Many families today do not have listed numbers in the major phone directories. In some cases, families do not maintain a home phone line and instead opt for cell phones for each family member. (Cell phones are usually not listed in the phone book.) Other families decide to keep their phone numbers unlisted because of privacy concerns or to prevent telemarketers from contacting them. This can pose a challenge if you need to find someone's unlisted number or find the person associated with an unlisted number that you already have in your possession.
Instructions
1. Ascertain the person's location. Many search engines will ask for the person's address or general location when gathering information to perform a search for an unlisted telephone number. Make sure to pinpoint at least the state in which your target person is living. If you have the telephone number and are trying a reverse phone search, look up the location associated with the area code of the number.
2. Try the white pages online. Although the white pages paperbound book was once strictly a directory for residential phone numbers, it now offers listings for people's cell phones. The white pages online may have access to additional telephone numbers, including numbers that were intentionally withheld from distribution in print. (See Resources for a link.)
3. Use an online search engine. Although many sites will search listings and show you limited access to results for free, they will provide the actual number only after you have paid a fee. Phonebooks.com is the most helpful of the free services in finding a cell phone or unlisted number. If you are willing to pay the charge for a more complete search, try Intelius. (See Resources for links.)
4. Use a reverse phone number search. If you need to look up the owner of a cell phone or unlisted number, or if you want to check to see if you have the correct mobile number for the person you want to contact, try ReverseCellPhones. This site provides a free reverse phone number search that includes mobile numbers. Don't let the name of the site deter you; even though it is called "reverse cell phones," it allows you to search by the person's name as well as the phone number.
5. Use a major search engine. If all else fails, you can always type the person's full name or the phone number in your possession into Google or Yahoo and see what results pop up. With as much information as exists on the Internet, many people's full contact information will appear on various sites in response to a simple Google or Yahoo search. As a last resort, Google or Yahoo will sometimes come up with exactly what you need at no cost.
Tags: phone number, unlisted number, Google Yahoo, reverse phone, white pages