How To Find out Who an Unknown Caller Is

If you are frequently on the receiving end of unwanted calls from unknown numbers, you’re probably frustrated and looking for ways to stop them.

Unfortunately, since you don’t know what that number looks like, you can’t block it. So what are your options?

This article shows you everything you need to know to find out who that unknown caller is.

How Do Callers Hide Their Phone Number?

First, how do these people hide their phone numbers when they call you?

Anyone can hide their number because of the No Caller ID feature. When you make this type of call, you appear as an Unknown Caller. All that it takes is entering a few digits.

Enter *67 before the number that you wish to call. This action will automatically block your caller ID. The number you dial would look like this: *67-555-555-0000.

The No Caller ID feature is usually used to prevent tracking; however, some people misuse it for harassment and other illegal activities. That’s why you need to learn how to unmask the caller’s number.

The following section shows you how to reveal an unknown caller.

How to Find out Who an Unknown Caller Is

Finding out who an unknown caller is can allow you to block them and stop receiving their unwanted calls. Here are some different methods you can use to identify an unknown caller.

1. Call Your Phone Company

Since phone companies have records of your previous calls, they usually provide their customers with an Anonymous Caller ID service. Depending on your carrier, you can activate the *57 service. This star code reveals the unknown phone number and possibly other minor details.

Unfortunately, not every carrier supports this function, and those that do often charge a fee every time you use it. If the methods below don’t work for you, contact your phone carrier to see if *57 is an option to reveal unknown callers. But, it is imperative that you dial the star code directly after the anonymous call.

2. Use TrapCall

TrapCall is one of the most reliable services to unmask and block unknown numbers.

The TrapCall app allows its users to:

• Unmask any phone number.
• Unmask the name, address, and photo of a caller with No Caller ID turned on.
• Put these numbers on a blacklist so that when they call again, they will hear a message telling them that your number has been disconnected or isn’t in service.
• Use automatic spam call blocking.
• Use incoming call recording.

All you need to do to use TrapCall is to subscribe to the service by signing up on the official website. After that, you activate the service on your mobile phone. The process usually lasts around 5 minutes and is pretty straightforward.

After setting up TrapCall, you need to decline when you receive a No Caller ID call. After that, TrapCall redirects the number to their system, unmasks the caller, and sends you a notification with the exact number and some additional information.

TrapCall works on both Android and iPhone smartphone devices. Unfortunately, this service isn’t available anywhere outside the United States of America.

TrapCall offers a free trial option. You can test it out by signing up here.

Blocking Unwanted Calls

Fortunately, cell phone manufacturers have made it simple to block unknown callers using built-in options. However, remember that many scammers try to use a different number every time.

Block Unwanted Calls on iPhone (iOS 13 or later)

1. Go to Settings.
2. Scroll down and tap on Phone.
   
3. Toggle Silence Unknown Callers to the On position.
   

Block Unwanted Calls on Android:

1. Open the Dialer on your Android Device.
2. Tap the vertical ellipsis (three vertical dots) menu on the right-hand side of the app.
   
3. Select Settings.
   
4. Tap Block Numbers.
   
5. Toggle Block Unknown Callers to the On position.
   

Block Specific Numbers

Once you figure out an unknown caller’s number, you can easily block them by using your smartphone’s features.

How to Block Specific Numbers on iPhone

Apple iPhone users can easily block calls by following these instructions:

1. Open the Recent Calls on your iPhone and scroll to the number you’d like to block.
   
2. Tap the i with a circle around it to the right of the number.
   
3. Scroll down and choose Block Caller.
   
4. Confirm that you’d like to block the number by tapping Block Contact.
   

Once this happens, the caller will only receive a message stating that you’re not accepting calls or something of that nature.

How to Block Specific Numbers on Android

Android instructions vary depending on make, model, and software version, but the instructions should be pretty similar for most phones.

1. Launch the phone’s dialer.
2. Tap on the phone number located in your call log’s “Recents” tab.
   
3. Click the i with a circle around it.
   
4. Tap Block at the bottom of the screen.
   
5. Select Confirm.
   

Although you’ve blocked the number that is calling, the user of that number will never know. They will receive a message similar to a disconnected phone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here is some more information to help you better understand unknown callers.

Can my telephone provider tell me who the unknown caller is?

Unfortunately, providers cannot tell you the name of an unknown caller. Otherwise, user privacy and legitimate callers could get violated. Whether you call your cellphone provider or your landline provider, you can’t get this information from a carrier because they also do not track unknown callers.

Are unknown calls dangerous?

While most phone calls you receive are benign and nothing more than a nuisance, one should be cautious of any unknown calls. Of course, you shouldn’t answer these calls at all. This situation is due to scammers, and the number you cannot see may be from an international area, which means your carrier will charge you a hefty fee for answering. Also, if the caller is genuine and the information is important, they’ll leave a message.