If you are getting phone calls from numbers that you don’t recognize then you may want to do a reverse phone lookup.  If you are concerned about picking up calls from unknown numbers because they may be pranksters or marketers or someone else you don’t want to talk then you may want to do a reverse phone lookup.

Now there’s a way for you to get a caller’s name, address and other information before you answer the phone.  Based on a phone number, you can find critical data about a caller that will help you decide to answer a call.

Using a phone number to search for caller information is called a “Reverse Phone Lookup.”  Instead of using a name or address to look up a phone number in the white pages of a phone directory, you are doing the reverse by using a phone number to look up a name and address.

Below are step-by-step instructions for using a phone number to search PhoneDetective for caller information.  Data is available for landline numbers, cell phone numbers and unlisted numbers.

1. First, you must remember or find the calling phone number.  This can be as simple as checking caller id on a landline phone, looking at your cell phone at the time of a call or viewing your call log after a call has come in.  If you do not have caller id on your landline, you can get enter an access code to get the last number that called. This code is different by phone provider.

2. Start your web browser and enter www.PhoneNumberSearcher.com/go2.

3. Type the calling phone number into the phone number field or click the numeric keypad with your mouse to enter numbers.  Enter the Area Code, the prefix and the last four digits of the number.  As you enter numbers, the formatting will be added automatically.  The number should look like this: (555)555-5555.

4. Press the Search Now! button.  You will see a “Searching…” message until the “To View These Results…” popup is displayed.

5. Click the “View Results” button.  This displays the Full Phone Report options.

6. Select the Report option that you want.  The first option is Premium Membership which provides unlimited people searches and reverse phone lookups for a year (currently $29.95).  The second option is a Full Phone Report for $9.95.

7. If you want to remove your personal information from public data sources, check the box that says “Yes, I want to make my data private.”  There is a one-time charge of $4.95 for this service.

8. Click the Checkout button.  This displays the “Secure Payment Form.”

9. The “Secure Payment Form” is part of “Clickbank Marketplace.”  Clickbank is a large, reputable company that handles the payment for PhoneDetective and guarantees PhoneDetective products.  If you are not happy with PhoneDetective, you can get your money back within 60 days of purchase.

10.  Review the PAYMENT amount and enter “Your Payment” information.  This includes your country, postal code and credit card information.

11.  Press the “Pay Now” button.  This displays the “THANK YOU!” order confirmation page.

12.  Review the information.  Press “Print Copy” if you want a paper copy of your order.  When you are satisfied with your order information, press the “Complete Your Order” button. This displays the “Final Step – Create Your Account” page.

13.  Enter a password and reminder phrase. You must also re-enter the phone number that you want to search.

14.  Press the Continue button.  This displays a “Please Wait…” message and then a “Congratulations” page.

15.  To see the phone report, click the “View Report” button.  This displays the “Tracer Report.” This report lists the owner’s name and address, the phone type (Mobile or Landline), and the Phone Issuing Location (where the number was issued).

The “Tracer Report” also lists “People Search Results” for the owner of the phone number.  This list has the name, street address, other phone numbers and household members.

At the bottom of the page is a list of “Complaints About This Phone Number.”  This includes numbers of complaints and searches within the last 7 days, the last 30 days and for all time.  It also includes the number of complaints to the FTC.

16.  Once you’ve reviewed the contents of the “Tracer Report”, you can get more information about the caller by clicking on several links on the report.  There is an extra charge for using these services but they may provide valuable information about the caller.  Using links on the “Tracer Report”, you can get details about complaints logged against the phone number, run a background search for the caller and run a search using the caller’s email address.

As you can see, it is very quick and easy to get information about a caller before you pick up a call.  It’s worth the extra couple minutes to verify a caller before answering the phone.