phonescoop.com
finding a carrier for a cell phone number
I was referred to this site by verizon wireless, and they said I could put a cell phone number in, and the site would tell me who the carrier is. is this true??? I haven't figured it out yet. 🤠help.
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This site certainly can't do that. They really told you that? 😕
Such info is available, and I'm sure there are sites that can do that.
However, in these days of number portability, it may not be accurate. The most basic source for that info (the NANPA database) doesn't include porting info.
That means if the number has been moved from one company to another, it will probably tell you the old company, not the new one.
For example, my first cell phone was from Sprint. I'm no longer with Sprint; I've since ported that number to a different carrier. If you looked up my number on such a site it would probably still say Sprint, though, since they own that exchange.
Such info is available, and I'm sure there are sites that can do that.
However, in these days of number portability, it may not be accurate. The most basic source for that info (the NANPA database) doesn't include porting info.
That means if the number has been moved from one company to another, it will probably tell you the old company, not the new one.
For example, my first cell phone was from Sprint. I'm no longer with Sprint; I've since ported that number to a different carrier. If you looked up my number on such a site it would probably still say Sprint, though, since they own that exchange.
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They really told you that? 😕
🤣 Yeah - they sure can/do tell some whoppers.
After that article with Gen. Clark's phone records being bought kinda made me wonder - have you or Eric considered doing some investigating into whether or not your own phone records are available?
I want to check to see if mine are, but am trying to refrain spending my money at such companies.
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captainplooky said:
...After that article with Gen. Clark's phone records being bought kinda made me wonder - have you or Eric considered doing some investigating into whether or not your own phone records are available?....
What's become clear in recent days is that these companies are simply using social engineering to obtain the records. They're calling up the carriers and simply tricking the call center reps into handing over the records. They pretend to be from another department and give a sob story about it being for a blind or deaf person, etc.
So could someone do that for my records ...or yours? Sure. It's not an issue of them being in some database or not. Everyone's records are "available".
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(continues)
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Actually, it seems some of the proposed legislation does "punish" carrier employees who give away info, but really I think it's the carriers that should be punished if it is found their procedures are lacking. Perhaps the FCC can come up with fines for that, although an actual law would carry more weight than an FCC regulation...
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I see. I was unclear on the methodlogies in obtaining the information. I had skimmed the article concerning Senators introducing the bill - I see now that I should have read more thoroughly.
I agree a law would carry more weight. I often times find representatives answering a multitude of questions differently and worry about whether or not it is the policy or the training. With there being possible severe repercussions this might make the representative pay better attention to both.
The situation still makes me wonder how the carrier representative is actually fooled in the process in the first place. I'm sure it happens, just not sure how.
Thanks for your perspective.
I agree a law would carry more weight. I often times find representatives answering a multitude of questions differently and worry about whether or not it is the policy or the training. With there being possible severe repercussions this might make the representative pay better attention to both.
The situation still makes me wonder how the carrier representative is actually fooled in the process in the first place. I'm sure it happens, just not sure how.
Thanks for your perspective.
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You might be interested to know that because of all the press, Cingular has modified their policies. No call detail information can be provided to a customer, employee, or agent/dealer via phone, fax, or email. They can only get that information by having a bill reprint mailed to them, by coming into a store with a photo ID (if you're the account holder), or by the online account management tool.
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That's good to know! Thanks.
Just out of curiosity, what was the policy before this if you happen to know?
Just out of curiosity, what was the policy before this if you happen to know?
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They would verify the customer and read off the calls I believe. Obviously there are too many loopholes to exploit over the phone, so that's just been cut off. As far as I know, this only relates to call history.
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