How to Trace a Cell Phone?

Updated on February 27, 2008
M. asks from Houston, TX
18 answers

Hi, does anyone know how I can trace a cell phone number? We receive periodic prank calls from someone we suspect (possibly their friend's phone) but the number is a cell number. We want to have proof and hopefully put a stop to it. Is there a free way to trace it or do I have to pay for some company online to find out? If anyone has used those online websites to reverse trace cell phones, do they work or give you sufficient information? Thanks in advance.

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So What Happened?

We did a google on the # and it is a t-mobile # and other sites have no information on who it is. We called T-mobile and they could confirm that it was a T-mobile # but that's it. T-Mobile says that one way to find out who it is is for us to contact some kind of legal authority to contact their legal dept. We also contacted a friend who is in the police force and he said that it would be very hard to obtain info as to who the # belongs to unless we get a subpeona. My husband called the # back right after they called us, the prank caller repeated that his name is James Waldrop but we knew he was still fooling with us, with sounds of quiet laughter in the background. I think I'll give it some time and will call from some other phone and hope to find out a name to the #. It's just very frustrating since we suspect a couple of people, strongly for one of them, but don't have any proof.

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M.M.

answers from San Antonio on

Try Intellus website or whitepages.com. It costs about 15.00
but they will give you the information in an email.

1 mom found this helpful
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R.M.

answers from Houston on

You should be able to do a reverse number look up. Just google that and it should give you many websites that are free to do a reverse number look up.
Good luck

1 mom found this helpful

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H.F.

answers from San Angelo on

I used to be in law enforcement and the best way to get information without the red tape is to have the "bad guy" give you the information yourself. If they are a child or teen, this setup should be relatively easy. Either you, or someone else should call the cell number (you can use a phone card or pre-paid cell to scramble the number) the point is to make the person on the other end think that you are calling from T-mobile. You can either tell them that they have won 100 free minutes, but that you have to verify their name and mailing address...wait for them to tell you and then take a trip to the parents.

The other thing is to become more heavy handed. When you call, say: "For security purposses can I verify the name of the account holder? and mailing address" If they say John, for example, say "are you John" then tell them:

"John, t-mobile has been provided information that "inappropriate calling" has been originating from your cell phone number. My division had been called in to investigate. If we find that this indeed is the case, this account will be temporarily suspended and you John, as the account holder will be charged a harrassment fee, under the new anti-harrassment laws."

Now you know that there are no harrassment laws, but nine times out of ten, people don't know this kind of thing.

Good Luck!

3 moms found this helpful
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V.B.

answers from San Antonio on

If you have T mobile with every bill sent with mail, a list of every phone number that has called; as well as online through thier website. The time date and number are there.....you could always call that number back and see who answers....but the name is not listened only the time date, what number and if it is incoming or out going. If they have the number marked as Private there realy is no way.

Depending on how long you have had your number and how bad the situation is you can always change your number for 15 dollers.

I had this problem with an ex boyfriend a lonnnnng time ago

V

1 mom found this helpful
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I.S.

answers from Houston on

I typed in the simple text message "Tracing." The calls stopped. A text message goes to a landline as a voice message.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.C.

answers from Houston on

I hate to tell ya this, but you can't. I worked for one of the c.card companys for years in there skip department. Cell phones can't be traced. Your only hope is to try a free web sight called 411. And put the # in reverse look up. It'll tell you where the call is coming from. But wont give you a name. The other thing you can do is call the cell carrier. And have them look up the times the calls have come in. And have them do the work for you. They can put a block on the #. Hope some of these work for ya.

A.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.G.

answers from San Antonio on

Do you know the number?? If not you can call your phone company to get it. I was getting them on my cell phone around 2 and 3 am, i called the phone company (cingular), they gave me the number, but couldnt tell me who it is #1 cause its a prepaid and #2 privacy, that you would have to have the police dept, get a warrent for the #, but it still didnt do me any good bc the # was a prepaid, so i just had to deal with the calls, i just started leaving my phone in another room, and didnt answer it, and they stopped. If you know the # call it but block your # so they wont know who it is and more than likely answer it, then catch them!! Good Luck, hope this helps you.

1 mom found this helpful
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E.S.

answers from Houston on

The only places I can think of to identify phone numbers is to try: Switchboard.com, google.com, yahoo.com or intellius (I think this one requires that you pay for it). Hope this helps!

1 mom found this helpful
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D.G.

answers from San Antonio on

I don't know about traceing them, But there is a number you can call that will block bussenss and the cuch from calling. I don't have the number right off hand though.My husband has it and he is sleeping right now.You might call you phone/cell phone company and they may be able to help you.

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T.E.

answers from Houston on

some of the online trace websites will give you the info for free. Some want you to pay. Beware of that and Good Luck.

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W.J.

answers from San Antonio on

contact your cell phone carrier and explain that you are getting harassing calls. You might have to fill out some paperwork but they will trace it for you. One of my friends had a similar problem and they were even able to block the phone numbers/

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C.S.

answers from El Paso on

Depending on the state that you live in, harassing phone calls is a crime that you should report. Especially if there are threats involved. You should be keeping a log or a diary of each time that you receive a call - include date, time, phone number shown on caller id, anything that is said - or isn't said, and any background noises (music, trains, construction work, etc.) Call your local law enforcement agency and report the incidents. Officers can contact the cell phone companies and get a record of calls made from the number that has been calling you. They can then do follow up to file charges or at the very least, speak to the caller to have the calls stopped. It is not up to you to trace the calls. If you find out who the caller is and confront them, you may end up with a bigger problem than just harassing calls if you try to handle it yourself. Good Luck!

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K.C.

answers from Austin on

Maybe the prank caller is getting a rush out of being a nuisance. Turn off your ringer at night!! For a week, month, however long and see if that works. Probably won't hurt to tell you child NOT to tell anyone so that it doesn't get back to the pranker and then they start back up once the deadline has passed.

Why is it so important to know who it is? Once you know for sure, what will you do then?

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P.F.

answers from Odessa on

I would just block the number and take away all their fun.
Best of luck to you!!

I've been there.
P.

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M.M.

answers from Houston on

You cant! and dont buy into those sites on the internet claiming you can, cause they cant either, the only thing i should suggest trying is call the pd or file a complaint and then they may be able to do it!

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C.P.

answers from Houston on

I would change the number or block the number.. or even perhaps sign the number up on a (goverment and texas) do not call list.. and perhaps warn them of proscution.. stating you are on the do not call list and put ther phone humber as a harressment number on the do not call list.. keeping a record of each time they call.. then for each infraction just tell state a dollar amount and that the do not call list also applies to them as well... perhaps that will work

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D.M.

answers from Houston on

I do know for a fact that you can have that number blocked for free depending on the company you are with! Just call your server and ask them as you are paying them for your service!

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D.W.

answers from San Antonio on

you will have to pay for it. They will give you the name of the person the number is registered to. I have found people through a company called Intellus. The easiest thing might be to call the phone number and ask who they are. Or call the parents if you think you know who it is and ask if its that friend's number.

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