OT-How can we find out the identity of a "private caller" on Verizon cell UPDATE post

[Belle5]

My DH is receiving many calls from an unidentified man on his cell phone and that man is asking for me! When DH says, "This is her husband and you're calling my phone," the man hangs up. DH says he can hear road noise in the background. DH feels as if he recognizes the caller's voice but cannot place it. It is really driving us crazy!

Clearly, whoever it is, is trying to get under DH's skin. If they really wanted to talk to me they would call my home. It could be a total stranger who gets his thrills by freaking out married men--making them feel insecure about their wives-- but he would have to have some information that placed DH's cell with his wife's name. Not too likely.

I am thinking about former work associates, maybe even a disturbed current co-worker. It's hard to imagine that, though, as DH is just a really great guy...

He has had the same number for many years--we have been thinking through old neighbors, co-workers, even kids coaches and leaders--anyone who would know his cell and his wife's name.

We live in a strange world... who even has time for this? Anyway, DH called Verizon today and supposedly they are going to see if they can trace the source of the "Private Caller". I am not sure what they will really be able to tell us. There is almost a part of me that doesn't want to know--unless it is a stranger--that wouldn't bother me as much as thinking we know someone who would do this.

Any thoughts or experiences with this?

Thanks...

Edited to add...the reason for the title of my thread is I really don't think DH gave Verizon any more information than that someone keeps bothering him. I don't really think that is enough of a motivation for them to give him the information we need. I am wondering if there is any kind of stalking policy we should know about or if it even fits our situation.

 

[cglaura]

Are you ever there when he calls? Can DH just give you the phone so you can see if maybe you'd recognize his voice? Or any way to get it recorded while you are talking?

Creepy though.

Anyway to block Private Caller calls? I have that on my home phone. It automatically plays a recording, something along the lines of "We're sorry, the customer you are trying to reach does not receive calls from private numbers."

Of course this would block all incoming Private Callers, not sure if that is an option. For me, anyone who would get that msg that really knew me and if it was an emergency knows a 2nd way to reach me.

 

[Belle5]

Are you ever there when he calls? Can DH just give you the phone so you can see if maybe you'd recognize his voice? Or any way to get it recorded while you are talking?

Creepy though.

I am never nearby when DH gets the calls.

 

[sameyeyam]

Not that I'm trying to say that you don't pay your bills or anything, but could it be a bill collector? By law, they are not allowed to tell anyone other then the person that has the debt who they are. It could maybe be a bill that you forgot about or something?

But then again it could be a salesperson or something. We kept getting a man calling our house once and he asked for my DH. At the time he was working nights and I didn't want to tell a stranger on the phone that. I kept saying this is his wife, how can I help you? Can I take a message?, etc...but he would hang up. Finally he called one night when DH was home, it was some idiot from the NRA trying to get him to join! GRRR....no wonder he didn't want to talk to somebody's wife!lol.

 

[SILLYANDI]

Make a police report for annoying phone calls (In CA, at least, it doesn't have to be harrassing or scary, only repeat calls after asking the caller to stop). The police are the only ones who can request a copy of cell records for unlisted numbers. Verizon won't help you at all unless you have a police report # and are calling from a PD.

You can also do as PP suggested and block unlisted calls. The caller has the option of dialing *82 to make thier # known to you and complete the call. Anyone with legitimate business or reason to call you would have no reason not to dial *82.

 

[MomToOne]

Don't know how you can find out the identify of the caller, but you should be able to block calls from all blocked numbers. Call Verizon and ask for "Call Intercept". I believe they have it available on cell phones these days, although I am not 100% sure. Since you are getting harassing calls, I'd push them to give you the service for free, if they try to charge.

If it works the way AT&Ts service does, people with blocked numbers who you actually WANT to get through should be able to dial some special digits before they enter your phone number to get through. Their number will be unblocked for that one call.

 

[Belle5]

Not that I'm trying to say that you don't pay your bills or anything, but could it be a bill collector? By law, they are not allowed to tell anyone other then the person that has the debt who they are. It could maybe be a bill that you forgot about or something?

If it was a bill collector, they would be asking him to have me call them at a certain number with a reference number. DH really feels that he recognizes the voice.

 

[dakcp2001]

Does he have call fwding on his cell? Fwd the calls to whatever number you are at for a few days so you can answer.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

I just read about this and there is a way to do it. Someone was complaining about a teenage girl prank calling her son at home. They hit *63 or *67 or something, or the police did it and they ran a trace on it. I am not sure it would work on cell phones, but I would think it just might.

I would call the police Dept. and see what they say. They may be about to use the phone Co. to get the info, or they may ask you to bring the phone in the next time it happens.

If this were me, I would have to know who would be creepy enough to do that. I sure hope that you find out who it is. I would love to find out how this ends.

 

[Evi]

You can do two things 1 place a report with police department and 2 contact the phone company. Then they can set up a call trace you'll need to document the date and time of the phone calls then when the phone company traces the call you can take said person to court.

 

[pampam]

This is very creepy. Please let us know how it turns out.

 

[PrincessBelle09]

I just read about this and there is a way to do it. Someone was complaining about a teenage girl prank calling her son at home. They hit *63 or *67 or something, or the police did it and they ran a trace on it. I am not sure it would work on cell phones, but I would think it just might.

It is *67 and it does work on cell phones, but only if the caller has not blocked their number before calling, which this person has done.

OP, I don't really have advice for you other than perhaps contacting the police to see what they can do if Verizon does not come through with the number. Best of luck, hon!

 

[dfchelbay]

Wouldn't it show up on your next cell phone bill? I would think that all incoming and outgoing calls would be listed with their date and time and how many minutes used for that call.

 

[princessmom29]

Wouldn't it show up on your next cell phone bill? I would think that all incoming and outgoing calls would be listed with their date and time and how many minutes used for that call.

It will just show up as private number on the bill.

 

[Plumeria9]

That is creepy. The only person who calls me w/ Private Caller is my MIL. And I never pick that up. Ha ha! I have received several repeat callers that show a number, though. And when I have picked it up, there is no response. Then I save the call # as one of my contacts and assign it a "no ringtone" for that caller. When they call I don't have to jump up and see who it is because I never heard it. Of course then I get the "missed call" beep, but that's better than the previous. Hope you can get rid of this caller.

 

[horseshowmom]

Hopefully, you will hear back from Verizon soon. They can definitely find out who it is and tell the person to stop calling. Wherther or not they'll tell you who it is may be a different story.

I would want to know and would probably try to pressure Verizon to tell me, but I don't know it that would work or not.

 

[KJF]

No answer to how to find out who it is, but your DH may be able to "trick" the man into saying who it is. I was getting calls like that for my DH at home & when I would say he wasn't there but I was his wife, how could I help, they would just say they'd call back & hang up.

But, when I changed my tone & now say "who's calling please?" first, they told me who they were before I told them he wasn't there. Turns out it was just the credit card company calling trying to sell him insurance.

 

[usnuzuloose]

Does this person call at certain times? Or is it the same time? Does he call everyday? I would keep a log of times and dates he calls, especially if you make a police report. Is this happening right after he leaves the house? See if you can establish a time line. Maybe something else might come to mind. Jo

 

[Mommee]

sue? police report? for calling someone?

 

[buzz2400]

here's a suggestion if verizon can't help you. If your husband is at work when he gets the phone call, have him ask a female in the office if she will pretend that she is you. When the person calls, he gives the phone to her and she can find out who is callling. College people have been calling our house trying to talk to my son (who graduated in september but decided not to go to college). My father says that he is my son and they talk to my father.