| If you are being called from a landline number, there | | | | process, the trap won’t work. |
| are several ways you can determine where it | | | | You can also use Call Trace, which is a service |
| originated. This can be particularly helpful if you are | | | | through your phone company. Basically, when you |
| being harassed by a caller. Unfortunately, the free | | | | receive a call you need to trace, you hang up then |
| reverse lookup services available on the Internet are | | | | immediately dial *57. This signal causes the last call to |
| only beneficial if you have the number. Without that, | | | | be traced automatically. But there are drawbacks to |
| how to trace a landline number can be a bit more | | | | this service despite its convenience: the service does |
| challenging. | | | | not work outside of your local calling area. That may |
| When this happens, you need to contact the phone | | | | also mean calls coming from cell phones might not be |
| company. One option they may suggest is called a | | | | traceable in such a fashion either. |
| Trap. Basically, this is placed on your phone line to | | | | For some people, even knowing how to trace a |
| allow the phone company to see all of the numbers | | | | landline number does not provide the information |
| placing calls to you. But you have to keep a log of | | | | they need to make the calls stop. Getting a new |
| the prank or threatening calls so the appropriate | | | | number is sometimes the only way to stop truly |
| numbers can be identified. Without both parts of the | | | | disturbing and harassing calls. |