6 Ways to Identify Who an Unknown Caller Is

Key Takeaways

*69 can help you recall the last caller's number but may be chargeable and limited to the U.S.
Google the unknown phone number to identify spam calls and find more details using search engines.
Use free reverse phone lookup sites like SpyDialer and ZLookup or caller identification apps.

Do you repeatedly receive unwanted calls from an unknown phone number? From vishing (voice phishing) attacks to random marketing calls, unexpected and unwanted calls are absolutely frustrating and a downright waste of time.

However, if you receive multiple calls from the same unknown number, you may want to identify the caller so that you can take further action. Thankfully, there are several ways to find who's on the other end of the phone using third-party services and the internet.

What Is "No Caller ID?"

When you get a call with "no caller ID," it means the caller has deliberately hidden their phone number. While individuals may hide their caller ID for privacy, spammers often use it for malicious and deceptive purposes.

You have a few options to hide your caller ID. If you are in the US, add *67 before the number you want to call. For example, if you wish to dial 56565677, dial *67 56565677 to make the call without disclosing your caller ID. In the UK and Ireland, add 141 instead of *67. You can also configure your Android and iPhone to hide your caller ID by changing call settings.

While these services may offer some anonymity, it's not foolproof. Some network providers offer the Last Call Return Service, which allows you to identify the unknown caller's ID. Once you have the caller ID, you can use reverse phone lookup sites or third-party caller ID applications to gather more information.

1. Dial *69 to Use the Call Return Service

*69 is a special call return service that automatically recalls the number that last called you. This is useful for finding the phone number when you receive a call from a private number.

To use the service, dial *69 and listen to the recording to find the phone number. Once you have the number, you can call them back or use reverse phone lookup services to find more details about the caller.

This service may be chargeable and only available in the U.S. While it is available on mobile and landlines, it works for local calls only.

2. Use a Search Engine to Identify the Phone Number

An easy way to find and block spam calls is to search for the phone number on a search engine, such as Google. Several websites keep track of fraudulent and spam numbers reported by individuals via community reporting.

Type the number into Google search to perform a phone number search. Google will then search the internet to locate any traces of the given number, prioritizing websites that keep records of fraudulent numbers with their spam statistics. Furthermore, it may display any social media or other publicly available user profile associated with the phone number.

3. Use Reverse Phone Lookup Sites

A reverse phone lookup site can access a larger database than a search engine. It scouts data from publicly available records, search engines, white and yellow pages, and social media databases.

Paid phone lookup services may even get their data from the dark web and private records of business partners. This is also why free phone lookup services may not always get you the desired results.

When using a reverse phone lookup service, be aware of the data it asks you to provide. For example, if you need to sign up with a phone number, name, and other details, you are probably allowing others to identify you with your phone number on a reverse lookup site.

That said, here are a few popular reverse lookup sites that can help you identify the unknown caller.

1. SpyDialer

Spy dialer service showing a number tracing result

It's a free reverse lookup site that uses public data to find caller details. It also doesn't require you to sign up to use the service. Type in the phone number you want to find and click Search.

Next, choose a search option. If you opt for Hear Voicemail, the service will dial the given number and record the voicemail greeting. The voicemail may include the caller's first name and other details. You can also search by name, photo lookup, and phone spam.

2. ZLookup

Zlookup Showing tracing of an unknown phone number

Zlookup is a free reverse phone number lookup site and doesn't require you to sign up to use its service. To perform a search, enter a phone number and click Search. It will scout its own phone number database and through other sources to find a match.

3. Whitepages

whitepages service showing tracing of an unknown number

Whitepages is more than just a reverse phone lookup service. It is a people search platform that can provide contact information based on name, phone or address. It can also help you perform background checks and find criminal records and fraud ratings for business and professional licenses.

4. Use a Caller Identification App on Your Phone

Truecaller Android showing the caller ID details

Caller identification apps such as TrueCaller can help you find the unknown caller's identification, including name and location. Although these apps are more of a two-edged sword, they offer a simple solution for identifying unknown callers.

TrueCaller is a popular multiple-purpose caller identification app that can identify caller information from an unknown number. It also features community-based spam reporting and auto-spam call and SMS blocking. If the calls are just spam or marketing calls, you can block unwanted calls on Android by adding the caller to the block list, contacting your carrier, and using third-party apps.

Download: TrueCaller for Android | iOS (Free)

5. Dial *57 to Activate the Call Tracing Service

If you are a victim of harassment and want to get local law enforcement involved, dial *57 to use the call trace service. You need to dial *57 immediately after the incoming call to activate the call trace and wait for the confirmation. Make sure to note the date and time of the incoming call you want to report.

Once the service is activated, contact your local law enforcement agency. Your network service provider will only release the caller's records to the agency through a proper legal process.

6. Contact Your Network Service Provider

If your carrier doesn't support the *69 or *57 call tracing services, you can contact your network service provider to try and find caller details.

However, this is a tricky process as the service providers are legally bound to protect subscriber identification unless requested by law enforcement agencies through the legal process.

Some Android devices come with a built-in caller identification feature. It can also detect spam calls sourced through community reporting. However, if it is a case of harassment, use the calling tracing services provided by your network service provider and immediately contact your local law enforcement agency.