before we can link a phone number to an email, it’s often easier to start by connecting an email to a LinkedIn profile. Trust me, LinkedIn can be a goldmine if you know where to look.
1. Google Dorks – The Old-School Hacker’s Friend
- Open Google and use specific search operators like:
"[email]" site:linkedin.com"[email]" site:twitter.com
- Example: If the email is jane.doe@gmail.com, search
"jane.doe@gmail.com" site:linkedin.com - This simple trick has led me to many hidden profiles.
2. Reverse Email Lookup Tools
- Tools like Reverse Contact make this process smoother.
- Paste the email, and if it’s indexed, it’ll reveal associated social profiles.
- Personal anecdote: I once used this on a tough lead, and it unearthed not just the LinkedIn but their company bio too.
3. Outlook’s Hidden Gem (Non-EU Users Only)
- If you’re outside the EU, Outlook sometimes auto-links emails to LinkedIn profiles when adding a new contact.
- Add the email to your contacts and see if it suggests a profile.
- Note: This doesn’t always work but is worth a shot.
By now, you should have a name, job title, and maybe even the company. With this info, we’re halfway there.
Part 2: Finding the Phone Number
Once you’ve got their LinkedIn profile, it’s time to hunt down the phone number.
1. Check the LinkedIn Profile
- It might sound obvious, but many users list their contact info.
- Click “Contact Info” on their profile.
- If it’s blank? Don’t worry. We’ve got more tools.
2. Use Phone Finder Tools
- There are platforms designed to search public databases for phone numbers based on a person’s name and company.
- Phone Finder or RocketReach are great examples
However, I now use Full Enrich because it integrates directly with many phone providers for almost the same price. That’s what we use at Reverse Contact to find phone numbers.
Pro Tip: Sometimes searching company directories helps if the person holds a public-facing role.
3. Social Media Deep Dive
- Sometimes, people accidentally expose more info than they realize.
- Check Twitter bios, Instagram profiles, or even old blog posts.
Anecdote: I once found a lead’s number because they listed it in their Etsy shop bio—go figure!
Part 3: The All-in-One Solution — Reverse Contact
Alright, let’s be real. Manually running through these steps can be time-consuming.
That’s where Reverse Contact becomes your best friend.
- Simply input the email or phone number.
- The tool cross-references its internal databases and instantly returns linked emails, phone numbers, and social profiles.
- No more juggling between Google, LinkedIn, and random forums.
Why Use It: It integrates all these methods, automates the process, and saves hours every week. Plus, it’s accurate—no more chasing dead ends.
Final Thoughts: Give It a Try!
I get it. OSINT can feel like finding a needle in a haystack sometimes. But with these techniques, you’ve got the metal detector.
So, take these methods for a spin. Start with the manual process to get a feel for it, then streamline everything with Reverse Contact when you’re ready.
Happy hunting—and remember, sometimes the best leads are just a few clicks away.
