If you do find a number, but you don’t know who it might be, you can use a reverse phone lookup to see who is trying to reach you.

It would seem with caller ID and other tools that it would be pretty easy to identify callers, and when you're searching for a landline phone number, it usually is (just run a free search on a website like WhitePages.com).. But when you are looking for a cell phone number, it can be nearly impossible to find the owner without the proper resources.

This is because there is NO national cell phone directory (like with landlines). The idea for a mobile phone directory was met with so much opposition that it was quickly forgotten. (Read about this at Privacy Alerts or Privacy Rights).

Generally speaking, tracking the general location of a phone number is pretty easy to do. Area code information is public record and released by the North American Numbering Plan Administration. You can search for these numbers on websites like FoneFinder.net or see a complete list here.

However, using an area code tracking system has limitations as well. Because cell phone numbers are so portable, people can move across the country and keep their old number. Also, because of laws forcing carriers to comply with number portability, cell phone numbers can be transfered from carrier to carrier and state to state (making the NANPA area code lookup incorrect).

Of course, these difficulties are made even more frustrating when you consider that cell phones are getting more and more popular, and that unfaithful lovers and prank callers often use cell phones.

Reverse Cell Phone Lookups Made Easy

Tracing a cell phone number on your own is nearly impossible. But with new online technologies, it's easier than ever to find out who owns a cell phone number using a reverse cell phone search like ReversePhoneDetective.com.

Tracing a cell phone number with one of these services is actually quite easy... just type in the phone number to start the tracing process to find out who owns a cell phone number.

Cell Phone Number Tracing Resources

800notes.com - This site contains a huge database of user-generated content about unknown numbers, with most of them being toll free. You can get more information from their articles and tips as well.

Whocalled.us - This is another user-generated site that will be helpful in your search. This is great when nothing comes up anywhere else. Users have added their experience with different numbers and what they have found out.

Freeality.com - This web site has a vast selection of resources for anyone conducting an Internet search. There are links to most of the major search engines, reverse phone lookups, directory searches by name, and many other great tools.

Reversephonedirectory.com - You can use this site for many different types of information searches. Your search may be done by name, address, social security number, phone number, or any type of public records. They allow you to search for numbers that may have been disconnected, or are hard to find because they are mobile phone numbers.

Anywho.com - Here you will find yellow and white pages, reverse phone lookups, international listings, and some toll free numbers. You will also find tools for help with area codes and even map features.

Whitepages.com - This is a site you may already be familiar with. Here you find phone number lookups and help, as well as some great resources that you may find helpful.

Addresses.com - This site has white and yellow page searches, reverse lookups for both landline and mobile numbers, and even an option for assisting with background searches. The yellow page listings are done by city or area for your convenience.

Switchboard.com - This site can help you find some information very quickly. You can find tools for maps, zip codes, web searches, reverse phone lookups, directions, and a web search.

Networksolutions.com/whois - There are times when you need more information about a particular domain name, and if you do, this is where you want to go. You may find in your search that what you find here can actually be very helpful to you whether locating a person, phone number, or even a business.

Canada411.com - If you are in Canada, or looking for someone in Canada, this directory is something that may be very helpful. You will find information here about people, businesses, postal codes, addresses, and even information on select areas of the country.

Ussearch.com - You may have to pay a fee to access some of the information on this site. However, it can be very helpful when you want to do a reverse phone lookup. You can also inquire about criminal checks on anyone, along with public records or background checks.

Whowhere.lycos.com - When you need tools for searching out a person, this is a great place to go. Searches can be by phone number, general web search, directions and maps, names, and even businesses.