How do you identify the owner of the number if you don’t recognize the caller? Call them back or risk calling a sales representative? Or do you ignore it and go about your day. Do you investigate the caller and decide whether or not to return their call? Most people get robocalls several times a week. However, curiosity can sometimes take over and they want to find out who called.
You are more likely to ignore unsolicited calls or to believe scams that offer deals too good to be true. While it’s okay to know the phone numbers of our family and friends, what if the number is different? What happens if you are waiting for a response on a job or a callback from a contractor?
It is essential to know who the owner of a number is. While genuine answers may not be free, they are not difficult to find. They are only a few dollars. This article will discuss your options for finding out who keeps calling you, or who has a specific number that you called once.
How to identify a phone number
There are several ways you can find out who has a number. Although there are fees for providing more information, it is often worth the expense. It is usually less than four dollars and includes a name, address, and type of connection (mobile or landline).
1. Google Search
Google will be the most popular search engine in 2022. It is easy to find out who is calling you. Because Google’s algorithm can be instantly figured out if the number is coming from an entity, this is the best place to start.
It is likely that the caller is calling from a landline number or reputable company. If it does, you will get accurate results very quickly.
Despite its algorithmic accuracy, Google can’t identify a phone number with great accuracy. There are many websites that allow you to submit feedback, review a number or identify phone numbers. Although it isn’t always the most useful, it can identify reputable businesses numbers.
Google can also be helpful if the landline number is used. Because there are laws protecting mobile numbers, it can be difficult to find them. You will usually need to pay for details about those numbers.
Google also has an area code search function. If the call was not spoofed, you can use the first number to determine where it came from. It may be possible to call the call back if it is coming from a faraway city, but it has relatives or friends there. Cell numbers cannot be published online unless they are linked to a website or business.
2. Reverse Phone Lookup
If you do not have the owner of the number, there are several ways to reverse phone lookup. These are great ways to find out who owns the number. This can be done using websites such as Whitepages and Spokeo.
Although many websites provide some information at no cost, it is not sufficient to verify the authenticity or identify the source of the call. Websites charge a fee for access to more detailed information and better accuracy. Some websites give you a hint about who owns the number, and you can pay to verify. The data might not be current but it is accurate.
These scenarios can be applied to mobile and landline numbers. These links will give you enough information for you to determine who has the number.
3. Browse and Search Social Media
It is likely that the number will be mentioned on social media if it is associated with any company. This is especially true if the number is associated with a scammer or robocaller. Many people will complain about it on Twitter, Facebook and elsewhere. You might try searching the number on your favorite social media network.
Use the search bar on any of the popular social networks to enter the number. You’ll find your mystery caller if a person, business, or association appears.
4. Call the Number
You can also call the number back. Although this is the easiest option, you run the risk of calling someone you don’t want.
To hide your number, it is a good idea that you dial *67 before calling the number. This will ensure that the recipient doesn’t see your number on their phone. It also means that you aren’t confirming that the number is active if it’s a scammer or marketer. You can always reach the other person if you wish. If you decide not to speak to the person on the other end, you can hang up and listen for a while. They won’t even know who you called as long as they used *67.
How to block a phone number
You can block the number(s), if you get repeated marketing calls from the same phone number, or if you have identified the caller and wish to stop them. The block will be handled by your provider and device. Landline users will not be able to see the call log and mobile users will notice that there was a missed call.
Keep in mind that scammers and marketers often use different numbers to get you to answer the phone or send a false number to get you to respond. This can make it difficult to identify who called.
How to block a phone number on Android
There are several ways to block an Android phone number once you have identified the caller. These options depend on your smartphone’s model and OS. You can start by going straight to the call log. Here’s how.
Options may look different depending on the make, model, and OS. The process is basically the same.
- You can access your call log by tapping on the icon and then “Recents”
- To open the menu options, locate the call you wish to identify and tap it.
- Tap Block.
- Depending on your model, you might need to choose “Block/report spam.”
- Confirm the block in the popup window. If you wish, you can also click the box next to “Report call spam”.
All calls to that number will now be blocked from your Android phone. If necessary, you can unblock them at any time.
How to block a phone number on iPhone
It is the same process on both Android and iPhone devices.
- Then, go to “Recents,” and find the call on that list.
- Select the ‘i’ then choose ‘Block this Caller.
- You’re done!
How to block a phone number on landlines
Although different networks might have their own methods, it is easiest to call *60 to block the number that you wish to block. Call blocking can be costly and you may need to activate the feature before it is charged. If this is the case, you will hear an audio prompt.
The topic of identifying the caller has become very popular these days. Telemarketers continue to push services and products, while scammers try to steal your personal information.
You can respond or block the caller if you are certain they are not a family member or a medical facility.
Remember that scammers often change numbers in order to keep calling you or trick you into answering their calls with a local number. These scenarios can be difficult to avoid but you do have some control. Your provider and smartphone may offer a service to warn you based upon the call history of a particular number. This could be “Potential Fraud”, “Potential Scammer,” or “Private Number.”
Most Frequently Asked Questions
This section contains more information about telephone numbers.
How can I find the area code from my area?
There are 317 geographic area codes in the United States. As the population increases, so does the number of area codes. Telephone numbers are representative of regions. Therefore, it is easy to pinpoint the exact location of a caller if you look up the area code.
Smartphones will automatically list the state that corresponds to the area code. If you have a landline phone or need to find a specific area code, you will need to search for it. You can either use your favorite search engine to do a quick search for the area code or you can use an online tool such as All Area Codes. You can search by city or state, as well as area code.
I signed up for Do Not Call Registry but still receive spam calls. What’s happening?
The Do Not Call Registry service is provided by the FCC. Anyone with a telephone number can sign up for free. Only reputable businesses can comply with this list. If you have signed up, but still receive spam calls, this is because the numbers reaching you aren’t legitimate businesses.
Spam callers are also difficult to block. Although you can block individual numbers, spam callers are often sent by auto-dialers or systems that constantly create new numbers. This means you will continue to get calls, regardless of how much you try to block them.
What do the various parts of a telephone number signify?
You can easily decode a phone number to find out where the caller is located. The first digits are the country of origin. (The U.S. is “+1”). The next digit is the area code. These are three digits that come from a specific area or state. Some states have more than one area code.
The Exchange code, also known as the Central Office Code, is located after the area code. This code is the three digits following the area code. They represent a more specific area. Even though it is no longer as useful as it was back in the days before POTS landlines were invented, the Central Office Code was used to give users an indication of the area.
The four digits at end of the phone number are a unique identifier called the Subscriber Number.
