Whenever you receive a call, the phone system quickly runs the number through your contact list. If the number does not appear in the address book, it is displayed as a new caller. It might also appear hidden or private if the person deliberately opts for these functions.
So, there are endless reasons why you might want to determine a caller’s identity: if you receive endless calls from unknown numbers, recently lost some contacts, or someone has been harassing you over the phone. Regardless of the reason, it is imperative to unravel the identity of the person on the other end of the line.
That said, here are some ingenious ways to find out who’s calling you:
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Call Back
It’s the easiest, cheapest, quickest, and most obvious way to determine the caller’s identity, but it’s also the riskiest. If you can’t identify the caller’s voice when they answer, you can ask for their name later in the conversation. If the caller intentionally hides their identity, try using a call return service. It’s only available in the US and works for local phone numbers. However, such a service might come at an extra cost.
Nevertheless, if you cherish anonymity and wish to leave the least digital footprint, here are some more discreet methods.
Reverse Search the Number
Reverse search websites have special access to large databases. As with most software tools, some are available for free, while others require a paid subscription. The services scour relevant websites, social media platforms, and phone directories for public data and collect the information in one place.
When a deep search for an unknown caller is necessary, you may need to pay a fee. Premium versions also provide additional information such as addresses and property registered under the caller’s name.
However, free reverse lookups are also available. PhoneHistory is one of them. Its database contains more than 500 million US phone numbers and reveals the person behind a call and their personal information, including age, email address, social profiles, location history, professional details, and much more.
Run the Number on Search Engines
Current Android and iOS models come with search engines such as Google or Bing preinstalled and running by default. Search engines skim through websites and databases made available on the internet to find the relevant results for any term or keyword. Hence, you can leverage this capability to find any records or identities linked to a certain number.
Use Caller Identification Apps
The World Wide Web is laden with caller apps offering diverse services and functions. Most apps, such as Truecaller, are free and readily available on Google Play and Apple Store. However, some advanced functionalities are only available for paid subscriptions. Some of these features include seeing who’s searching for your number or the ability to schedule fake calls to escape awkward situations.
The call assistant is arguably the most convenient function for unraveling mysterious callers. This feature takes your call and allows you to hear what the person wants without engaging with them personally.
Browse Online Directories
Online phone directories store details of phone numbers’ owners. You can, therefore, leverage these databases to discover the caller’s real identity and location. Nevertheless, different countries have different policies concerning how such data is handled. Again, the records may not be up to date, which runs the risk of using inaccurate or misleading information. Finally, it’s worthwhile noting that not all phone numbers are available in online directories.
Leverage Social Media Platforms
When signing up on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X, and most social media platforms, you’re almost always prompted to provide your phone number. It can then be used for identity verification, security via two-factor authentication, or as part of your profile details.
To improve the efficiency of this process, curate a prospective list of possible callers. It helps narrow down your scope since most platforms don’t have a specific search area for contact details.
Check Online Business Listings
Some people use their business number to make private calls, or it could be an institution trying to reach you for whatever reason. If you have a company in mind, visit their website and compare the numbers on their Contact Us page with that of your mysterious caller.
On the other hand, modern businesses, especially those in the B2B niche, create special business listings to help their clients locate them. You can leverage these databases to find your caller, and Google My Business would make a great start.
Turn to Toll-Free Numbers’ Directories
Toll-free phone numbers are specific lines that don’t charge callers for the service. Since these numbers aren’t as widely used as those provided by network service providers, they have a dedicated directory. Also, because of their specific purpose, toll-free numbers are mostly associated with organizations and can be easily found online.
Contact Your Mobile Service Provider
If a call can’t be traced or you can’t call back, consider reaching out to your mobile service provider for assistance. They store all the information about your incoming and outgoing phone calls and texts. That means that you can request them to help you determine an unknown caller’s identity.
The person on the other end of the line may be registered under the same mobile service provider. Conversely, they might require you to provide additional information to justify the reason for your request. The main challenge with this method is that such companies are legally forbidden from sharing their clients’ data without any obvious reasons.
Conclusion
If you’re a constant target of spammers, telemarketers, or someone you would like to avoid, there are several methods you can leverage. You can either use some of the resources discussed herein or enable secure settings on your device. You can also sign up for the National Do Not Call Registry, which can keep telemarketers and other cold callers off your phone.
Remember, telephone harassment is a crime. If you have been receiving any obscene calls from unknown numbers, get help from your local authorities by filing a complaint.