
When you receive a phone call and it displays “No Caller ID” on the screen, it means the person calling you is hiding their identity. And this could be risky. In America, almost 21% people fall victim to phone scams.
But I have some good news for you. You can reduce these unknown calls to a great extent. The blog discusses how to find a no caller ID number on your phone device. And how CallHippo’s smart tracking can simplify call monitoring for your business.
How to Reveal No Caller ID or Trace a No Caller ID on iPhone or Android
If you keep getting such calls from unknown callers, there are a few ways to trace or unmask the caller’s number. Some of these options come built into your phone. Others need a little help from apps or your service provider. Let’s go through each option:
1. Call Tracing Using *69 or *57
One of the quickest methods is to use your phone’s built-in code features.
- Dial *69 right after you receive a call. It automatically calls back the last phone number that tried calling you, even if it was hidden.
- If you felt the call was threatening or suspicious, dial *57. This logs the call details with your phone company’s security department, and it can help you with an official investigation.
These services may not work with all carriers or phone plans. And some might come with a small fee.
2. Carrier-Based Services
Most phone service providers offer caller identification services or tools to trace anonymous calls. Many phone service providers offer:
- AT&T Call Protect
- Verizon Call Filter
- T-Mobile Scam Shield
These services flag spam calls, block no caller IDs, unknown callers, or suspicious ones. Also, they let you trace the source of blocked calls. Some also offer a push notification when a known scammer tries to contact you.
3. Use Trusted Third-Party Apps
Phone apps like TrapCall, Truecaller, and Hiya help you identify the unknown caller ID number. They do this by tapping into a massive app’s database of reported spam numbers.
These apps can:
- Unmask hidden or private numbers quickly.
- Display the caller’s identity and location.
- Block unwanted calls automatically.
- Send spam or robocalls directly to voicemail.
These are available for both iPhone and Android phones via Google Play or App Store. Make sure you grant the necessary permissions when you install the apps so that you can properly filter and trace calls.
4. Try Reverse Lookup Services
You can use reverse lookup services to see who called if you have missed that call, but the number is logged. You can search for a phone number and obtain information about the caller on platforms such as Whitepages, Spokeo, or Anywho.
Some basic information is free, but for deeper results, you may need to pay a certain amount.
CallHippo Tip: Use CallHippo’s Smart Tracking to Log and Trace Calls Easily
If you are receiving such unknown number calls on your business phone system, don’t stress. CallHippo’s smart tracking automatically logs and filters incoming calls. You can track the caller’s number and see call patterns. Plus, you can even route future calls to voicemail or your team.
It is perfect for avoiding unwanted telemarketing calls or anonymous callers. This helps you to maintain a strong caller ID reputation.
Take Control of Your Calls with CallHippo
Try CallHippo’s smart features to block spam and stay focused on the calls that matter.
What Does “No Caller ID” Mean?
When you see “No Caller ID” on your screen, it simply means that the person calling you has deliberately hidden their phone number.
This is often done by turning off the caller ID section in their phone settings. Or even a service that blocks their number from showing up on the recipient’s caller ID display.
1. No Caller ID vs. Unknown vs. Block Number: Key Differences
People often confuse No Caller ID, Unknown, and Blocked numbers. But these differ from each other. Have a look at a quick comparison below:
Term | What It Means | How It Appears | Common Reason |
---|---|---|---|
No Caller ID | The caller deliberately hides their identity using phone settings or codes. | “No Caller ID” or “Private Number” | Privacy, telemarketing, spam calls |
Unknown | The network couldn’t fetch the caller ID information. | “Unknown” or “Unknown Caller” | Technical issues, international calls |
Blocked Number | The caller has been manually blocked on your phone. | Call doesn’t ring or goes to voicemail | You blocked them previously |
2. Legitimate Calls
Well, not every hidden call is harmful. There are some legitimate caller who may hide their numbers for security reasons. For example:
- Medical professionals who desire to protect their personal contact details.
- Government agencies are making official calls.
- Businesses are using private numbers for outbound communication.
In such cases, the intent is not to trick you; it is just about maintaining privacy.
3. Suspicious Calls
On the flip side, suspicious calls are made by people who intentionally hide their identity. These could be:
- Scammers who try to steal your personal information.
- Telemarketers who make pushy or unwanted sales calls.
- Malicious callers who are using temporary numbers to stay hidden.
These are the calls you should be on the lookout for and treat with extra care.
How to Stay Safe When Dealing with No Caller ID Calls?
Even if you learn how to find no caller ID, safety should always come first. Let’s see some ways that would help you protect yourself:
1. Watch for Red Flags and Risks
Calls without a caller ID can sometimes mean trouble. These may include:
- Scam attempts asking for personal or financial details.
