When an unknown number calls
your phone, it can be unsettling. We have gotten so used to
caller ID and the privacy that a cell phone provides that we
usually know who callers are before we even pick up the
phone. No matter if it is simple curiosity or if you have a
reason for privacy concern, you can get peace of mind by
doing a reverse phone lookup. Depending upon
the circumstances, you may be able to find out the
information you need by doing it yourself and other times
you will need to use a phone lookup service.
Free Reverse Phone Lookup
The first thing you should
try when you want to find out who a phone number is
registered to is enter the number into Google and see what
turns up. If it is a telemarketing company or from a
business with a web presence, you should be able to tell
right away who made the call. Using Google works pretty well
with 1-800 numbers but personal phone numbers may be another
story. To do a reverse phone lookup for a personal number
you can try a free online phone lookup service. If the
number calling you is a landline and listed in a local phone
directory then chances are very good you will be able to
find out the name and the address of the caller. If the
number is unpublished or is a cell phone number, you will
need to use a paid database.
Paid Reverse Phone
Lookup
A phone lookup service that
charges you a fee is able to give you more information
because the service is allowed to tap into privately held
databases rather than simply pulling data from public
records. By paying a fee you are able to do reverse phone
lookups on cell phones and unpublished landlines. Just enter
the number in question into a search box and you will be
provided with the callers name and his address. Many of
these services also offer additional information for extra
fees. If you are concerned about your safety or are
suspicious of the caller for any reason you may want to go
ahead and find out as much about them as you can. The fees
you pay allow you to access various databases like cellular
provider records that are not available to the general
public.
The Legal Issue
As long as you use a
reverse phone lookup for lawful purposes, it is perfectly
legal to do so. In other words you can't use the information
for telemarketing or stalking. The phone lookup service
enters into legal agreements with the owners of private
telephone number and public record databases. This is why
they can access information that is not freely publicly
available. They are also given the authority to allow users
to access the information for a fee. It's the same principal
that private investigators have used for decades. The
internet has made it easy for you to be your own private
investigator now and as long as you go through lawful
channels. When you pay for the information and provide proof
if identity by using Paypal or a credit card, then there are
no legal concerns at all with using a reverse phone
service.
In Closing
Doing a reverse phone
lookup can give you peace of mind. The unknown number could
be something as innocent as a wrong number or it could be a
sign of a cheating spouse or a stalker. Using a good phone
lookup service like
Phone Detective can let you know for sure.
