The service of hiding a phone number is in definite demand among various types of people and structures: scammers, debt collectors, commercial companies, or simply people who want to play a prank. “Victims,” in turn, are interested in how to find out a hidden phone number. This is quite important. After all, without knowing the number, you cannot block it, you cannot find out in which region it is registered and you cannot search through the number database. Essentially, nothing can be done with an anonymous phone number until it is identified.
In this article, we will look at instructions in which we will understand in detail how to find out who called from a hidden phone number .
How does hiding a phone number work?
All tariff plans of Russian operators have a built-in service called “Caller Identifier” by default. It allows you to read the digits of a number during a call. This option is free and connects automatically. Most often, it cannot even be seen in the operator’s personal account. But if desired, this service can be deactivated - to do this, the subscriber needs to connect a caller ID. The anti-identifier can be a paid option for the operator, a built-in system option, or an application with special functionality. They all work the same way: when you make an outgoing call, the person's number stops being displayed to the people they are calling.
Hidden numbers and their de-anonymization
First of all, it is worth understanding the “inner kitchen”, finding out who is behind everything, who is this “scoundrel” who has put you in an uncomfortable position.
Everything is arranged very simply. The mobile operator provides its users with the following functions:
- Automatic Caller ID (Caller ID) - this is what allows us to see the caller’s phone number on the smartphone screen. The function is free, and is active by default on any mobile operator;
- Anti-Caller ID (Anti Caller ID) is a function that allows you to hide a subscriber’s phone number by bypassing Caller ID. By connecting it, when you call, the following message will be displayed: “Unknown number” or “Hidden number”. The function is paid;
- Super Caller ID (CLI) is a function that allows you to find out who called from a hidden phone number, bypassing the anti-identifier. Naturally, the option is paid.
In general, everything is in the hands of the mobile operator. Complete monopoly. As they say: “This cow is ours - and we milk it.”
Operator offers
All mobile operators have a special option that is opposed to “Anti-Caller Identifier”. It’s called “Super Caller ID” and allows you to see any numbers during incoming calls - even those that were previously hidden by paid services. Let's look at how “Super Caller ID” works and how it can be connected to different operators.
“SuperAON” from Megafon
The paid option “SuperAON” allows you to determine the numbers of any subscribers - even if they use the “AntiAON” service. “SuperAON” is guaranteed to show hidden phones only in your home region. When traveling around Russia, the service may work, but its operation is not guaranteed by the operator. Problems with reading data may also arise if the person hiding the number uses the services of another cellular operator or is located in a different region. The cost of the option is 6 rubles. per day. The first connection is free, each subsequent connection will cost 100 rubles.
Money is debited in advance, and not upon use of the option. If there are insufficient funds in the account, the action is suspended until the balance is replenished. To activate the service, use the following methods:
- Launch the operator’s official website at megafon.ru. Click on the “Personal Account” button, enter your phone number and password. Go to the “Services and Options” tab. Find the option you need there and connect.
- Open the Megafon application, enter the PIN code. Switch to the “Services” section. Find “SuperAON” in the list, click on the “Connect” button.
- Enter the command * 502 #, select the desired option, confirm the connection with a number.
- Send an SMS message with the text “YES” to phone 5502.
- Call our consultants at 0500 and ask them to add the required option to your SIM card.
- Come to the nearest sales office with your SIM and passport.
To disable the option, use your personal account, SMS with the text “OFF” to number 5502 or USSD command * 502 * 4 #. Important: the option does not inform the subscriber that the caller is hiding the number. When you receive a call from an unknown person, his phone number will appear on the display, but you will not know his intentions until you decide to answer the call. If someone you don't know calls from a hidden number or from a new SIM card, information about the number may not help you much. Not all phones support this option, and it may not be compatible with some services and tariff plans.
“Super Caller ID” from MTS
Like the previous option, “Super Caller ID” from the MTS operator allows you to identify numbers during any incoming calls - even if the caller is trying to hide his phone. The display will show either numbers or a name if the caller is in your contacts list. The option is positioned as universal and compatible with any operating systems and devices. However, it will not be available:
- On the “Cool” tariff plan, except when the “Mobile Internet” option is added to it;
- On certain phone models, mainly older ones.
Also, accuracy of operation is not guaranteed when calling subscribers of other operators or people located outside your home region. In most cases, the information is provided correctly, but sometimes errors may occur.
Depending on the current tariff, the cost of the option in Moscow and the Moscow region will be as follows:
- Current tariffs: subscription fee - 6.5 rubles, connection fee - 2,000 rubles;
- Archived tariffs: subscription fee - 6.8 rubles, connection fee - 2,080 rubles. per day.
