Finding Out More About a Number
If you miss a call on your cell phone and don't recognize the number that pops up, your first thought is probably to find out where the area code is located. This is easy enough to do on the Internet or even by using an old-fashioned paper phone book. However, simply knowing the area code does not do much to satisfy the curiosity. You still don't know who called or for what reason. Now let's say that you get repeated calls from this number, or that they leave some message which is spooky or weird, or unsettling in some way. Now, you have more reasons than just curiosity for finding out where the calls are coming from. A call that is truly threatening can, of course, be turned over to the police, but in some cases it might be very beneficial to try to find out the source on your own without calling in the authorities.
If you put the number in a simple web reverse look up site, you will most likely get a name or address if the phone is a landline model. However, if the calls are cellular in nature, a search engine will not be able to help as much. Landline phone numbers are all listed in public records except for private unlisted phones. But no such records are required for cell phones. Therefore a basic Internet search might tell you if the cell phone number is valid, where the phone was purchased, and the service provider connected to the phone, but it cannot give you what you really need...the name and address of the caller.
There are Internet sites that do this, however. They are called reverse phone traces and for a fee, they can get you the knowledge you need. Such services need to charge because cell phone records are scattered in many different places and need to be constantly updated. This becomes an expensive prospect for a company, which means they have to charge their customers in order to stay in business. Most services charge a one-time fee with unlimited lookups, but others charge each time they are needed. In addition, companies often offer a refund if they are not able to locate the information you need.
By using these services you may get more than just the name and address of the caller. Other records concerning bankruptcies, births, adoptions, deaths, and marriages are sometimes available. You may also learn about any background checks or arrest records the person in question has had when you trace a phone number.
Of course it depends upon the seriousness of the situation you are in whether or not you will decide to use a reverse lookup service. An out of control teenager, a suspicious acting spouse or shady business partner may all give you valid reasons for needing to identify a phone number. The fees that are charged are certainly worth the peace of mind that comes with knowing once and for all what calls mean.
If you put the number in a simple web reverse look up site, you will most likely get a name or address if the phone is a landline model. However, if the calls are cellular in nature, a search engine will not be able to help as much. Landline phone numbers are all listed in public records except for private unlisted phones. But no such records are required for cell phones. Therefore a basic Internet search might tell you if the cell phone number is valid, where the phone was purchased, and the service provider connected to the phone, but it cannot give you what you really need...the name and address of the caller.
There are Internet sites that do this, however. They are called reverse phone traces and for a fee, they can get you the knowledge you need. Such services need to charge because cell phone records are scattered in many different places and need to be constantly updated. This becomes an expensive prospect for a company, which means they have to charge their customers in order to stay in business. Most services charge a one-time fee with unlimited lookups, but others charge each time they are needed. In addition, companies often offer a refund if they are not able to locate the information you need.
By using these services you may get more than just the name and address of the caller. Other records concerning bankruptcies, births, adoptions, deaths, and marriages are sometimes available. You may also learn about any background checks or arrest records the person in question has had when you trace a phone number.
Of course it depends upon the seriousness of the situation you are in whether or not you will decide to use a reverse lookup service. An out of control teenager, a suspicious acting spouse or shady business partner may all give you valid reasons for needing to identify a phone number. The fees that are charged are certainly worth the peace of mind that comes with knowing once and for all what calls mean.
posted by global take off at
10:50 PM
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