5 Simple Ways to Call Back Private Numbers. When your phone beeps, your first inclination is to check who is calling before answering. But what if you check your phone and find it’s a private caller? When a private number calls your phone, the caller’s identity and contact information are hidden. It might appear as Blocked, Private Caller, No Caller ID, Restricted, or Unknown on your screen.
You may be wary about answering unknown or limited calls, but if you don’t, you may later wonder how to call back a private number. To begin, it is difficult, but possible, to reveal a private phone number. There are many ways to locate the caller and return their call.
What Is a Private Number
When a caller ID is blank, the owner has set their phone number to private, so you won’t know it’s them calling. If you desire privacy, you may also hide your phone number while calling. Network providers often offer this service as an add-on to your monthly payment. Some carriers offer the service on a per-call basis, in addition to blocking your number on all incoming calls.
However, private numbers have a terrible image, particularly from a recipient’s point of view, since they are often used to make spam calls, solicitations, and even aggressive telemarketing.
How to Reveal and Call Back a Private Number
Although people have the right to block their phone numbers for privacy and secrecy, you also have the right to uncover the identity behind a private number. If you’ve been receiving many calls from a private number recently, here are several ways to view their phone number and call them back.
1. Verifying Phone Provider’s Logs
If your search using Last Call Return is still unsuccessful, you may check your phone call logs when you receive your monthly account. Your phone service provider records all incoming and outgoing calls. There have been instances when private-number calls have been disclosed in these logs. You may search and verify your mobile’s call records, then compare the date and time to your mobile service provider’s use log. To reveal the identity of the unknown caller, you may match these pieces of information.
The time these call records or logs are kept varies by phone service provider. These documents are typically kept for one to seven years. It may also be used in criminal investigations.
2. Returning a Private Call for Free Using *69
The universal vertical service code (VSC) of the North American Numbering Plan Administration is the Last Call Return code, which is the initial method to uncover an unknown call.
For landlines, dial *69 to automatically call back the last number that called you. On the other hand, you may call the recent private phone number by dialing #69 on a mobile phone. Remember that your phone/mobile service provider may set a time restriction for returning the private call. It is usually within 30 minutes after the most recent phone call.
You will not acquire the real phone number of the person who called you if you use this method, but you can contact the anonymous caller. While there is no guarantee that they will answer your call, you may get a message with information about their identity.
Your telephone service provider determines this method. Some providers, for example, give an auto-generated voice that provides the number and the option to make a call. Other phone service providers will return your private call but will not give you the mobile number.
However, before you begin, you must take a preventative step using this method. In rare circumstances, it makes matters worse. Some restricted calls are computer-generated calls that attempt to check the validity of your mobile number. The reason for calling is to sell your contact information to fraudsters. Consequently, making a private call informs the system that you still have an active phone number.
3. Searching Through Reverse Number Lookup
You may perform a reverse phone search if you’ve located the private number and want to learn more about it before returning the call. To determine if the mobile number belongs to a landline or a cellular phone, enter the number into Google‘s search or the Yellow Pages. This website may also help you find where the phone is registered.
You may be asked to pay a fee in certain instances to receive a complete report. If the search service cannot give any information on the unknown caller, the fee will be reimbursed.
A reverse phone search, on the other hand, would not supply you with the required information if you are dealing with a fake call. However, this will give you a hint if robocalls or possible fraudsters are calling you in return.
4. Setting Up Call Tracing to Unlock Private Number Calls
Call tracing or tracking is another method to uncover the true identity behind a blocked, private, or restricted call. Some phone service companies offer call tracing to prevent threatening, illegal, vulgar, or harassing calls. After receiving a private call, dial *57 from a landline or mobile phone and follow the audio instructions of the phone provider.
After the tracing effort, a recorded message will advise whether the phone provider successfully tracked the unknown caller’s address, identity, and phone number. Some telephone service providers provide this service for free. Others, on the other hand, need a tiny monthly charge for you to use it.