- Phishing calls pretending to be from banks or government agencies.
- Spoofed numbers making it look like the call is from a local business.
- Threatening calls meant to intimidate you.
Avoid interacting with the caller if you believe they are acting maliciously. Additionally, record the call for reporting purposes.
2. Decide When (and When Not) to Call Back
You don’t need to give a call back to every hidden call. Calling back could:
- Expose your phone number to scammers.
- Confirm that your number is active. This could lead to more unwanted calls.
- Put you at risk of phone scams.
Only return calls you trust, like messages from legitimate businesses or contacts that you recognize.
3. Block or Silence Unknown Callers
Your phone’s app settings have built-in tools to help:
- On iPhones, you can enable the “Silence Unknown Callers” feature in Settings ? Phone. This sends calls from unknown numbers straight to voicemail.
- On Android phones, most devices have a similar option to block suspicious calls or silence unknown callers.
This way, you avoid unnecessary interruptions. And the focus is only on the legitimate callers.
4. Report Calls to Authorities
If you receive malicious threats or believe that a call is part of a scam, don’t hesitate to report scam calls to the authorities. You can file a complaint with FTC’s ReportFraud.ftc.gov. And to report spoofing or harassment, you can also reach out to the FCC Consumer Complaints Center and seek help.
You can also contact your local law enforcement agency if the call involves serious threats.
Preventing Future No Caller ID Calls
While you can not stop every hidden call. But there are ways to cut down on them significantly. Let’s have a look:
1. Adjust Phone Settings to Block Anonymous Calls
You can start by adjusting your phone’s built-in settings. As mentioned above, on an iPhone, go to app Settings and enable Silence Unknown Callers. This will ensure that calls from numbers you have not saved won’t ring, but will still show up in your recent calls or voicemail section.
Similarly, Android phones include a feature in the Phone app settings that blocks unidentified or private numbers. This helps you to automatically avoid unwanted interruptions.
2. Carrier Tools to Block or Filter No Caller ID Calls
Most mobile service providers offer you tools that are designed to identify and filter spam or anonymous calls.
AT&T has Call Protect, Verizon offers Call Filter, and T-Mobile provides Scam Shield. These tools work in the background to spot potentially suspicious calls. You will see an alert before answering, which makes it easier to avoid scams.
The best part here is that they are usually free or already included in your plan. You can turn them on without any cost.
3. CallHippo Smart Routing for Businesses
For businesses, anonymous calls can be even more disruptive. CallHippo’s Smart Routing automatically filters hidden or spam calls. It makes sure that genuine customer calls reach the right team member while blocking the rest. It helps you to maintain a strong caller ID reputation.
This way, your team saves time and never misses important conversations.
With CallHippo, you also get:
- Advanced Caller Identification: You can instantly see the caller’s information, even for incoming calls that appear private or unknown.
- Spam Detection and Blocking: This automatically detects the calls that are suspicious in nature. And it stops them before they can disrupt your team.
- Smart Call Logging: Every call, anonymous or not, is logged. This makes it easy for you to trace unwanted numbers later.
- Call Routing: This feature sends important calls to the right department while filtering unwanted callers immediately.
- AI Copilot: CallHippo’s AI Copilot assists your agents with suggested responses, helping them to handle tricky or suspicious calls faster and accurately.
With these AI-powered tools, you can finally take control of who reaches your business.
Conclusion
It can be annoying to deal with a call that doesn’t have caller ID, but you don’t have to give up. You can handle them with ease if you have the appropriate tools.
Always stay cautious. It is important to be informed whether if you are tracing a call or avoiding a scam.
And, if you are running a business, with CallHippo’s smart routing and AI-driven features, you can filter out unwanted calls and focus on the conversations that matter.
FAQs
1. Can I trace a No Caller ID number?
Yes, you can trace a No Caller ID number with the help of a few methods. This involves using services like *69, third-party apps like Truecaller, or through your phone’s carrier’s services.
2. How do I find out who called me with No Caller ID?
To figure out who called you from No Caller ID, try dialing *69 to call back the last incoming call. You can also use apps like Truecaller or TrapCall to identify the number. These apps have larger databases of reported numbers. This would help you to uncover hidden numbers.
3. Why do some calls appear as No Caller ID?
When you see No Caller ID, it usually means the caller is intentionally hiding their number. Some businesses or government agencies do this for privacy or security reasons. But more commonly, it is used by scammers or telemarketers.
4. Does *69 or *57 still work to trace a No Caller ID?
Yes, both *69 and *57 can still help trace No Caller ID calls. *69 lets you all back the last incoming call, even if it was blocked. *57 logs the call details with your phone carrier if you believe the call was malicious. Just keep in mind that these services might not be available with all carriers or phone plans.

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