To connect, you can use the mobile application or the mts.ru website. Log in with your phone number and password, open the services section, go to the “Calls” tab, find “Super Caller ID” there and add it to your SIM card. You can also use USSD requests. To connect, enter * 111 * 007 #, to disconnect - * 110 * 007 #. If you don’t want to figure it out yourself, call the operator at 0890 or visit an MTS communication salon.
“Super Caller ID” from Beeline
This service allows you to read all hidden numbers of calling subscribers. It works not only for local, but also for long-distance and even international incoming calls. Accurate number identification is not guaranteed only when calling from landline phones. The service can be used by individuals and legal entities. The cost of the option in Moscow and the Moscow region is 50.84 rubles. in case of using a prepaid payment system. If a person pays for communication services at the end of the month, and not at the beginning, 1,525.42 rubles will be deducted from him. per month. No money is charged for connection.
To add an option to a number, use the following methods:
- Open your Personal Account on the website. Launch the services section, find “Super Caller ID” in it, add it to the number.
- Launch the “My Beeline” application. Open options, find the desired option in the list and activate.
- Call the hotline on 0611 and ask consultants for help.
- Enter the USSD command * 110 * 4161 # to activate.
- Call 0674 4161 and hang up immediately.
You can use similar methods to disable it. Open your personal account, call technical support, enter the USSD request * 110 * 4160 # or dial 0674 4160.
“Identifier of intentionally hidden numbers” from Tele2
The Tele2 paid service allows you to see the caller’s phone number when making a call, regardless of what options and applications he uses to hide the number. Your screen will display either the phone number or the caller's name if they are in your phone book. Like most competitors, the option works correctly only when both subscribers are in their home region. It is also important that both the calling and receiving subscribers have Tele2 SIM cards, otherwise the correct display of the phone is not guaranteed.
To use the service you need to pay 6 rubles. per day. The first connection is free, but for each subsequent connection you will need to pay another 100 rubles. To conveniently manage the service, you can use USSD requests:
- * 210 * 1 # - connection;
- * 210 * 0 # - shutdown;
- * 210 # - checking status, obtaining information.
Other standard methods can also be used: a website, a mobile application, calling a hotline at 611, talking with a bot in an online chat or instant messenger, or visiting the nearest operator’s phone shop.
Who can call from an unknown number
Any person who pays for AntiAON can make a call. This service allows you to disable identifying numbers when making calls. But it is worth remembering that anonymity is maintained only when making calls. When sending SMS and MMS, the number cannot be hidden.
Scammers
The most common type of person who hides their number is scammers. They call people for the sole purpose of getting money. The prevalence of this method of deception is that the victim sends money on his own, which makes it very difficult to return it. Fraudsters can obtain a number to call in various ways. This is a random selection or the use of open data sources, for example, a used car sales site. Therefore, when posting a number on the Internet, you need to be aware that it can be found by scammers who can make a call.
The very pretext under which a fraudulent scheme can be carried out can be completely different. Relatives or acquaintances in trouble, winning the lottery, appeal from government agencies, and so on. Every day new “stories” appear that are used to illegally enrich themselves at the expense of mobile network clients.
Collectors
Collectors are the second group of people who use hidden numbers. This is done in order to maintain the anonymity of your company. Collectors can be contacted by banks and other financial institutions that want to get their money from clients. It is from them that they receive the number entered as contract data when drawing up a service agreement under which calls will be made. Such methods are used only in relation to persistent defaulters who have large debts to legal entities and individuals.
To avoid such calls, you must pay off all debts on time. You can also sign up for a second SIM card.
Promotional offers
Companies fight in every possible way for the client, so you can often receive advertising calls. Most often, people themselves give agreement to the processing and use of personal data, including telephone numbers, to an insurance agency, magazine, newspapers, etc. In other cases, companies can be brought to administrative liability through the court, but this is extremely difficult to do due to an insufficient accusatory and evidence base.
Therefore, you need to carefully subscribe to any media and sign up for bonus cards. It is best to purchase a separate SIM card for such purposes, which a person will not use in everyday life.
Call details
If you don’t want to pay for caller ID from your operator, you can try to get the number through call details. This is a completely free statement of all calls and expenses for the current number, which can be obtained at any time. Call details must be pre-ordered in your personal account. Here's how you can do it on the corporate website of any mobile operator:
- Log in with your username and password.
- Go to the “Financial Information” section or any similar option.
- Specify the required period and file format in which you want to receive the statement.
