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

[here757]

my mom was able to block all private calls from her house. the phone doesnt even ring!
her theory is if you wanna talk to her u will unblock ur number when u call

wonder if that can be done with cells?

 

[Tinkerbelle9980]

From another website:
If "Private Call" showed up on your phone caller ID, it means that the caller entered special code *67 just before dialing your number. In this case, if you need to find out who has just called, you can try dialing *69 right after the call. You will be redirected to an automatic phone service that may provide you with the name, as well as phone number of your last caller. Knowing at least the number, you will be able to use a reverse cell phone lookup to get more details about the phone owner, such as their name and address.

Don't know if this will work but it's something to look into. Good luck!

 

[reelmom]

That is creepy! I hope you find out who it is.

 

[sunnyday123]

Maybe he could leave the phone with you for the day? That is kind of creepy.

 

[Belle5]

OP here--Verizon was able to tell us that it was not a fellow employee at DH's company making the calls (they checked because it's a corporate phone)

They did tell DH that the calls were coming from our local area code and that they were made by a pay-as-you-go phone (like Tracfone). They told DH that they would block any further calls to my DH from this caller. *Here is where it gets more creepy...within 30 minutes of them blocking it a call from "pay phone" shows up on DH's phone. DH answered and said NOTHING. The man then asked for me (only said my name with a questioning voice). DH says, "I'll get her for you." The man hung up. Clearly he has no interest in actually speaking with me...he is trying to upset DH.

We have had people mention contacting the police, but this person has made no threat. Do you still think they could do anything?

 

[marie1203]

That is really creepy! I would contact the police. This happen to me when I was 14 they will call me house number over and over again if anyone else picked up they would hang up. We had to record all our phone conversations to take to the police. All the calls were made from pay phones. At then end we never found out who it was because we end up moving out of the state for my dad job. It drove my poor mom crazy since I was under age. I hope you find out who is calling you.

 

[disneygirl 17]

I would also call the police. The fact that this strange knows your name is what is creepy. A typical prank call they don't really know your name.

 

[horseshowmom]

OP here--Verizon was able to tell us that it was not a fellow employee at DH's company making the calls (they checked because it's a corporate phone)

They did tell DH that the calls were coming from our local area code and that they were made by a pay-as-you-go phone (like Tracfone). They told DH that they would block any further calls to my DH from this caller. *Here is where it gets more creepy...within 30 minutes of them blocking it a call from "pay phone" shows up on DH's phone. DH answered and said NOTHING. The man then asked for me (only said my name with a questioning voice). DH says, "I'll get her for you." The man hung up. Clearly he has no interest in actually speaking with me...he is trying to upset DH.

We have had people mention contacting the police, but this person has made no threat. Do you still think they could do anything?

Yes, I do. This could very well fall under the category of stalking. I don't think it was a coincidence that the phone he was using was a pay as you go phone. I don't know anything about those, but I'm guessing you don't have to give name, address, etc. with them? If you do, the police can get that.

I would go have a calm conversation with local law enforcement and ask for their advice.

ETA: When my daughter was in college, an ex-boyfrend (from 18 months prior) sent her two unpleasant facebook private messages (she didn't respond to either of them). There wasn't excatly a threat, but they spooked her really bad. We assumed nothing could be done. The college counseling dept. suggested we talk to the campus police who suggested we talk to the town police (since the guy had withdrawn from school but was still in town). I started off by saying that I realized that nothing could probably be done but that the college suggested we talk to them (town police). The man told me that we didn't have to put up with this, called the guy, had DD tell him not to contact her again, and then got on the phone himself to explain that while there was no current problem, it he tried to contact her again, there would be. End of contacts!

 

[effervescent]

Yes, you can contact the police about it. It would be considered phone harassment. I hope the guy gives up soon, that's so unnerving.

 

[threecrazykids]

OP here--Verizon was able to tell us that it was not a fellow employee at DH's company making the calls (they checked because it's a corporate phone)

They did tell DH that the calls were coming from our local area code and that they were made by a pay-as-you-go phone (like Tracfone). They told DH that they would block any further calls to my DH from this caller. *Here is where it gets more creepy...within 30 minutes of them blocking it a call from "pay phone" shows up on DH's phone. DH answered and said NOTHING. The man then asked for me (only said my name with a questioning voice). DH says, "I'll get her for you." The man hung up. Clearly he has no interest in actually speaking with me...he is trying to upset DH.

We have had people mention contacting the police, but this person has made no threat. Do you still think they could do anything?

I'm so sorry you're going through this. It's terribly creepy. I honestly just wouldn't answer the phone unless the person's # is identified and you know FOR SURE who it is. Home or otherwise. That way hopefully he will grow bored with getting nothing from you. I'd tell you to let friends and family know you're screening your calls and will call anyone back who leaves a message to call you back, but it sounds like it might be someone who knows you.

We had a similar situation where this guy called our house at like 3 and 4 in the morning. We had no idea who it was...he actually sounded like an adult...not a typical kid prank and would start in with some stupid sales pitch acting like we were horrible for getting so upset about the time he chose to call. It was super weird. The # was tied to some lady in Ohio and the guys name and everything came up on Facebook even! He appeared to be married. It was all just super weird.

