How to Access Unpublished Phone Numbers

Many people don't realize an unlisted number is not the same as an unpublished number. Unlisted numbers are not private, but they are not publicly listed in a directory. Unpublished telephone numbers are not listed in the directory and are not available via a 411 inquiry. An unpublished number also means your phone company cannot share or sell it to other companies, whereas the opposite is true for an unlisted number. Today, the Internet contains a wealth of information about people and makes it possible to easily find unpublished numbers.

• 1

  Use Whitepages.com to begin your search. Input the person's name and address to access the last public information available, including the telephone number. Many times, people will keep the same number, but request it be unpublished after the number was listed. Unpublished phone numbers that were once listed will be found in this directory.

• 2

  Use the Google Phone Book search query to find the owner of a telephone number. In the Google search bar, type rphonebook: and the name of the person whose number you want to search. If the number was ever published, it will be listed here.

• 3

  Search social networking sites. Many people will disclose their unpublished numbers in their member profiles on these sites so friends and family can contact them.

• 4

  Hire a private investigator or pay for a professional search online. Some of the pay sites for finding unpublished telephone numbers include U.S.A. People Search, Acxiom, Intelius, Ameridex, People Data, People Finders, SwitchBoard, U.S. Search and PrivateEye.