What You Should Know About Reverse Phone Lookup
Much like Caller ID two decades ago, it is easy to brush off reverse phone lookup as an unnecessary perk. However, like Caller ID, the ability to look up an individual or business with only the phone number to start has already begun to prove itself as invaluable. There are several things you should know about how best to put this convenient capability to use so that it becomes a useful tool and not a negative force.
Protect Yourself From Scams
The internet, the telephone, and even the sidewalk in front of your house are rife with scams. Your email and your voicemail are likely flooded with representatives of fake services hoping you will let your guard down and give them your private information or let them into your home. Reverse phone lookup is a front line defense against this. For example, you receive a call from one of your local utility companies, and they are sending someone out to inspect your meter. Before you let anyone in the house, search the incoming number to verify that it actually came from your utility company.
Scale Down On Harassing Phone Calls And Telemarketers
The knowledge that this service exists will ultimately translate into a diminishing number of unwanted and unsolicited phone calls. Many of the perpetrators of these calls in the past have counted on the fact that you could not trace back where their calls were coming from. Now, even if they call from a personal cell phone, you have the tools to find out who is calling you and even turn them in if you are on the no call list.
Should You Pay For Reverse Phone Lookup?
This convenient service is often available for free. If the number you are looking up belongs to a business whose number is made public or to an individual whose number is publicly listed, the service of finding that information is free. However, if the number is a cell number or it is unlisted, it will cost money to look up any information based solely on a phone number. The reason for this is twofold: first, the research required to find this information is more complex, and second, when you pay for the information, you leave some personal information attached to the transaction. This is important when you are accessing information on someone who wishes to be unlisted. It is a preventative measure against identity theft and harassment.
It Has Not Yet Been Perfected
While the service is available online through a number of vendors, there will always be some numbers for which you will not find definitive information. These numbers are those that are closely guarded by the owner or might even be a false number. If you are getting calls from a number that cannot be traced, you will need to assess who this may be and whether or not you need to take steps to stop them. In this way, reverse phone lookup can be a useful service even when you cannot glean the information desired.
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