How to Trace a Phone Call

How to Use *57 to Trace a Phone Call

By Ashley Leonard, eHow Contributor 

There may be times when you get a distressing call or someone begins to harass you, and you need to trace the phone number. By pressing a series of buttons on your phone you can trace the phone number and find the person who has been calling you.

How to Use *57 to Trace a Phone Call

Instructions

1. Tracing a Phone Call Using *57

   • 1
     Hang up your phone then lift the receiver again. Make sure there is a dial tone. There is a fee for this service and you will either be charged every time you trace a call or you will select and pay for this service upfront. To pay for this service upfront, contact your phone company and inquire about your options.
   • 2
     Press *57 on your phone. According to harwichpolice.com, if you have a rotary dial phone, you can dial 1157.
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   • 3
     Listen to the announcement that verifies that the call has been traced. You will not get the actual number. The phone company records the traced phone number.
   • 4
     Contact the phone company to request an authorization form be sent to you to sign. For example, pioneer.net states that after you dial *57, immediately call the phone company (to verify that you initiated call trace) and it will send you the authorization form to sign. According to privacyrights.org, you will have to sign the authorization form before the phone number is turned over tolaw enforcement officials. You can authorize law enforcement officials to further investigate the matter.
   • 5
     Call your local police department and file a report. According to pioneer.net, the police will contact the phone company directly and work with them to begin an investigation. The police department will request the date and time of the calls as well as the traced phone call from the phone company.