Please wait a few minutes - the summary will take some time to form. A file will soon be downloaded with a complete report of incoming and outgoing calls at the specified time. You will see complete information about calls: phone number, call duration, money spent on the conversation. You can also order details in the application, by calling the hotline or directly in the communication shop. For the last method, you will need a passport for identification; it is also better to take the necessary SIM card with you. The only disadvantage of this method is that dropped calls are not displayed here. To understand with the help of detail who is bothering you, you will have to pick up the phone and wait at least a few seconds.
Web interfaces of order management systems
Thanks to WebRTC (our latest article about WebRTC), you can make calls from and to web pages, and the cloud with JavaScript at the ready switches these calls with traditional telephony. Number masking works here too. Where does the web page number come from? For all outgoing calls from the CRM cloud, clients enter their “external” phone number. If this phone number is called, then further actions with the call are simply written in the JavaScript script. For example, distribute to the call center operator with whom the client last communicated. Or automatically tell you about the order status. Or escalate the call to second-level support if this is the fifth call in an hour.
Third Party Applications
Detailing cannot always provide all the necessary information, and operator proposals are often too expensive and, moreover, not very convenient to use. You can try free programs that allow you not only to read unknown numbers, but also to block them. One of the most popular applications in this area is Whoscall.
Whoscall works like a classic spam database. Users themselves enter all suspicious and unreliable numbers into the application, so the database is constantly updated. During a call, you can see all the information about the caller - whether it is a company or an individual, whether spam came from the phone, and so on. The program has several convenient options:
- Blocking calls from abroad starting with certain numbers;
- Block calls from callers who are not in your contact list (that is, any strangers);
- Blocking ads for certain words and phrases;
- Blocking specific people.
These filters alone can help you weed out unnecessary calls. For example, if the same person calls you from an “unknown number”, blocking him will solve the problem.
Solution 2
The second solution that I tried and which I use now is a special module (application) for the Xposed Framework. You can download it from the official repository - https://repo.xposed.info/module/ru.timjosten.unknownnumberfix. According to the author, it should work on Android 5.0-8.1.
I tested it on ViperOS Android 7.1.2 Everything works fine for me. Unknown numbers from call history have disappeared.
The disadvantages of this solution include the need to have the Xposed Framework on the smartphone, which in turn requires ROOT rights and the alternative TWRP system recovery utility for installation.
What to do if the calls don't stop
Sometimes a person calling from an unknown number can be very persistent. Such zeal can be shown by collectors, scammers, or people who have some kind of personal score against you. Regardless of the reason for the intrusive calls, you can solve the problem with them once and for all by going to court. Such behavior is considered harassment and is criminally punishable. Record all calls in the detail statement. Answer calls within a few seconds for them to start showing up in your lists. And after you have the details with the necessary information in your hands, go to the prosecutor’s office to write a statement against the attacker. If you don't know what number you're calling from, the police can help you identify the caller. Also, the accused will soon be called in for questioning about why he won't leave you alone. When contacting the police, do not worry or be afraid. Make every effort to ensure that the attacker is punished, because the truth is on your side.
Method number 4. Contacting the operator or law enforcement agencies
Be that as it may, the operator definitely has the number that you displayed as unknown. And to find out, you need to order call details. This is a simple list of all telephone numbers that called you, printed on A4 paper.
It would seem like nothing special, but this list shows absolutely all numbers, including unknown ones.
If this cannot be done, you will have to go directly to the administrator or simply a representative of the operator and tell him that you want to find out who called you. This is only possible under certain circumstances.
On the other hand, if there are threats, it is better to immediately go to law enforcement agencies.
Interestingly, due to the recently adopted Yarovaya laws in Russia, all telephone conversations are recorded. Therefore, a telecom operator employee may well find your conversation and provide the recording to the police.
Remember! If you receive threats, it is better to immediately contact the police.
Choose the method that will be more accessible to you.
Method number 1. Turn off your phone
This method will only work if you know for sure that a call from an unknown number will definitely come to you again. This is possible, for example, if someone calls you constantly. Often hooligans call people with threats or just pranks almost every half hour.
So, during this time you need to turn off your phone. When you turn it on, you will receive a message saying “You have been called” and the caller’s number. Actually, in such a message the number can no longer be hidden.
Depending on the operator, this message may look different. Most often, SMS comes from the caller’s number with the text “This subscriber called you...” This is how it looks, in particular, on Beeline and MTS (Russia).
Rice. No. 1. Message “You have been called” on MTS
For other operators, SMS comes from some system phone. The text says that “such and such numbers called you such and such a number of times.” Such messages could be seen by subscribers of MTS (Ukraine), also known as Vodafone.
In any case, this method works great. But if the call took place only once, it will not have any effect.
