We’ve all gotten used to cell phones and caller ID, so calls from private numbers can be annoying. This article will show you how to call back a private number. That way, you remain in control.

How to Call back a Private Number

There are several ways to call back a private number using your cellphone or landline. Let’s look at a few of the simplest methods you can try, including the *69 hacks, using phone provider logs or third-party apps, and setting up call tracking.

1.      The *69 Hack

If you’ve ever wondered how to call back a no caller ID number, you are in the right place. Sure, people have the right to block their numbers in order to maintain their privacy, but you have the right to uncover their identity if you need to as well. If someone has phoned your landline, you can dial *69 to call them back. It works the same way on your mobile device, but you need to dial #69 instead. This isn’t entirely foolproof – some service providers will only let you call a private number back within 30 minutes of the call. You won’t be able to get their actual phone number, but you can at least get in touch, find out more about the caller and get in touch later. Some phone service providers will answer with a voice mail reading back the number when you back a number with no caller ID before asking you to phone back, which is very useful as you can plug this information into a phone lookup service to determine the caller’s identity before returning the call. However, you might not want to call back in every single case. Some companies use private numbers to call you to determine whether your number is active so that they can spam your line.

2.      Use Phone Provider Logs

If you repeatedly receive calls from restricted numbers, you can check your phone call logs when you receive your monthly statement. Depending on your provider, you may see the private number revealed in the logs so that you can call back with no caller ID directly attached or search through reverse number lookup services.

3.      Use Third-Party Apps

Calling back no caller ID numbers is always slightly risky, so if you don’t want to use the methods highlighted above, you should try to download a third-party app that will reveal the private number when they dial (or retrospectively). Some of these apps are free, but many charge once-off purchase fees or monthly subscriptions. The benefit of these apps is that you can actually use the service to mark calls as spam, and block them so that they can’t call you again. TrapCall, TruCaller and a few other leading apps come to mind, but you can check the Play or App Store for a service that matches your needs. Some of these providers will let you use a search bar in the app to look up numbers that have called you in the past as well. If you don’t want to download an app, you can also use a site like Information.com, who lets you look up phone numbers with their powerful reverse lookup function.

4.      Set Up Call Tracing

Depending on your phone provider, you can use a call tracing/tracking service to find out the real identity behind a blocked or private number. After receiving a private call, you can dial *57 from a landline or #57 from your cell phone and follow the phone company’s voice instructions. A recorded message will let you know that the phone company has traced the number. It’s not the most helpful way of finding a private caller unless you are receiving harassing or threatening calls. This is usually free, although some providers may add a small amount of money to your monthly bill.

Conclusion

The private number at the other end of the line doesn’t have to remain a mystery. We’ve shown you exactly how to call back a private number using four simple methods. If you don’t want to call back, you can use a reverse phone lookup to trace the original caller and find out exactly who called.