Making an anonymous call lets you keep your personal info and phone number hidden from the person you’re calling.
It’s handy for playful surprises or more serious situations where you want to protect your privacy or anonymity, like reaching out to a politician or organization with a complaint.
There are various ways to make these calls while keeping your identity under wraps.
What is an Anonymous Call?
An anonymous phone call hides your phone number when you make a call, so the person you’re calling won’t see your number on their phone.
Instead, they might see “private number” or “unknown caller.” This keeps your number private and stops them from calling you back unless you share your number.
It’s handy for keeping your privacy intact, especially when your phone number is tied to your online profiles.
Whether you’re using an iPhone, Android, Samsung, or a regular landline, anonymous calls work the same way, letting you communicate without revealing your identity, even across different countries or area codes.
Reasons to Call Someone Anonymously
There are several scenarios where people might want to make anonymous calls.
- Avoiding promotional calls and protecting privacy from telemarketers, spam, and robocalls.
- Contacting government offices anonymously to voice complaints or concerns without fear of repercussions.
- Verifying someone’s identity while keeping your own confidentiality.
- Reaching out to blocked or barred numbers without disclosing your identity.
- Providing valuable information to authorities while remaining anonymous.
- Recording calls for benign purposes such as documentation or personal security.
- Enhancing communication privacy and security in various scenarios.
How to Call Someone Anonymously?
We’ve gathered various methods for making anonymous calls into one convenient list to help our readers.
Let’s dive right in and explore these methods without any delay.
Here’s how you can make anonymous calls:
Use a Payphone
Using a payphone to call someone anonymously is a simple and effective way to conceal your identity. Despite their rarity nowadays, payphones still offer anonymity, with the recipient only seeing the payphone number.
While finding a payphone can be a challenge due to their decreasing availability, if you locate one, it’s a viable option for anonymous calling.
Recipients can call back the payphone number without revealing your identity, making it a useful alternative when other methods don’t meet your needs.
Use a Burner Phone
Using a burner phone, a low-cost, prepaid device, for anonymous calls offers a simple way to protect your identity without being tied to a contract.
However, consistently dialing *67 or changing settings can be inconvenient.
Burner phones, separate from your primary device, provide unique numbers for each, allowing you to manage contacts based on desired access to your real number.
This ensures that recipients see a valid number, maintaining anonymity without appearing as “unknown,” which increases the likelihood of call response.
Burner phones or the Burner app, which creates a secondary number linked to your primary device, offer convenient options for maintaining privacy and separation without compromising personal information.
Hide your Caller ID
If you’re thinking about making anonymous calls, here’s what you can do: Whether you’re using a landline, Android, or iPhone, hiding your caller ID is possible.
It’s a handy option if you prefer not to share your phone number with everyone you call. You can easily block your number from showing up on the recipient’s end.
- How to Call Anonymously on Android: To hide your caller ID on your Android device, open the Phone app and tap the three dots in the upper right corner. Then, select Settings followed by More Settings, and choose Show My Caller ID. Opting for a Hide Number prevents others from seeing your identity when you call them. Keep in mind that the effectiveness of caller ID blocking depends on your country’s regulations.
- How to Call Anonymously on a Landline: You can maintain anonymity while calling from a landline by using the *67 code, which blocks caller identification, displaying your number as “unknown” or “private” to the recipient. Simply dial *67 followed by the 10-digit number, then hang up after the call. This method works for both smartphones and landlines, and you’ll need to dial *67 each time you want your number blocked. This feature is widely supported across carriers in the United States, including major ones like AT&T and Verizon. It’s a simple and effective way to maintain privacy during calls.
- How to Call Anonymously on iPhone: To hide your caller ID on your iPhone, first, open the Settings app by tapping on the gray box with gears usually found on the home screen. Scroll down and tap on “Phone,” then select “Show My Caller ID.” Toggle the switch to turn off caller ID display, which will make outgoing calls from your iPhone hide your number from the recipient’s screen. If you can’t find the option, contact your carrier to check if call masking is a paid feature. Keep in mind that even with caller ID hidden, recipients using call-unmasking apps can still see your number. Take your time if you don’t find it immediately, as steps may differ slightly between versions.
