How to track a mobile phone number

Finding the owner of a mobile phone number can be difficult since these numbers are not listed in public databases. You have several options, especially if you are receiving nuisance calls. In such cases, you can contact the police, although no specific method guarantees success.

Call the number. Explain to anyone who answers the phone that you have received a call from this number. Politely ask who they are. If they tell you their identity, you no longer need to investigate. If they don't answer your questions, try one of the following methods: Ask friends to call or use their phone numbers. If you've been calling repeatedly and no one answers, the other party might be rejecting your calls. Calling from a friend's phone or a public phone can help rule out this possibility.

Search public databases. If you're unfamiliar with a mobile phone number, it could be publicly available information. Try searching the white pages in the United States or use a search engine to locate public databases in your region.

Use a search engine. The owner of the phone number or the related organization might have listed it on a personal or company website.

• Add the area code of the number you're searching for. Try different formats, such as XXX-XXX-XXXX or (XXX) XXXXXXX.
• If your initial search doesn't succeed, try a few other search engines.

Search on a social media platform. Enter the phone number into the search bar of a social network. Many Facebook users with privacy settings still allow their "private" phone numbers to be found publicly.

• If you suspect this is someone you've interacted with online, search the website where you communicated or provided information, such as on forums.

Use a deep web search tool. Also known as "deep web search engines," these are designed to find results that common search engines miss.

• Deep web tools are often specialized, so you’ll need to find a useful tool to search. Try searching (on a standard search engine) to find directories or guides for deep web search engines.

Start with free mobile phone number lookup services. If you've already tried free methods (which you should), you may have come across ads for these services. Begin by 'only' trying free services; they tend to be ineffective but are an easy first step.

• Don't sign up for any free trials that ask for your credit card number or other personal information.

Carefully evaluate services. Many websites claiming to 'store mobile subscriber databases' charge fees to perform searches, and they may try to scam you or give you useless information.

• Enter a wrong phone number or a familiar number to test the accuracy. Try a few random number strings (in the correct phone number format). If the search still provides 'results', especially GPS locations, it may be a scam site or a joke. Similarly, you can enter your own number and see if the results are correct.
• Look for reviews of the company. Searching online for the company name can reveal complaints from scammed customers. For more official feedback, in the US, you can check the Better Business Bureau directory for detailed company profiles regarding customer complaint responses.

Pay for a service only after trying all free options. These websites often perform searches similar to what you did with free methods, so paying is unlikely to produce new results and could lead to your information being stolen or your credit card charged excessively.

Hire a private investigator. Even after trying all the above options, you may still lack the information you need. Hiring a private investigator is an expensive option, and you'll need to research a few choices before hiring one. Make sure you have detailed information about the terms before hiring anyone. Refund policies are typically available if the investigator doesn't find the information you're looking for, but be sure to ask about this in advance.

Check your call log or caller ID. Most mobile phones will automatically identify incoming calls. If you're using a landline, contact your phone service provider to activate caller ID.

• Refer to your phone's manual or contact the manufacturer if you're unsure how to check the call log for recent incoming numbers on your mobile phone.
• There are various ways to bypass caller ID or even use tricks to display incorrect phone numbers. If checking caller ID fails, consider alternative options.

Request a "call return" service. Contact your phone service provider and purchase a "call return" or "last call return" service. This service may require an initial fee and/or a fee each time you use it.

• The call return code may vary depending on the country and network provider (and may not be available in all areas). Ask your provider for the code or search online for "call return code for [your country]".
• In the United States, the code for this service is *69 (followed by the country-specific code).
• Once the call you want to trace ends, dial the return call code and you will receive a voicemail that reads the caller's number with an option to call back.
• In some regions, automatic call return is available. Charges may still apply.
• Warning: In certain areas (like California), the return call service may only dial the last incoming call without revealing the phone number.

Activate the "call trap" or "call trace" feature. If you're receiving repeated harassment calls from an unknown number, contact your service provider to inquire about the availability of these services:

• Call Trap: After requesting the call trap service, record the date and time of any harassing calls for the next few weeks (as long as your provider requires). When you report this information to your phone company, they will identify the harassing number and report it to law enforcement.
• Call Trace: When this service is active, dial the call trace code immediately after receiving a harassing call. The telecommunication service will forward the caller's number to law enforcement. (In the U.S., the code is *57; your provider will tell you which code to use in other countries.)
• Call trap is often free, while call trace may incur additional charges. If call trap is unavailable or the harassment is more severe, you can ask your service provider to offer you call trace for free.

Carefully evaluate payment services. Websites offering "mobile phone directory lookup" services are notorious for scamming customers by either providing no useful information for the money spent or deliberately stealing credit card details from users.

Search for reviews and complaints about a company online. In the United States, the website better business bureau is a useful place to search beyond regular search engine queries.

Never provide payment information to an untrustworthy website. Avoid entering your credit card number if your browser warns that the site is unsafe, if the site asks for payment via an unfamiliar third-party site, or if the website appears "shoddy" and unprofessional.

• This includes "free trials" that claim you won't be charged on your card.
• Try finding a service you can pay through PayPal or another well-known third-party system.

Never enter unnecessary personal information. Your social security number and similar personal details should never be requested for legal phone lookup services.

Track your family's location. Any smartphone or regular phone with a GPS chip can be tracked. Here are some options for tracking your family's location at all times:

• Contact your mobile provider to see if they offer a family tracking package with an additional monthly fee. This may also come with parental control options for children.
• Install a GPS tracking app on your family's smartphones. Some apps allow users to voluntarily share their location with friends, while others are designed for parents to track their kids. Browse your phone's app store or research online to find the app that suits your needs.
• Install the [1] tracking link on a regular phone. AccuTracking is one of the few third-party location tracking services that works on regular phones. Check the website to find out which phone models work and the monthly fee details.
• If you're trying to track someone's location without their permission, install a hidden app on their phone and use it to conceal the tracking app. Alternatively, you can place the tracking app in a hidden folder on their phone to reduce the chances of it being discovered.

Install an app to track your own phone. If you're worried about losing your phone or it being stolen, there are many apps designed to help you track your phone's GPS location from your computer and/or prevent thieves from using your phone.

• Browse your phone's app store or search online to find tracking or anti-theft apps that work on your device.
• AccuTracking is one of the few services that can track regular phones (with GPS enabled).

Locate a lost phone. If you've lost your phone and didn't install any tracking software beforehand, you still have a chance to find it:

• Many smartphone manufacturers offer automatic phone location services. Call customer service or search online for instructions specific to your phone model. If you have access to a computer, you might be able to track your phone's location and/or set it to play a loud sound periodically.
• Some tracking apps (such as Android's "Plan B") can be remotely downloaded onto your phone from a computer. Make sure to do this before your phone runs out of battery.
• Your mobile carrier may provide GPS location services for a fee, activating the GPS chip remotely. This may be your only option to locate a regular phone.

• The first three digits of a phone number in the United States or Canada are called the area code. In other countries, the area code may range from 2 to 5 digits. You can look up the location of an area code online or in a phone directory.
• The fourth through sixth digits of a phone number in the United States or Canada represent the exchange code. Searching for the exchange code can help narrow down the location of the caller.

• If you're able to keep the caller on the line and figure out who they are, stay calm and avoid arguing intensely. If they become rude, threatening, or unpleasant, don't continue listening. If they threaten to harm you, report it to the police.