# Whoscall

Whoscall is a mobile application that offers caller identification services developed by Gogolook Co., Ltd., a listed company in Taiwan.

## History

In 2010, the first version of Whoscall was created after one of its co-founders, Jeff Kuo, received a spam call.
Originally a part-time project by Jeff Kuo, Jackie Chang, and Reiny Song as part-time work, the trio co-founded Gogolook with the goal of enhancing fraud prevention efforts worldwide by providing a caller identification solution.
In August 2010, the first version of Whoscall was released on Google Play in several countries and attracted voluntary downloads.
In 2020, Gogolook, the developer of Whoscall, established its overseas office in Fukuoka, Japan.

## Features

The function of Whoscall is to identify incoming calls, detect scam/harassment numbers, and filter spam text messages, blocking them accordingly.

### Instant Caller Identification

It identifies unknown callers in real time through the largest number database (with 2.6 billion entries) and an AI-powered identification engine.

### Caller ID Blocking

It reduces the risks of receiving malicious/harassment phone calls by blocking nuisance calls or text messages automatically.

### SMS Message Filtering

It filters dangerous phishing text messages by detecting suspicious URLs and keywords.

### Unknown Caller Query

It allows users to key in unknown phone numbers manually and identify such callers in the database.

### Number Reporting

It maximizes the power of social network by allowing users to report dangerous/scam phone numbers.

### Whoscall Number

It increases phone answer rates, resolves the problem of counterfeit corporate identities, and protects consumers from fraudulent threats, through a number verification mechanism.

### URL scanner

It allows users to view the risk level of unknown links by simply entering them within the app, thereby filtering out fraudulent links.

### Other services

* In 2021, Whoscall launched "Smart SMS Assistant" feature.
* In 2022, Whoscall launched the "Whoscall Premium Group Sell" on momo shopping online.

## Availability

The app owns the largest number database in East Asia and Southeast Asia.
The app currently has over 100 million users, 2.6 billion phone number entries, 25 billion identified number & SMS.
The app is available in 31 countries/regions, including Taiwan, Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, and Brazil.

## Business model
### Investors

In 2013, Gogolook received an investment of $11.7 million from Naver Corporation, LINE’s parent company.
In 2020, Gogolook received investment from WIN Semiconductors Corp., the largest GaAs semiconductor foundry in the world.
In 2022, Whoscall's parent company, Gogolook, applies for IPO listing on the Innovation Board.
In 2023, Gogolook went public on the Taiwan Innovation Board (TIB) of the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE).

### Strategic partners

Whoscall is also the strategic partner of several governmental agencies in their anti-fraud efforts.
| Year | Type | Country | Name | Goal |
| 2016 | Memorandum of understanding | Taiwan | National Police Agency | Strengthen its anti-fraud efforts |
| 2017 | Memorandum of understanding | South Korea | Financial Supervisory Service | Anti-fraud technical exchange |
| 2017 | Memorandum of understanding | South Korea | Korean National Police Agency | Anti-fraud technical exchange |
| 2020 | Partnership | Japan | Fukuoka City Government | Joint anti-fraud efforts |
| 2021 | Partnership | Thailand | Royal Thai Police | |
| 2022 | Partnership | Thailand | True Corp | Expand anti-fraud business |
| 2022 | Partnership | Thailand | Thailand Post | Prevent fraud |
| 2022 | Cross-border cooperation | Malaysia | Government of Selangor | Expand the Southeast Asian market |
| 2023 | Memorandum of understanding | Malaysia | Royal Malaysian Police | Fraud prevention cooperation |

### Other ventures

In 2022, Whoscall joined hands with the Web3 community "Global Citizen Club" to create customized NFT

### Other anti-fraud efforts

In 2020, Whoscall released the world’s first COVID-19 Scam White Paper. The release was covered by several media outlets.
Since 2020, Whoscall have been releasing Annual Reports focusing on latest fraud trends, scenarios and industry insights.
In 2022, Gogolook released the “Business Impersonation Report” with the Criminal Investigation Bureau.

## Reception

Whoscall has been covered in prominent international media including BBC, TechCrunch, TechinAsia, and e27. It has many positive reviews and holds an average of 4.2 star ratings on Google Play Store.

### Accolades

| Year | Organisation | Award name |
| 2013 | Google Play Taiwan | 2013 Innovation Awards |
| 2013 | Google Play | Best Apps of the Year |
| 2015 | App Store | Best Apps of 2015 |
| 2016 | Google Play | Most Popular App |
| 2020 | Ministry of Economic Affairs | 4th Presidential Innovation Award |

### Recognition
#### In Taiwan

In 2011, Whoscall gained traction and propelled itself into the limelight when Google’s CEO, Eric Schmidt on a visit to Taiwan, rated the app:
   “An app called WhosCall tells you who a strange number is from. It's growing fast in the U.S., India, and China, and it's made in Taiwan.”
On May 20, 2014, Gogolook was mentioned by name during the President of Taiwan, Ma Ying-jeou's national address marking his 6th year in office.
In 2019, then-Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen visited Gogolook, the developer of Whoscall.

#### International

In 2017, Whoscall was chosen by Google as a successful case study on the event Google I/O 2017.
In 2021, Whoscall was listed as one of the anti-fraud apps recommended by the Royal Thai Police.

## Anecdote

In April 2014, concerns regarding Whoscall's privacy issues rose to the forefront of national attention as public figures took to the press and expressed their concerns with public records including home telephone numbers and addresses showing up on incoming calling screens.
Gogolook swiftly came out with a statement declaring that they had never collected nor stored any personal information on their servers, let alone made them publicly available.
It was soon discovered that the personal information of the aforementioned public figures was leaked from government servers with poor security protocols that made the information available on search engines, from where Gogolook sources some of their information.
Whoscall was promptly lauded as not only a call screen for telemarketers, but also a reliable reminder for the possible dissemination of personal information.