What You Need to Know about Caller ID

     Caller ID allows you to see who is calling before you answer the phone. It allows you to see the number of missed calls, as well as a log of calls you have received and made. It also displays your number on the phone display of the person that you are talking to whether you called them or they called you. All cell phones have this feature.

      Caller ID raises privacy issues for both the caller and the person being called. For better or worse, not everything is as it appears to be. You probably notice that some calls say "private" or "restricted" or "unknown." You are probably familiar with caller ID blocking, but are you aware of caller ID "spoofing?"

      "Spoofing" is the sending of a false number to appear in the caller ID display. I ran an internet search and found several companies that would provide this service for a small fee. Private investigators, bail bondsmen, and law enforcement personnel frequently use this tactic to conceal their identity when making calls to suspects, informants, or "persons of interest." If you are being stalked, spied upon, or harassed, the number showing on your caller ID display may not be real.

      Furthermore, you may not want your phone number being captured by the place that you are calling. If you have gone to the effort to have an unpublished number, why broadcast it to everyone you call?

      How can you protect yourself? Some carriers will block your caller ID if you ask them to. This will prevent your number from displaying in the caller ID display of the phone of the people that you call.

      Blocking your caller ID will not prevent the phone company from having a record of your calls. Caller ID blocking will not prevent the police or other emergency services from displaying your number and location on their caller ID displays. In addition, toll free numbers and toll calls (800 and 900 numbers) may display your number even if it is blocked.

      Businesses who can afford more sophisticated phone systems can defeat your caller ID block. Furthermore, VOIP (voice over IP) phones may have the ability to both spoof their number and defeat your caller ID block.

      You can block your caller ID on a per call basis by dialing *67 before you dial the number that you are calling. If your phone has caller ID blocking enabled, you can disable it and send your number with your call on a per call basis by dialing *82 before you dial the number you are calling.

      So, the bottom line is that your caller ID blocking and use of *67 only works for common citizens talking to each other, not for big businesses, governments, spies, hackers, and law enforcement. (83)(84)(85)