This method of unmasking private-number calls is only sometimes beneficial. This is due to privacy concerns since the information is not sent to you directly. However, it is beneficial if you are already being harassed. Suppose you successfully track an unknown caller at small three times and have recorded the dates and times you set call tracing. In that case, you may immediately alert the local law enforcement agency or your phone provider. They may take action to prevent these calls from harassing you.
5. Using Third-Party Apps to Reveal Private Number Calls
Receiving a steady stream of private-number calls may be aggravating, particularly if you have a hectic schedule. You may pay for a service like TrapCall to unmask a private number if you’re searching for a way to unmask restricted calls, private numbers, or unknown calls.
TrapCall is a mobile application that shows blocked and restricted calls. It gives you the phone number as well as the name of the registered owner. It also offers you the caller’s address and a blocklist option to avoid further calls. Follow the instructions below to get TrapCall for Android and iOS.
Bonus: How to Make Your Number Private
The *67 Trick
How do people hide or block their caller ID? How can you call someone with an unknown number? Dial *67 to get the answer. It is a fast and easy vertical service code that allows you to hide or block your caller ID or number on another person’s phone. Consequently, your identity as a caller is masked behind an unknown number.
The only way to hide your identity is by calling *67 first. It is a simple method for any mobile phone or even a landline. When calling emergency numbers such as 911 or toll-free numbers, dialing *67 does not function. When your call is successful, the caller ID on the other end’s phone will display “Private” as your number. If you’re wondering how to return a call from a number that has called you lately without disclosing your identity, dialing *67 is the quickest and simplest method.
Android and iOS Alternative to *67
In recent years, caller ID behavior has remained mostly the same. Smartphones, on the other hand, have progressed. You are having stated that certain mobile phones may not detect the *67 feature. The good news is that Android and iOS devices have distinct ways to make sure your phone calls have the power to hide your caller IDs while making phone calls.
Hiding Caller ID on iOS Devices
You must establish certain settings to make phone calls that display “Unknown Number” as your caller ID. Perform the following to achieve this:
- Navigate to Settings > Phone and choose Show My Caller ID.
- To activate this feature, turn on Show My Caller ID.
Hiding Caller ID on Android Devices
To hide your number while calling, you must modify your phone’s settings, just as you would with an iOS device. Please follow these procedures to do this:
- Start your Phone app.
- Navigate to the Phone app’s Search bar.
- To access the drop-down Menu, tap the three vertically aligned dots.
- Navigate to Settings > Calls.
- Navigate to Additional Settings > Caller ID.
- To activate this feature, enable Hide Number.
Hiding Your Caller ID Permanently
Dialing *67 will only disguise your caller ID information on the mobile number you’re using. If you’re wondering how to hide your caller ID on every call you make, you must first dial those numbers before calling anybody. On the contrary, if you wish to hide your caller ID in all future phone calls, you must permanently block your number.
If you have a mobile phone, contact your provider to learn how to block your phone number from caller IDs permanently. To be safe, this action is not irrevocable. Your mobile number will, however, always display as “Private” or “Blocked.”
Other Popular Vertical Service Codes That Come in Handy
Aside from the vertical service codes described in this article, you may need to be made aware of additional codes compatible with most telephone service providers. Please verify with your mobile phone provider to see whether it is compatible.
*60: It allows you to block a certain number or numbers.
*66: It calls a busy number indefinitely until the line becomes accessible.
*69: This is handy for landlines that don’t have caller ID. It calls the number that last called you.
*70: It temporarily turns off your phone’s call-waiting feature.
*72: This command initiates the call-forwarding feature on a certain landline.
*77: This triggers anonymous call rejection, which allows only calls from people having unmasked mobile numbers or caller IDs.
Final Word
We’ve included all available ways to call a private number back. Unmasking an unknown number or restricted call is simpler than ever, whether you use the Last Call Return vertical service code or a third-party application. After all, you deserve to have peace of mind and to receive only important and required calls. Unmasking private numbers also allows you to block harmful calls and avoid becoming a victim of dangerous scams that might damage your important and personal data.
Is there any method for unmasking the identity of private number calls that you can recommend? Have you tried any of the approaches discussed in this article? If so, please share your own experience in the comments section! Learn how to block a phone number here if you want to block these anonymous numbers.