Do you hate getting calls from people who use *67 or some other method to hide their name and number from your Caller ID display?
Yeah, me too. And unfortunately it’s happening more and more every day.
But did you know there’s a smartphone app you can use to identify (and block) those unknown callers?
Well, there is. It’s called TrapCall and it works like this:
1 – Your phone rings and you see that the Caller ID says “Unknown”, “Private” or whatever your particular phone displays when the number and other caller info is hidden.
2 – You tap Decline to decline the call.
3 – The app immediately forwards the call to TrapCall’s office.
4 – TrapCall uses the technical info gleaned from the forwarded to call to look up the phone number and identity of the caller.
5 – TrapCall will then send you the callers name, phone number and address. And if one is available they’ll even send a photo of the caller.
Once you receive the caller’s info (and hopefully their photo) you can use that information however you see fit.
For example, you might want to block the number to prevent them from calling you again. And if there is any type of criminal activity involved you can give the info to the police.
As usual, there are a few caveats that I must mention:
1 – Anonymous calls from various other countries cannot be unmasked by TrapCall because the caller’s info simply isn’t available.
2 – Anonymous calls from someone using a VOIP phone typically cannot be unmasked for the same reason.
3 – TrapCall cannot retrieve the caller’s real phone number when they spoof someone else’s number. The app only works on calls that are completely anonymous.
But with the above being said, if the unknown call originated from an American-based landline or cell phone and the caller didn’t spoof someone else’s number, TrapCall will almost always be able to retrieve the caller’s info and send it back to you.
Unfortunately, the there is no free version of the TrapCall app. If you want to use it you’ll have to pony up a few bucks every month to keep it activated on your phone.
However, the monthly fees aren’t excessive. Like I said, just a few bucks a month. (You’ll find the fees listed on the TrapCall website.)
Personally, I don’t really concern myself with anonymous callers. If the number doesn’t show in the Caller ID (or if it shows and I don’t recognize it) I simply let the call go to voicemail.
I figure if it’s someone I really need to talk to I can call them back if they leave a message.
But your situation could be quite different from mine. If you get numerous anonymous calls every day you might consider it worth a few bucks a month to have the ability to identify and block those unknown callers.
And if the callers are harassing or threatening you in any way the TrapCall app could quite literally end up being a lifesaver.
Click here to read more about the TrapCall app on the company’s website.