Have you ever discovered a mysterious phone number in your spouse’s pocket and wondered whose it was? Or maybe you wrote down someone’s phone number and now you can’t remember who you got it from. Using online reverse lookup tools for phone numbers, finding the face behind that number can be a snap. Maybe.
It really depends on how much you want and need the information. There are two types of services, free and paid. Both have many similarities and clear differences.
Whether you’re doing a free search or a paid search, the process is quick and painless. First, navigate to the website. Next, enter the phone number in a text box. Finally, you click “search”, “go” or whatever button starts the search. If there is a match, the computer will notify you of any matches found in the system. It is easy.
But the thing to watch out for is the phrase “found within the system”. While a person can often successfully find landlines using a reverse search. However, when you’re looking for an unlisted number, an 800 number, or a cell phone number, this is where it can get tricky. Free reverse lookup tools do not have access to the information on those types of numbers. So basically the only numbers you can find with the free search are the numbers you can find in the phone book (except the other way around). Obviously the problem with this is that now that cell phones are so common that many people don’t have a landline, free search tools are very limited in what they can access.
If you are willing to pay for the information, you can access a larger database. This database also includes unregistered, wireless, and toll-free numbers. Fees vary depending on the services you use.
Two of the most popular reverse lookup tools are AnyWho and Intellius.
AnyWho, a free search tool, is affiliated with AT&T. Any commercial or residential listings within their database are public knowledge (numbers listed). Your records are generally no more than six months old (at most).
Intellius phone search is a search tool for which you must pay a fee. It includes a considerable amount of information, including the owner’s name, number, phone type, and provider. Their database includes unlisted, unpublished and cell phone numbers. Once you have paid for the search, provide your email information and the report will be sent to you.
Whichever path you choose, using reverse phone number lookup tools is easy. And depending on how much you want and/or need the information (or are willing to pay a little money for it), the information you want is certainly available. So good luck and happy searching!
