Cell Phone Number Lookup

Before we cover some of the various options for looking up cell phone numbers, it is important to understand that there are two different types of cell phone lookups that one can perform.  The first is a reverse lookup.  This is where a searcher uses the actual cell phone number to obtain information about the owner (more here).  The second is a forward lookup. This is where someone is looking for someone’s cell phone number and to obtain this a search is performed using the owner’s name.

As odd as it may sound, it is much more difficult to find services providing forward search information than reverse.  This is not because the data is not available, rather it is the privacy concerns over making this information available to the public (see why there is no public directory for more on this). This has caused many telephone directories and phone lookup sites to put precautions in place that prevent cell phone information from being displayed when a name is searched.

These concerns are somewhat limited to the forward search, as the reverse search only makes information available if someone already knows the phone number. If someone is already aware of a phone number, it is perceived that some sort of contact has previously been made by the phone owner.

Now to answer how someone can lookup a cell phone number using someone’s name:

Traditionally, telephone directories have only carried residential phone numbers, but more recently some of them have begun expanding beyond residential numbers. In some cases this is without the directory even aware of the change. What I am referring to are those numbers that began life as a residential home phone number and were later ported over to a cell phone number. It is these numbers that are often the most likely to be found in a telephone directory.

The telephone directories use NPANXX data (more here) to help determine if a number is a landline or cellular.  NPANXX data can only identify the type of line which a phone number was originally issued as. When a home phone number is ported from a residential number, the data does not change. When one of these sites searches to determine if a number is a landline or cellular they will not receive accurate data if the number has been ported. So even if a restriction is in place to disallow information on the owners of cell phones, the site may not be able to determine what is or what is not a cell phone.  For more information on porting see our article on cell phone number portability.

Even though most paid internet detective /public record sites also cross reference NPANXX data to their numbers, some tend to exclude cell phone information while others do not.  Perhaps this is deliberate. Perhaps they are just unaware of concerns over doing so. Regardless of the reason, using a lesser known internet detective site or public records search may be a way for you to find the cell phone number you are looking for.

Another way in which you may be able to lookup a cell phone number is by using a specific search query in the search engines. The search engines often pick up cell phone numbers when they are posted online.  Perhaps someone posted a cell phone number to a friend’s Facebook page. Maybe the friend got a new cell phone and wanted to update their phone book, soliciting phone numbers from his or her friends. Or perhaps it was published  in an employee or school directory. However, even if the cell phone number has been posted online, you still have to find it.

To help with this, try placing quotes around the persons name whose phone you are looking for.  Then add the following phrase after the name cell OR mobile OR cellular OR wireless OR phone OR number OR {insert area code} (if you know what their area code is, otherwise stop at number). Your search will then look something like this, “Jon Doe” cell OR mobile OR cellular OR wireless OR phone OR number or 555. Doing this tells the search engine that you are only looking for that specific persons name and looking for instances where either cell, mobile, cellular, wireless, phone, or the area code appears.

Visiting the search engine called Pipl.com may also be an option. This search engine specializes in finding people and their public records. This site can be a helpful resource for finding information about someone, but not all the information found in a search will be free. We don’t always like to recommend sites such as this, as often it is difficult to determine what information is free and what is a paid advertisement. We do feel that if you keep this in mind when visiting this site, it can still make a valuable resource.

Finally, some telephone directories and phone lookup sites have begun collecting opt in lists.  Therefore, if someone extends their permission to publish their cell phone information in the phone directory they can do so. We will have to see just how successful this will be, as right now few people knowingly visit those sites to opt in to have their information made available.

We hope this information helps you with your cell phone lookup. It is rather unfortunate that many phone numbers simply can’t be found by searching for a name. Since a few can, we offer these tips to help with your search.