Wonder about Unidentified Phone Numbers on Caller ID?

[MineralMan]

There are a couple of services which track unsolicited calls by phone number, but they don't always have all the numbers. A really good trick to find the source of a number that shows up on your Caller ID list, or some call that hangs up on you, is to search the number in Google.

Type the number in the Google search box, in this format: xxx-xxx-xxxx

Odds are you'll get a good hit, with the name of the business or individual calling you. Doesn't work with cell phones, most of the time. It also works with many residential numbers and almost all businesses.

For an interesting experiment, type in your own phone number. You may be surprised to see how many places list your name, even if your number is unlisted. It's a bit disturbing.

[dmallind]

1. Nope - don;t answer them. NT

[mainer]

2. I hate "Unknown caller" -- no number at all to Google

And I've learned to not pick up when it says "Harris Direct". It's a phone bank service that's used by a number of charities/ political groups. Doesn't matter if I sympathize with their causes. I hate getting phone solicitations.

[EFerrari]

3. I don't answer those calls BUT searching phone numbers is a good tool

when you're checking out a company that you don't know well, i.e., mortgage brokers, lenders or investors, for example

[Edweird]

4. Heh, they can tell it to the voicemail.

[MineralMan]

5. I don't answer the calls either, but I do research numbers from

the caller ID list my phone supplies for unanswered calls or calls that hang up on my answering machine. I'm not quite sure why someone unreced this thread, but there it is. It's a useful tool if you really want to know who called you.

[nykym]

6. we have recently

gotten calls that show up as a letter "p" for example and no number on our caller ID. Anyone else have this happen? What is it?

Thanks - yet some show up as 'o' or '0'(zero) not sure which never pay much attention since if I don't know ya I don't answer.

[MineralMan]

7. That 'p' stands for private on most CID systems.

It means the caller has blocked outgoing caller ID. Various caller ID phones handle blocked IDs in different ways, but that's what it means on your phone.

[Posteritatis]

8. Usually bank/credit card phishers trying to hide their numbers. (nt)

[MineralMan]

9. It can also be a friend, who blocks their caller ID for whatever

reason. All you know from seeing the "p" is that the caller has blocked outgoing caller ID. You can't infer anything more than that from it.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

10. I often dial *67-(XXX)-XXX-XXXX to hide my number.

Works pretty well and nearly always shows up as unknown caller with no number.

[MineralMan]

11. Just curious...why do you do that?

I'm just saying that when I see that on my caller ID, it goes to the voice mail every time.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

13. People argue all the time...

How many times have you been argueing with someone who doesn't want to talk to you at the moment? Has anyone ever called you and you thought, "I don;t want to talk to them now" and hit the end button before ever answering. Plus, If I'm calling a number of someone I don't particularly know, I may not want them to have my home/cell #.

[monmouth]

12. I see it will cost $14.95 to find out my name...Hahaha, I can't believe

anyone wants to talk to me that badly. Plus, I'm in the book!