Do you often receive calls from unknown number? Are you anxious about whether to answer the unknown callers or call them back? This article will show you how unknown callers hide their number and what methods we can use to find out who these unknown callers are.
I. What does “Unknown Caller” mean on a caller id?
“Unknown Caller” usually means that the number displayed on the caller ID is unknown or unidentified by the phone service provider for some reason, that is, your phone doesn’t know who is calling you. And this can happen even if the unknown caller is in your contact list.
However, according to relevant surveys, nearly 80% of the world’s unknown callers come from marketers or fraudsters, who often deliberately disguise or hide their numbers to avoid people telling their identities, which allows them to commit fraud against others. Therefore, answering or calling back any calls from an Unknown Caller has certain risks.
i. Unknown caller VS. No caller ID
- No Caller ID means that the caller deliberately prevented the phone service provider from accessing their phone number and information.
- Unknown Caller indicates that the phone number and information weren’t recognized by the phone service provider despite being provided.
II. How do unknown callers hide their number?
Before we learn how to find out the unknown caller number information and identify their true identity, we might better understand how these unknown callers hide their phone number IDs. After all, only by knowing ourselves and the enemy can we win every battle.
i. Block caller ID by code
To hide your phone number in a non-technical way, simply add the code *67 before the phone number you want to dial. By doing this, your phone number will not be directly displayed on the recipient’s phone screen; instead, it will show up as “No Caller ID” or “Unknown Caller”. It should be noted that the code *67 is not universal and different countries may use different codes.
ii. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
VoIP is a technology that converts analog voice signals into digital signals and transmits them over the Internet, which means that as long as you have a device connected to the Internet, you can use VoIP technology to make calls to anyone over the Internet instead of traditional phone lines. Usually, calls made in this way leave the recipient scratching their head because the phone screen will only display “Unknown Caller”.
iii. Use third-party applications
Some third-party apps allow people to make calls using anonymous or fake phone numbers to hide their true number ID. Examples include apps like Burner, Hushed, and Google Voice. These apps use advanced technology to allow users to hide their caller IDs or display virtual or disposable phone numbers.
III. How to find out an unknown caller number?
i. Dial a specific code
When you hang up a call from an unknown number, dialing the code *69 immediately allows you to find out the actual unknown caller number for free. This feature, known as “Return Call Service,” not only reveals the phone number but also provides access to the call history, caller’s name, and even their email address stored on the internet.
Dialing code *57 can help you track down the number of the last unknown caller as well. Moreover, it will automatically contact law enforcement to report that this caller is dangerous, which is known as the “Malicious Caller Identification Service.” But please note that dialing this code is not always free.
ii. Ask phone company for help
Asking your phone service provider for help is also a good option. Generally, your phone service provider will keep a record of your calls with any phone number for 6 months.
Therefore, you may ask it to give you the number details of the unknown caller who called you within a specific time frame, helping you find out the identity of an unknown caller more quickly.
At the same time, you can also ask the phone service provider to help you block a specific number to ensure that you will never receive harassment from this number again.
iii. Utilize third-party tools
If you cannot find out the unknown caller’s phone number by dialing the code, and the phone company you asked for help has not responded to you timely, you may try a third-party search tool, such as TrapCall.
TrapCall is an application that can be used on both Android and Apple phones. It helps you intercept calls from unknown callers and uses technical means to find their phone number information for your reference or next step.
IV. How to identify an unknown caller?
Above we have learned how to find out the phone number from an unknown caller. Once we can get the other party’s mobile phone number, it will be easier to identify his identity by checking where he lives.
Phone Finder offers a worldwide mobile phone tracking solution. Regardless of the phone’s brand or location, as long as you can provide the phone number associated with the device, Phone Finder can quickly help you track its current location. This allows you to check the real-time location of any unknown callers on a map and make educated guesses about their identity based on their typical locations.
Steps to track a phone location by number are followings:
1. Search “gps-phone.net/phone-finder” on your browser
2. Enter the phone number you’ve found from the unknown caller
3. Wait for few seconds and you will see a map that shows the geographic location of the unknown caller
V. FAQ
i. How to block call from unknown number?
The most simple way to block an unknown caller is to turn on the built-in “Blocking feature” on your phone’s settings:
For iPhone:
Open the “Settings” app > Find and tap on “Phone” > Scroll down and turn the “Silence Unknown Callers” toggle on.
For Android:
Open the “Phone” app > Tap the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner > Click on “Settings” and find the “Blocked numbers” > Make sure the “Unknown” toggle is on.
ii. What dangers can “No Caller ID” or “Unknown Caller” cause?
According to relevant statistics, most of anonymous numbers in the world are used to defraud people of their property, steal their personal information, or maliciously harass them. Therefore, when you receive a call from unknown caller or with no caller ID, you must answer it or caller back with caution, do not disclose any personal information before you find out the who they are, and contact the police for help timely if necessary.
iii. How to call from an unknown number?
· Use third-party applications
· Hide your number through phone settings
- For iPhone, go to “Settings” > “Phone” > find “Show My Caller ID” and toggle it off.
- For Android, go to “Phone” app > “Settings” > find “Caller ID” and choose Hide Number.
· Add a code before the number you call
Most countries allow you to add a specific code before a phone number so as to hide your phone number for that call. Such as, *67 in the US and *31 in India.