How You Can Find Out Who's Hiding Behind Any Phone Number

Reverse Phone Search: How You Can Find Out Who's Hiding Behind Any Phone Number

Got a phone number but don't know who it is? Maybe you've seen strange numbers showing up on your teenager's cell phone bill. Or maybe you picked up a number to call about an investment - but you suspect a scam. Or maybe you found a mysterious number in your wife or husband's things. For dozens of reasons, we find ourselves with a telephone number - but no name.

You're itching to find out who it is. Not just for curiosity's sake. The safety of your family or the security of your bank account could be at stake. You need a way to discover just whose phone number you have.

There's good news. You've got options. I'm a professional writer and researcher. I've discovered four different ways you can find out who's hiding behind any phone number. You can:

- Call, pretending to be someone else
- Look it up in a published crisscross directory
- Befriend (or trick) someone at the phone company
- Go online and search

Let's see what's involved with each approach and discover when they work best...

Call the Number

It's the simplest thing you can do. Pick up the phone and call. But pretend to be someone else to avoid recognition. When they answer, ask for a person with an unusual name not likely to be there. Say something like "Hello, is Lilly Becky there? No? Are you absolutely sure? Well, who am I talking to then?" Be a little forceful. Even sound angry, as if you think they're lying to you. This approach can rattle the other person and make them reveal their identity.

Avoid this one if you're not comfortable acting. And make sure you don't call from a number that can be traced back to you!

Look in a Crisscross Directory

Crisscross Directories have been around since the late 1800s. They're like phone directories. But they organize their listings by phone number, or street address, instead of name. These directories are still available in print form even though most of the information is also now available by computer.

Such cross-references are primarily designed for business use. Usually, sales departments rely on them to conduct direct marketing, build lists of sales leads and gather business intelligence.

The drawback is that they're expensive - costing in the hundreds of dollars or more. Still, you can usually find copies in your library, especially for the local area you live in. If you're looking beyond your own town, you probably won't be able to use the free version in the library.

Get an Inside Connection

Having a buddy on the inside of the phone company was classic approach for TV detectives. If you recall the Rockford Files or Mannix or any other old private eye show, they were forever pulling over to a pay phone and calling their friend, Ginger or Susie or Maggie, at the telephone company. The friend would dutifully give them whatever information the PI needed to pursue the case.

Interestingly, this method actually works - even if it's a little on the shady side. If you know someone at the phone company, you can probably talk them into helping.

Unfortunately, they probably won't help you once a week like on the TV shows. At some point your friend's better judgment will take over. You'll be left with nothing but numbers again. (Makes you wonder, doesn't it, just what the detective had that you don't)

21st Century Answers - The Internet Search Solution

When it comes to finding out who's hiding behind a phone number, the best way I've found is online search. Yet, search takes time. And not finding what you want quickly gets very frustrating.

To help, a number of businesses exist to make reverse phone searching quicker and easier. These businesses have already found the best sources for reverse phone searching. They take you directly to the databases that have the information you need. You can find out names, addresses, and much more, starting with just a phone number.

Some of these Reverse Phone Lookup services are free. The better ones cost a little. Quality always does, in my experience.

If, in your case, it's not that important to get accurate information fast, then give the free services a shot. They're mostly supported by pay for performance advertising, like Adsense, which doesn't earn them much. That means the free services rarely have the money to invest either in buying data access or in creating more usable interfaces.

In my case, as a professional, getting quality information quickly is important. I pay the small fee and get reliable information.

But, even if I didn't write for a living and were just casually looking up phone numbers from time to time, I'd still go with a paid database service. The cost is minimal. Often a small, one-time fee covers one to three years or even longer. If I only looked up a number once or twice a year, it would still be worth it in time saved.

Final Word

As important as it can be, finding out personal information with just a phone number used to be nearly impossible. Today it can be quick and easy. I've found four approaches that work, but one proved the simplest and most effective. It's using a quality, reverse-phone-search service online.

In a future article I'll talk about some of the reasons reverse phone search can be so important in these times. You might be surprised to hear how it not only can satisfy curiosity, it could even save your life.

Search a Number Now!

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Subject: Don't dial 9-0-#

Subject: Don't dial 9-0-#

9-0-# on your telephone

This is something you should know

If you receive a telephone from an individual identifying
himself as an AT&T Service Technician (could also be Telus) who is
conducting a test on the telephone lines. He will state that to complete
the test you should touch nine(9), zero( 0), the pound sign (#), and then hang
up.

Don't do it !

By pushing 90#, you give the requesting individual full access to
your telephone line, which enables them to place long distance calls billed to your home phone number.

This scam often originates from prisoners from local jails.

DO NOT press 9-0-# for ANYONE.

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New way they're stealing Gas!

In many places people are getting the license plates stolen off their cars. The thieves then fill up there gas tank, and take off. The station attendant writes down their license plate and reports to the police. Of course the police show up at your house thinking you stole the gas. And low and behold you find your license plate is missing.

Where I live here in South Florida we have to prepay for our gas, but in the more rural areas check you plate often to make sure it's still there.

Police believe this will only get worse until the economy takes an upswing.

Stealing your Car unlock code

This is very troubling what lengths people will go to to steal what doesnâ?Tt belong to them ! 100% of the time I lock my car on the door lock inside when I exit the car. Little did I know that is the best way to lock your car. Read on

Beware folks. This is news you can use.

THIS HAS BEEN CHECKED ON SNOPES

My oldest son came over yesterday- he had to go toCanada for work last week. One of the other engineer's traveling to Canada with him, but in his own car had something happen...that I need to share.

While traveling he stopped at the roadside park, similar to what we have here with bathrooms, vending machines etc. He came out to his car less than 4-5 minutes later and found someone had gotten into his car, and stolen his cell phone, laptop computer, gps navigator briefcase.....you name it.

They called the police and since there were no signs of his car being broke into- the police told him that there is a divice that robbers are using now to clone your security code when you lock your doors on your car using your key-chain locking device..They set a distance away and watch for their next victim. Since they know you are going inside of the store, restaurant, or bathroom and have a few minutes to steal and run. The police office said...to be sure to manually lock your car door-by hitting the lock button inside the car, that way if there is someone setting in a parking lot watching for their next victim it will not be you.

When you hit the lock button on your car upon exiting...it does not send the security code, but if you walk away and use the door lock on your key chain- it sends the code thru the airwaves where it can be stolen.

I just wanted to let you know about this...it is something totally new to us...and this is real...it just happened this past Thursday June 19th to his co-worker...

So be aware of this and please pass this note on...look how many times we all lock our doors with our keys...just to be sure we remembered to lock them....and bingo the guys have our code...and whatever was in the car...can be gone.

Keep safe everyone!

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It's better to check them out 1st

In this day and age, with all the cyber dating, online forums, online sales, auction sites, etc. Know who your going to meet or give your hard earned money to in advance.

The best site for this is Acme: Click here for Acme People Search!

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