Reverse phone lookup, or reverse phone search, is used to uncover information that can identify an unknown caller. Reverse phone search tools search a variety of public records and phone number registration databases to ascertain subscribers’ assigned numbers submitted for search. It is useful for answering the question: “who called me?”
What are Montana Phone Numbers
Montana phone numbers are sequences of 10-digit numbers assigned to phone subscribers signing up for telephone services in the state. Statistics provided by the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) showed that households that only had wireless phones grew marginally from roughly 51% to 52% between 2017 and 2018, respectively. The percentage of landline-only homes, on the other hand, declined from approximately 8% to about 6% in the same period. These figures show a clear shift away from landline phone usage to mobile phones.
The State of Montana has three major carriers. Out of these, AT&T has the widest network coverage. The other two phone carriers are Verizon and T-Mobile. The table below summarizes the network coverage of all three carriers in the state:
| Network | Zip Codes Covered | Area Covered m2 |
|---|---|---|
| AT&T | 346 | 100,809 |
| Verizon | 371 | 83,493 |
| T-Mobile | 374 | 84,830 |
Because developments in wireless services have been directly linked to growth in broadband internet, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services, by extension, have continued to record a corresponding increase in user subscriptions. As more people choose or need to work from home, VoIP voice and video calls have become even more important for hosting remote meetings with co-workers.
Can I Search a Number and Find Out Who It Is?
Yes. Using reverse phone lookup services, it is possible to identify the person behind an unknown number. Reverse phone lookup services can retrieve a caller’s personal details because phone users submit personal information such as name, gender, and address when registering for new numbers. Carriers maintain these databases, which lookup services search to help called parties answer the question: “who is this number registered to?”
Searching out an unknown caller’s identity by phone number is not the only way to do a lookup. It is also possible to do a reverse phone lookup by name or address. However, uncovering the identity of an unknown caller using their number is not always possible because scammers usually conceal their identities by spoofing their numbers.
What are Phone Lookup Services?
Phone lookup services are online tools for identifying and finding phone users by their numbers. Recent developments in mobile phone technology have led to a remarkable increase in phone number subscriptions. There has, however, also been a matching increase in fraudulent activities by phone scammers, as well as a greater demand for phone security. Numerous phone lookup services have not only sprung up to meet this need but have also become the norm.
Most phone users rely on their devices’ Caller ID feature to identify callers before deciding whether or not to pick up the calls. However, Caller ID is easily fooled to miss spam and scam calls. As phone scams and robocalls continue to take ingenious forms, using phone lookup services has become important to find scammers hiding their identities with new tricks.
What Information Can You Get from a Montana Phone Number Lookup Search?
A quick Montana reverse phone lookup search will return the name of the phone subscribed linked to the submitted phone number. Other details you can get from this search include:
- Address
- Age
- Gender
A typical phone number lookup free search will return these pieces of information about an unknown caller. Most companies providing such searches also offer paid reverse phone lookup services. These can find phone user details from a lot more sources. For example, a paid phone lookup search can check public posts online and other public informational listings to find the subject’s new address and name.
Paid reverse phone number searches can also dig up photos and recent activities on social media. Some can check public records of Montana courts, governments, and law enforcement agencies to reveal everything from criminal and arrest records to parking tickets of the individuals searched.
Besides individuals, paid lookup searches are also useful for investigating groups and organizations trying to contact you. Cold callers claiming to represent charities, government agencies, and reputable companies can be investigated with paid phone lookup searches. These searches can find scam-related reports from the past about such entities.
What Is a VoIP Number?
Unlike fixed-line and wireless telephone systems, Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) uses the internet for voice and video calls. Also known as internet telephony or broadband telephony, VoIP services allow text messaging, fax, call conferencing, and call forwarding functions. Besides calls between two VoIP numbers, it is also possible to make VoIP calls to landline and mobile phone numbers. VoIP services are more flexible and cost less than traditional telephone services.
As the number of VoIP subscribers increases nationwide, so has the number of VoIP scam reports. Scammers take advantage of certain features of VoIP services. Convenience features like not linking a VoIP number to a phone and not limiting VoIP calls by distance have made it easier for fraudsters to launch phone scams from anywhere and evade detection. A scammer, for example, does not need to reside in Montana to use the state’s area code. After obtaining a VoIP number with the Montana area code, the scammer can call residents of the state and claim to be local in order to gain their trust.
Furthermore, VoIP allows scammers to use a single number on different devices at the same time. This makes it difficult to trace VoIP scam calls to single locations, devices, or subscribers. Therefore, it is important to be vigilant when receiving calls from strange callers, even if their numbers are familiar.
What is a Montana Phone Number Area Code?
Assigned to distinct geographic areas (or Numbering Plan Areas) within states, area codes are the first three digits that precede the prefix codes or exchange codes in telephone numbers. Created by AT&T and the Bell Telephone Company and introduced under the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) in the 1940s, they unified a variety of archaic local phone numbering systems. This resulted in the easing of calls between separate geographic areas and ensured zero interruption in phone number supply.
The North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA) administers the North American Numbering Plan, while the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulates area codes. The FCC, however, authorizes specific state agencies to oversee the introduction and management of area codes within their borders.
What is a Montana Phone Number Prefix Code?
A prefix code, also known as the central office code or exchange code, can be identified as the first three digits that succeed the area code in a telephone number. Considering phone number (352) 231-3782, for example:
- 352 is the area code
- 231 is the prefix code
However, for a telephone number that includes a country code, the prefix code shows up after the country code and area code. A typical example can be seen with +1 (352) 231-3782:
- +1 is the country code for the United States
- 352 is the area code
- 231 is the prefix code
Is There a Way to Lookup a Phone Number for Free in Montana?
Yes, interested members of the public may look up a phone number for free in Montana using free reverse phone lookup services available online. The information available will vary depending on the service used and its database size but typically includes the name of the owner, address location, and other associated phone numbers.
Most free reverse-phone lookup services use public records databases from government agencies such as state departments of motor vehicles or voter registration offices. This means that all of the data used by these services is already public knowledge, thus eliminating any privacy concerns.
To use a reverse phone lookup service in Montana, you will need the full 10-digit phone number of the individual you are attempting to locate.
Alternative to free reverse phone lookup services, interested members of the public may search through online databases of phone directories. While most online phone directories are not comprehensive, they can often provide enough information to verify whether or not an individual has a telephone number in Montana.
Is Reverse Phone Lookup Legal in Montana?
Yes. It is legal to use and provide reverse phone lookup services in Montana. The state regards phone lookup tools as legal as long as they are used for the intended purposes. These include identifying unknown callers and investigating phone scams. There are no Montana laws discussing the legality of phone number lookup searches.
Similarly, no state agency provides oversight for companies providing these services in Montana. However, residents and law enforcement agencies can use reverse phone lookups as long as they do not go against the state’s civil and criminal laws while doing so. This means that Montana will prosecute anyone who uses this tool with the intention to stalk, harass, or harm others. Similarly, lookup services should be used to find targets to defraud.
Both users and providers of phone number lookup searches must also respect Montana’s privacy laws. They cannot obtain confidential information about the subjects of their searches. All search results must come from information available in the public domain. These can be user-generated or records made public by Montana’s justice system.