It would come from a persons # on the caller id and everything. It was more complicated though, because this guy had actually hacked into another person's phone line through VOIP to make it appear it was calling from someone else's home. We just put all the phones on mute ringer for a few nights and it stopped...once he realized we wouldn't answer he stopped calling.

 

[buzz2400]

Another suggestion, tell your husband when he answers the phone (when he thinks it is the person) to say (your town) police department. that way maybe the person will think he went to the police department and the they are involved. I hope it stops soon. In this day and age it is always creepy when something like this happens.

 

[threecrazykids]

Another suggestion, tell your husband when he answers the phone (when he thinks it is the person) to say (your town) police department. that way maybe the person will think he went to the police department and the they are involved. I hope it stops soon. In this day and age it is always creepy when something like this happens.

I was going to suggest this too. I read somewhere to answer and have a recording of multiple "beeps" to play into the phone and say "all calls to this number are being monitored for criminal activity". I wouldn't necessarily say anything about the police or phone company to avoid legal issues (God forbid) but just stating it's being monitored for criminal activity.

 

[happily single]

I love a good mystery!!! My guess would be a neighbor is calling. He would obviously be able to tell if you were home and the husband wasn't or vice versa. Maybe he's upset by something you and dh did, that you may not even be aware of or maybe he's just a whack-o.

It is scary, but at least no threats are being made. Has your husband outright demanded to know what the man wants? Keep us updated!

 

[SILLYANDI]

OP here--Verizon was able to tell us that it was not a fellow employee at DH's company making the calls (they checked because it's a corporate phone)

They did tell DH that the calls were coming from our local area code and that they were made by a pay-as-you-go phone (like Tracfone). They told DH that they would block any further calls to my DH from this caller. *Here is where it gets more creepy...within 30 minutes of them blocking it a call from "pay phone" shows up on DH's phone. DH answered and said NOTHING. The man then asked for me (only said my name with a questioning voice). DH says, "I'll get her for you." The man hung up. Clearly he has no interest in actually speaking with me...he is trying to upset DH.

We have had people mention contacting the police, but this person has made no threat. Do you still think they could do anything?

Yes, you can make an annoying phone calls report but now that verizon has told you it's pay as you go there is no police department that is going to triangulate and track down the person for annoying phone calls (it would have been different if it was a landline or contract cell Or he's making threats or other statements that lead you to believe he is stalking you or DH).
I say don't answer the phone if you don't know who it is (or think it's this guy) and stop giving him a platform. If he can't get a rise out of DH he'll stop and anyone else that wants to talk to DH will find another way to do it.

 

[brergnat]

Stop answering the phone (your DH, that is). He's egging this guy on by continuing to answer the phone. When it says "Unknown" or "private", just don't answer it! It's really quite simple.

Of course, the next step would be changing his phone number. Honestly, if it were me, I would have done that a LONG time ago. I just have no patience for any type of harassment. The inconvenience of changing the phone number is really minimal to the annoyance of repeated calls.

 

[mom2cookies]

call them back and see who answers and turn the tables on them. or take the phone to the police and have them call.. and when the same persons answers, have the cop tell them who they are, they have their number in their tracking system, if they get another report of harrassment they will press charges.

 

[dakcp2001]

call them back and see who answers and turn the tables on them. or take the phone to the police and have them call.. and when the same persons answers, have the cop tell them who they are, they have their number in their tracking system, if they get another report of harrassment they will press charges.

It is a PRIVATE caller. They cant call it back.

 

[Belle5]

Stop answering the phone (your DH, that is). He's egging this guy on by continuing to answer the phone. When it says "Unknown" or "private", just don't answer it! It's really quite simple.

Of course, the next step would be changing his phone number. Honestly, if it were me, I would have done that a LONG time ago. I just have no patience for any type of harassment. The inconvenience of changing the phone number is really minimal to the annoyance of repeated calls.

The problem with this is that it is a corporate phone and he has given customers hundreds of his business cards with that number. No further calls from this caller will be allowed through as long as it is coming up under the "Private Caller" I.D.
But, what to do if this man calls from various pay phones? I never even see pay phones around any more...

 

[SILLYANDI]

call them back and see who answers and turn the tables on them. or take the phone to the police and have them call.. and when the same persons answers, have the cop tell them who they are, they have their number in their tracking system, if they get another report of harrassment they will press charges.

I think you missed where it is a private caller and a pay as you go phone. I have worked in Law Enforcement for 19 years in a large metropolitan area. We do not have the ability to trace phone calls to located phone #'s in this case. We CAN trangulate using cell tower pings but that is really only done when we are looking for a serious felon or missing person where we have ID'd the person and secured a warrant (not to mention it is tedious and costs an incredible amount of man power and money).

 

[brergnat]

The problem with this is that it is a corporate phone and he has given customers hundreds of his business cards with that number. No further calls from this caller will be allowed through as long as it is coming up under the "Private Caller" I.D.
But, what to do if this man calls from various pay phones? I never even see pay phones around any more...

Oh, that stinks.

Plan B: Have your husband respond: No, she's at the Motel 6 with her new boyfriend. Can I take a message?