Are Reverse Telephone Directories Legal?
You might have heard about online reverse telephone directories and are probably wondering whether all that gloss is real or just another internet rip-off.
Reverse telephone directories have been around for a long time.
Since telephone numbers are public information, searching in reverse is completely legal.
It's a different story for cell phone and unlisted numbers, though.
For reasons of privacy, cell phone and private numbers can't be listed in public directories.
However, some companies were able to obtain information through utility resources and other electronic databases available online.
As of late, reverse telephone directories are becoming acceptable and very popular.
For one, there are countless reasons why people would want to know the particulars of a phone number.
It could include tracking down friends or relatives, catching a prank caller, or basically just wanting to know whether a missed call was important or not, and many others.
Second, online reverse phone directories are more convenient to use than manually thumbing through the thick phone books.
With the technology of the Internet, information can be obtained with just a click of a button.
Also, online reverse telephone directories are easier to use when doing background checks or investigations than say, Internet search engines like Google or Yahoo, social networking sites, and etc.
Lastly, reverse telephone directories are definitely cheaper than hiring a private investigator.
However, they do charge a small fee through credit card.
Yes, legitimate sites charge a one-time subscription fee that is valid for a year or for life.
So, do not believe all the hype about reverse phone directories that claim to be free.
There is no such thing.
Most likely, these are scams giving you useless or inaccurate information that will prompt you to pay a high price for what you really want to know.
Reverse phone services are bound by contract with phone companies to ensure that the information they provide will not be used for illegal purposes.
For this reason, reverse phone searches require customers to register before using their services.
There are many reverse phone services online and the information they offer may vary.
But nearly all of them provide basic data such as full names, current addresses, and service status.
Other sites claim to be able to provide family members' data, criminal records, and other personal information.
It's okay to be skeptical.
In fact, one needs to be when protecting your best interest.
To find the best reverse telephone directory, research reviews, and compare features.
Reverse telephone directories have been around for a long time.
Since telephone numbers are public information, searching in reverse is completely legal.
It's a different story for cell phone and unlisted numbers, though.
For reasons of privacy, cell phone and private numbers can't be listed in public directories.
However, some companies were able to obtain information through utility resources and other electronic databases available online.
As of late, reverse telephone directories are becoming acceptable and very popular.
For one, there are countless reasons why people would want to know the particulars of a phone number.
It could include tracking down friends or relatives, catching a prank caller, or basically just wanting to know whether a missed call was important or not, and many others.
Second, online reverse phone directories are more convenient to use than manually thumbing through the thick phone books.
With the technology of the Internet, information can be obtained with just a click of a button.
Also, online reverse telephone directories are easier to use when doing background checks or investigations than say, Internet search engines like Google or Yahoo, social networking sites, and etc.
Lastly, reverse telephone directories are definitely cheaper than hiring a private investigator.
However, they do charge a small fee through credit card.
Yes, legitimate sites charge a one-time subscription fee that is valid for a year or for life.
So, do not believe all the hype about reverse phone directories that claim to be free.
There is no such thing.
Most likely, these are scams giving you useless or inaccurate information that will prompt you to pay a high price for what you really want to know.
Reverse phone services are bound by contract with phone companies to ensure that the information they provide will not be used for illegal purposes.
For this reason, reverse phone searches require customers to register before using their services.
There are many reverse phone services online and the information they offer may vary.
But nearly all of them provide basic data such as full names, current addresses, and service status.
Other sites claim to be able to provide family members' data, criminal records, and other personal information.
It's okay to be skeptical.
In fact, one needs to be when protecting your best interest.
To find the best reverse telephone directory, research reviews, and compare features.
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