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Call back a private number for free by dialing *69 or #69. There are many ways to call back a blocked or unknown number. It can be troublesome to continually be on the receiving end of private calls. Telemarketers and bill collectors are usually the people that mainly use private numbers. Still, some private individuals choose also to have a blocked number to manage their privacy and keep their confidentiality low.
When a private number calls your mobile phone, their contact information will not be visible, the caller ID will usually appear on your screen as “private,” “unknown,” “Blocked,” “Private caller,” “Restricted,” or “No Caller ID.”
While you may not want to answer a private call, if you don’t swipe to answer the call, how will you know if you need to call back the unknown number? Fortunately, there are several ways to trace and call back a private number!
1. Use *69 to return a private call
The first method on our list to call a private number is to dial *69. This Last Call Return code is the North American Numbering Plan Administration’s universal vertical service code (VSC). Phone network providers created the Last Call Return service code following the FCC directive to allow private calling.
The *69 callback service is free to use on most network providers. The *69 code will automatically call the last number that called your phone, whether the call was private or not. *69 works for landlines, while #69 works on mobile phones. In addition, your cell phone carrier may have a time limit for calling back a private number, which is usually 30 minutes from the last received call.
While using this method will allow you to make contact with the private caller, you will not be able to get the actual phone number of the unknown caller. However, even if they don’t answer your call, you can still receive a voicemail that can provide some possibilities to trace their identity.
Using *69 has a downside that could complicate your problem in rare cases. Some private calls are automated calls to confirm if your number is active. Their purpose of calling you with a blocked number is to get your number when you call them back so that they can sell your contact information to other scammers.
2. Verify phone provider logs
If using the Last Call Return method is unsuccessful, another option is to check your phone service provider log for all outgoing and incoming calls. Sometimes, private call numbers do appear in these logs. To see your call log, sign in to your service provider account with your username/email and password. To find the unknown caller number, compare the date and exact time the call came in. Then, look at the call log, at times posted under the billing and usage menu, for a possible match with the unknown caller.
The timeframe of how long call records are held will vary depending on each carrier. However, call records are generally stored for one to seven years and can be used in criminal investigations.
3. Search for the number with reverse number lookup
If you are still unable to find the number and want to dig up the number before returning the call, you can use a reverse phone lookup. Open up Google search and type in the number or go to Yellow Pages to discover if the phone number belongs to a cellphone or a landline. You can also use the website to search for the particular location where the phone is registered, which may provide some clues to who’s behind the number.
To get the full report, you may be asked to pay a fee that can be refundable if the service is unable to provide any information about the private caller.
BeenVerified is another identity lookup service likely to get you the best result. They are one of the most popular reverse phone lookup platforms with billions of data points to potentially find out who a particular telephone number belongs to.
4. Use TrapCall to unblock private numbers
Another way to unmask a private number is to use a third-party service such as TrapCall. It’s a mobile app tool that reveals blocked, restricted, and private callers. It can provide you with the number and name of the registered owner of the phone. In addition to the caller’s address, plus the option to blacklist and block future calls from the number.
5. Set up call tracing to reveal private numbers
The fifth method is a simple call-tracking or tracing method that can help you discover the identity behind a restricted, private, or blocked call. Most phone carriers offer a call-tracing service to trace the most recent call and stop further unwanted calls. Press #57 if you use a mobile phone or *57 from a landline to activate call tracing and follow the prompts. This code is helpful to track the last inbound call on your phone. It traces the last incoming received call.
Seven “star call” codes you might find useful to manage your privacy:
*60: To block calls from specific phone numbers and send a recording to the callers that say you’re not accepting incoming calls.
*67: To block and hide your phone number on Caller ID systems.
*72: To forward your call to another phone number.
*70: This is to place your current call on hold so you can answer another incoming phone call.
*77: This code will help you block incoming anonymous private calls.
*82: To disable caller ID block for *67
*80: Disable call block for *60
*87: To disable automatic private call reject for *77
Private number harassment and scams
Getting a constant inbound call from private numbers can be annoying. If you tried all the options above and you’re still unable to unmask who’s behind the private number, and the calls are unwanted of a harassing nature. In that case, you can speak with your service provider for any possible solution.
If the private call becomes more persistent with a more harassing or threatening nature and you think it’s a crime, consider speaking with the police or your local authorities.
Apply caution when calling back private numbers, as they may be part of a vast scam ring resulting in you having to pay expensive long-distance charges if the call is returned.