Use Apps or Website That Allows Calling Anonymously
Various apps like Burner, Hushed, and Skype offer ways to make anonymous calls.
Burner App provides untraceable virtual numbers for anonymous calling on both Android and iOS.
Hushed offers disposable numbers for mobile calls without revealing your real number, while Skype allows anonymous calls from computers with a new account and credit.
Additionally, third-party apps like Anonym Call, as well as websites like Globfone and Ghostcall, offer similar services. These apps and websites provide options for generating new, untraceable numbers, some even offering features like voice modulation.
While some services are free with limitations on time, others offer premium plans for unlimited calls with various area codes.
However, users should exercise caution and ensure trustworthiness before granting permissions to these apps, as they require access to the device’s system.
Use VoIP Services With Anonymous Call features
You can make anonymous calls using VoIP services like Google Voice, which provide a free phone number and allow you to forward calls to your actual number, maintaining your privacy.
Simply download the Google Voice app, sign up for an account, and choose a phone number. Then, use the app to make calls, and the recipient will only see your Google Voice number.
However, remember that Google logs your calls, so use the service responsible for legitimate purposes.
Legal Considerations
The legality of making anonymous phone calls varies across countries and even within regions of a country, so it’s crucial to understand the laws before attempting one.
While many countries permit anonymous calls, there may be restrictions, such as prohibiting disposable phone numbers or requiring caller information disclosure.
Seeking advice from a knowledgeable lawyer or conducting thorough online research can provide guidance.
It’s essential to respect local laws and regulations, as anonymous call techniques might be restricted or prohibited, particularly for illicit purposes.
How To Handle Incoming Anonymous Calls?
It’s essential to know how to handle incoming calls from anonymous sources to avoid unwanted or prank calls. If you receive a call from an unknown number or blocked caller ID, there are steps you can take.
For instance, you can set your phone to silence unknown calls by accessing settings on your iPhone or Android device.
Additionally, if you’re consistently receiving spam calls from unknown numbers, you can report the incident using built-in features on both iPhone and Android devices.
Furthermore, if you suspect illegal activity or spoofing scams, you can file a complaint with the FCC for further investigation and assistance.
FAQ’s:
Can an anonymous number be traced?
Tracking anonymous numbers isn’t possible, but private, blocked, and restricted numbers are usually traceable. Anonymous, unavailable, or out-of-area calls cannot be traced due to insufficient data.
What’s the difference between an anonymous and a no-caller ID?
Receiving a call with a no-caller ID means the caller is hiding their phone number, while an anonymous call suggests your mobile provider hasn’t identified the number.
Are there any risks or consequences of making anonymous calls?
Anonymous calls offer a layer of privacy protection, yet their usage can come with potential risks. While they can shield your identity, misusing them for harassment, threats, or fraud can lead to legal repercussions.
How do I stop anonymous phone calls?
To prevent anonymous phone calls, start by blocking the number directly on your phone.
If blocking isn’t an option, consider using paid blocking apps available for download.
These apps offer additional features to effectively manage unwanted calls and safeguard your privacy.
Conclusion
In conclusion, mastering the art of making anonymous calls can be a valuable skill for various situations, whether you’re safeguarding your privacy from telemarketers, expressing concerns to government offices, or simply wanting to maintain confidentiality.
With diverse methods ranging from using payphones and burner phones to hiding caller IDs and utilizing apps or VoIP services, there’s an option for everyone.
However, it’s crucial to stay informed about the legal considerations and handle incoming anonymous calls responsibly to avoid unwanted repercussions.
By following these guidelines, you can navigate anonymous calling confidently while protecting your privacy effectively.