“No caller ID” vs. “unknown caller”: All you need to know

“Unknown caller” may appear on your phone screen when you receive a call, it means that network issues have been preventing caller ID information from reaching your device. This might happen even if the unknown caller is in your contact list — the phone service provider simply cannot identify who is trying to contact you.

“Unknown caller” may also appear on your phone during an incoming call if someone is trying to reach you from abroad. Your phone service provider may not recognize a foreign caller ID due to differences in telecommunication systems.

If you’re not expecting a call from an unknown number, it’s best not to answer. Someone who needs to contact you will send a message. Just ensure you have enough space in your voicemail box for it.

If you see “no caller ID” when receiving a call, it means that the caller has hidden their phone number for personal reasons or the nature of their work. Individuals and organizations sometimes hide their IDs to remain anonymous and control how others use their contact information. For example, fundraisers or telemarketers hide their phone numbers to prevent return calls.

While “no caller ID” may come from legitimate callers, scammers or stalkers use this function to conceal their identity when carrying out malicious deeds. It allows them to target large numbers of phone numbers without being detected and facing legal consequences. A hidden number can also provoke unsuspecting people to answer out of curiosity, which aids deceptive scammers’ practices.

Now that you’re aware of what “unknown caller” and “no caller ID” mean, let’s look at the differences between the two:

Unless you’re waiting for an unknown call, don’t answer those showing as “unknown caller” or “no caller ID.” While some of these calls may come from legitimate callers, others may come from scammers. Follow the tips below to manage anonymous calls:

• Ask your phone service provider to block calls from telemarketers. Some phone service providers have “Do not call” lists and allow their customers to block unwanted calls from telemarketers. However, this will not protect you from scam calls.
• Report and block spam calls. Reporting spam calls will block the scammer’s number on your phone and prevent them from reaching others with the same malicious strategy.
• Avoid sharing your number. Your phone number is personal and meant for trusted contacts only. Never display it publicly.
• Don’t trust “calls from the government.” Sometimes, scammers pretend to be government officers, asking you to pay false fines or disclose personal information. Never reveal any of your personal information via phone call.

You can also silence these calls on your phone so they don’t disturb you. However, this trick doesn’t block unknown callers.

Unfortunately, the “Silence unknown callers” feature is only available on iPhones:

1. Open “Settings.”
2. Tap “Phone.”
3. Tap “Silence unknown callers.”
4. Switch the toggle button.

While the iPhone allows you to silence unknown callers, Android users can block them. Set your Android phone to reject anonymous calls:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Tap on the three dots in the top-right corner.
3. Tap “Block numbers.”
4. Toggle on the switch next to “Block unknown/private numbers.”

FAQ

How to find out a phone number listed as “no caller ID” or “unknown caller”

If you want to find out who’s behind the “no caller ID” or “unknown caller” tag, try these methods:

1. Dial *69 and press the call button. This usually free service will reveal the previous caller’s number, even though they may have intentionally hidden it.

2. Contact your phone service provider and request call tracing services if *69 doesn’t work. It will hold call detail records (CDRs) capturing details created by a telephone exchange. However, call tracing is usually not free, so familiarize yourself with the related fees before you proceed.

3. Use third-party apps that provide reverse phone lookups. These tools scan databases, social media, and other sources to identify an anonymous caller.

4. If you received a scam call, turn to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) (for US citizens). It will investigate and identify the caller even if they masked their ID.

Why do I keep getting “no caller ID” calls?

If you keep getting “no caller ID” phone calls, someone who has intentionally hidden their phone number is trying to reach you. It may be a person or organization that wants to stay anonymous or a telemarketer or scammer.

How do I hide my caller ID on Android?

Hide your caller ID on an Android phone:

1. Tap on the phone icon.

2. Tap on the three dots to open the menu.

3. Select “Settings.”

4. Tap “Supplementary services.”

5. Tap “Show caller ID.”

From the pop-up menu, select “Network default,” “Never,” or “Always.”

Can I hide my caller ID on an iPhone?

Hide your caller ID on an iPhone:

1. Open “Settings.”

2. Tap “Phone.”

3. Tap “Show my caller ID.”

4. Toggle off the switch next to “Show my caller ID.”

What happens if you accidentally call a scammer?

Answering or calling back a high-cost international phone line may result in excessive phone bills.