A reverse phone search is a phone-based information retrieval technique that involves finding information about an individual or business from their phone numbers. These phone lookup services check their databases for phone number registration histories such as name, address, and other related information. Learning this information can help recipients determine whether to answer or call back a number or not.
What are California Phone Numbers?
Consumer preferences for landlines and wireless cell phone services have transformed a great deal over the last 20 years. Data from the Center for Disease Control National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) shows that more than 59.8% of Californians have wireless subscriptions in 2019. About 2.7% use landlines only, while 9.4% of the state’s households use both services. As of 2020, the four widely used phone carriers in California and the United States as a whole are AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint. Percentages of market share for these service providers are:
- AT&T, with 39.9%
- Verizon with 29.2%
- T-Mobile with 16.4%
- Sprint with 13.3%
In recent times, Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) has gained tremendous popularity as an attractive communication option for users. A study published by the U.S Broadband Association indicates that nearly four-fifth of voice connections in the states are wireless. The consumer preference rate for VoIP numbers increased from 34.2 million in 2010 to 73.5 million in 2014. These numbers are continually rising, with over 118 million VoIP users in 2018. Today, these figures are expected to be higher.
Can I Search a Phone Number and Find Out Who it is?
Yes, it is possible to find out who is behind a phone number through reverse phone lookup services. Phone lookup services match and return information associated with phone numbers such as names, addresses, contact details, and sometimes aliases, photos, and social media accounts. There are various ways of performing a reverse phone number search, including phone number lookup by address, name, and other information. These services are useful if you are curious about who used a random number to call you. Given that phone scammers usually use fake numbers and burner phones to place spam calls, it may be challenging to track and determine who owns some of these suspicious phone numbers.
What are Phone Lookup Services?
The internet has led to the development of a wide range of communication technologies. Online phone number lookup services have also expanded and become a lot more common. Caller ID allows anyone to know the identity of a caller before picking up each call. This feature has improved transparency in telephone communication and given users more control over the calls they wish to receive. However, scammers can disguise their caller IDs to show familiar numbers at the receivers’ end. They usually utilize this tool when hacking the phones of victims, introducing viruses and malicious codes, and perpetrating credit card fraud and identity thefts.
To be a step ahead of phone scammers, it is crucial to use phone lookup services when called by unsaved and unknown numbers. Also, phone users must be aware of how scammers use VoIP, spoofed phone numbers, falsified area codes, and information to trick their victims into releasing the information they want.
What Information Can You Get from a California Phone Number Lookup Search?
A reverse phone search can provide the following details about the subscriber registered to an unknown phone number:
- Full name
- Full address
- Age and gender
Phone number searches are especially pivotal to the California criminal justice system. They are relevant when performing a California inmate search and will typically assist law enforcement in gathering evidence as phone records can track a person’s call history, text messages and their location in some cases. These records also help in establishing connections between suspects, verifying identities and even in real-time surveillance with adequate legal permissions.
What is a VoIP Number?
The internet has dramatically altered the conventional way of connecting with people, and telephony is not left behind. Voice over internet protocol (VoIP) is a telephone technology that transmits calls using internet connections instead of the traditional phone line infrastructures. With clear benefits such as a wider reach, flexibility of use, and lower costs, it is no wonder millions of US citizens are steadily signing up for VoIP service plans.
VoIP service providers in California assign virtual numbers that can be routed to home landlines, cell phone numbers, laptops, and smartphones. These virtual numbers support voice calls, texting, voicemails, and video calls and can connect to anyone, anywhere in the world. While the innovative structure of VoIP services has attracted large numbers of subscribers, these same features make them vulnerable to attacks from fraudsters and malicious users. For example, scammers from any country in the world can obtain and call residents with VoIP numbers bearing California area codes. Therefore, when next you receive an unknown call from a familiar area code, be aware that the call may be from there or from any other location in the world.
Furthermore, VoIP numbers are user-based, meaning that fraudsters can create fake IDs that can't be traced to any name, address, device, or IMEI number. Also, scammers can easily create VoIP numbers, make multiple pre-recorded calls, and then destroy these numbers immediately. These make it especially tricky for reverse phone search services to look up these numbers and get reliable results. Detecting VoIP-based scams is very difficult, and the best precaution is to avoid answering unknown calls, even when the area code is familiar.
What is a California Phone Number Area Code?
The U.S is divided into various geographical regions known as area codes as part of the North American Numbering Plan, majorly introduced by AT&T in 1947. These area codes were designed to provide a uniform numbering system and ease phone calling between regions. A California phone number area code is the first three bracketed numbers of a 10-digit telephone number.
These phone number area codes represent specific cities and geographical areas within California. These codes are assigned by the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA) and are generally controlled by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The FCC empowers the State of California to decide when to introduce new area codes or overlay existing area codes in the state. The California Public Utility Commission (CPUC) is tasked with notifying residents of the state of new area codes mapped out for specific areas by the NANPA.
What is a California Phone Number Prefix Code?
California phone number prefix codes are the middle three digits occurring after the area codes. Otherwise known as the exchange codes or central office codes, prefix codes represent specific towns and localities within the state. Using (209) 123-4567 as an example;
- 209 is the area code
- 123 is the prefix code
California phone numbers that include the country code are arranged in the following order: country code + area code + prefix code + four-digit line number. For instance, a number with +1 (209) 123-4567 represents:
- +1 is the United States country code
- 209 represents the area code
- 123 is the prefix code
- 4567 is the line number specific to each phone line
Is There a Way to Lookup a Phone Number for Free in California?
Yes, there are several options to lookup a phone number for free in California. There are several third party sites that offer free phone number lookups in California. These services provide personal and contact information on any person or business resident or conducting business within state limits. However, these services may not always have the most current listings, so it is important to double check for accuracy before relying on the results. Another option is to use a reverse lookup service which allows you to search for a phone number by entering an address or zip code. The results will include all numbers associated with that location, including mobile phones. Interested persons may also lookup phone numbers via social media or web searches.
The California Public Utilities Commission also provides access to all public payphones in California. This service is available on their website and permits users to identify what businesses are associated with specific numbers. It should be noted that this site does not include non-public or private numbers which would require further research to locate.
Is Reverse Phone Lookup Legal in California?
Yes. California does not regulate phone lookup services, and anyone can use them to discover the identities of unknown callers. The pieces of information returned by reverse phone number searches are of public record in California. Reverse phone lookup apps and websites, however, save users valuable time looking for these details.
