Do you get numbers showing up on your caller-id and you have no idea who they are coming from? The beauty of caller-id is it allows us to screen calls without actually answering the phone. The down side is that there isn't always a name associated with the number or vice versa.
The way people solved this problem in the past was to use a reverse phone number phone book or call information. Unfortunately there is no such option for cellular numbers so we are all left doing what is called a reverse cell phone number search.
There are several ways to do this, 6 of which are listed below. The first two aren't really reverse searches per say but they do get right to the point in answering the question of who belongs to that number in your caller-id.
1. Answer the phone - Way back when before cell phone, before cordless phones, before caller-id when the phone rang you answered it. Of course way back when you didn't get as many calls and many of us are tired of being bombarded with unwanted phone calls that we all get these days.
2. Call them back - This is an easy way to find out who keeps calling, but people have many reasons for not doing just this. If you want to find out who it is using this method but don't want them to know it is you returning their call use s different phone. Find a public phone, or use a phone from a place of business and when they pick up ask who it is you are talking to.
3. Google it - The major search engines can be used to hunt down unknown cell phone numbers. Simply type the number into the search box and see what you get. People leave all sorts of personal information lying around the internet, from classified ads, to MySpace pages; if the number has been made public the search engines will index it.
4. Try a free cell phone directory - These free directories have been around for several years and can garner results, but are more miss then hit. They are free because the users (you) are the people who supply the name, number, and address on a volunteer basis. Because the information is given voluntarily these sites are not well populated with cell numbers and their owners.
5. Hire a private investigator - A P.I. can run a reverse search for you but it there will be a cost associated with this. Most of the time a private investigator will not charge you if their search is not successful. You will usually end up spending anywhere from $50 to $200 dollars for this type of service.
6. Join a national cellular directory website - These are the modern day cell phone phone books. Unlike the big yellow books from days past these sites are accessed online and provide access to hundreds of millions of cell phone numbers, along with other information about the owner of said phone. The good ones offer a money back guarantee and a one time fee for a lifetime of access.
So if you're trying to find out who owns a particular number there are 6 good suggestions for doing a reverse cell phone number search. Which you choose to use is up to you but your best bet is probably going to be spending a little money and joining one of the large national cellular directories.
