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Can The Police Trace A Phone Number

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Who Can Request My Information

How Police Trace Cell Phone Location By Mobile Number or IMEI number

Like all telecommunications companies operating in Australia, we are required by law to assist a range of Government agencies who request customer information for purposes such as enforcing criminal law and laws imposing financial penalties, protecting public revenue and safeguarding national security.

We also provide assistance to emergency services organisations in life-threatening and time-critical situations.

Annoying Or Obscene Telephone Calls

Massachusetts General Law Ch. 269 Sec. 14a

Annoying, harassing, hang-up, or obscene telephone calls are becoming more and more commonplace today even with advanced technology in communications, such as Caller ID and dialing *69. Today, we’re able to trace a phone call back to the caller by pressing a couple of buttons on your telephone. This is an excellent tool for the homeowner and law enforcement to identify the caller.

These types of calls are evident in bad relationships, the breakup of a relationship, a disgruntled employee, unhappy customer, a neighbor and the like. The caller has a sole purpose to annoy or harass. There is a solution and these types of calls can be stopped.

In Massachusetts, MA General Law c. 269 s. 14A is the chapter and section that one can be charged with for annoying or obscene telephone calls. There are 3 elements to the law that must be met. The person repeatedly made telephone calls or caused telephone calls to be made , to the victim or the victim’s family and the person’s language was indecent or obscene, or the person’s sole purpose was to harass or molest the victim or the victim’s family. Penalty: Misdemeanor.

Some Initial Steps To Take

Some people cannot afford to change their phone number and their only action is to trace the calls.

Tracing Phone Calls

When you want to trace a phone call:

  • Hang up then lift the receiver and listen for a dial tone.
  • Press *57 or for rotary phone dial 1157.
  • How Do I Find Out Who’s Making the Phone Calls?

    How Police Track Your Phone

    Law enforcement personnel, in many cases, don’t need permission to track you. Is this a violation of your privacy? Find out.

    Wherever you roam, you don’t roam alone. Cell phones are easily and frequently tracked to perform services for their owners. But outside parties may also take an interest in where phonesor, more specifically, their ownersgo. Among them are law enforcement personnel of all levels who, in many cases, don’t need so much as the permission of a governing authority to do the tracking.

    Last week, Senator Al Franken asked Attorney General Eric Holder in an open letter to make public how frequently the Department of Justice requests the locations of individuals from wireless carriers without a warrant, how often the carriers comply, what specific information is requested, and the cost of the information.

    If that seems like intelligence that would be readily and freely accessible to Congress because of a rule of law, it’s not. And the Department of Justice isn’t alone in operating outside strictures when it comes to cell phone tracking. Even the smallest of municipalities are, by and large, fashioning their own rules in states that don’t specifically prohibit warrantless cell phone tracking.

    The problem stems from communications laws that go back to the days of the telegraph and the diversity of court rulings that result from their interpretation.

    Read Also: When Is A Police Report Available

    Smartphone Apps For Anonymous Texting

    While anonymous text messaging apps were limited a few years ago, there are now a great deal of them in both the iOS App Store and Google Play Store. Since there is such a surplus of apps, Ive shortened down the list to a handful of my favorites below.

    • Smiley Private Texting

    With all of the apps above, youll be able to send and receive text messages from a phone number given to you, sometimes local but other times not. Youll either have to sign up with an email address or username and password, but its quick and painless and will get you anonymously texting in under a minute.

    If you dont mind spending money, theres another cool app that gives you as many burner, or disposable, numbers as youd like to make phone calls and send text messages. Burner starts you off with a one-number free trial with 15 calls and 15 texts. Credits can be purchased for additional numbers.

    Note that a lot of these service do not work with short code, so if youre signing up for a new website or service, you might not receive a text.

    If there are any other apps that you use, whether on your computer or smartphone, let us know in the comment section below and well be sure to check them out! And if youre looking for more ways to stay anonymous in life? Weve got tons of helpful ideas.

    Follow Gadget Hacks over on , , and for more tips.

    How To Know If Your Phone Is Tapped

    Can we Track Mobile numbers Location ? Police Tracking ...

    Wondering: Can anyone listen to my cell phone conversations? Yes, they can! Heres what you need to look out for. Below is a list of these significant signs of someone who is trying to hack your device.

    The Difficulty of Turning Off Your Device

    If you are having special issues in turning off your mobile like it keeps freezing up or fails to shut down properly. It could be a sign that it is compromised, and there might be a spy app installed on your device.

    • The backlight remains on even after your device shuts down

    Unauthorized background programs installed on your phone are probably responsible.

    • The phone heats up more than usual.
    • Your phones battery lasts a lot less than usual.

    Observe Random Unusual Activity

    Inexplicable activities on your device may indicate that it is bugged. If there are weird or unexplainable activities that are not usually on your mobile, especially if you are not using it, it could be a sign that someone is trying to hack or target your mobile account. Some of these could include

    • You are receiving strange coded SMS texts with weird characters.
    • Strange pop-up ads from malware or spyware apps that you didnt install.
    • Screen distortions and program installations without you doing them

    Background Noise When Making a Call

    Hearing strange, suspicious noises coupled with other signs might mean your phone has been tapped.

    The Phone Starts Behaving Strangely

    Electronic Interference

    High Phone Bill

    Also Check: How Do I Get My Police Report Number

    Tracing A Threatening Or Harassing Phone Call

    A security feature has been installed on most UT phone lines that will capture Caller ID information even if a caller has blocked that information. The feature increases the security of all UT faculty, staff and dormitory residents by helping law enforcement officials locate the origin of threatening or harassing phone calls. This feature should only be used to identify a phone number if the call is threatening or harassing. Using Call Trace should be considered the same as filing a complaint with UTPD.

    What Are Your Rights

    Depending on the circumstances of your arrest and the method of seizure of your mobile device, you are subject to a certain set of rights, laws, or protections. First off, know that in the U.S., it is your right to decline the warrantless search of your mobile phone. If you are arrested or taken into police custody, you should verbally state that you do not consent to a search of your devices. A law enforcement agency is only permitted to conduct a warrantless search of your device if a compelling case for an emergency can be made.

    If you find that you are the victim of an unlawful search by police officials, you have various avenues for recourse.

    If the authorities are using evidence obtained through an unlawful search of your mobile device against you in a criminal proceeding, you can move for that data to be suppressed under the Fourth Amendment right to freedom from incidental seizures.

    If information gleaned from the warrantless and/or nonconsensual search of your mobile device is not used against you in a criminal proceeding, you have the right to sue the law enforcement agency or city for damages under Section 1983 of Title 42 of the U.S. Code.

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    Do Police Need A Warrant For Location Data

    For a typical search warrant, police need to convince a judge that they have probable cause to believe that evidence of a crime will be found in the place or item to be searched. To establish probable cause, an officer must typically submit an affidavit based on reliable sources that identify objectively suspicious activities.

    In recent investigations, however, law enforcement has relied on a few different statutory authorities that generally require a lower standard of proof than probable cause. For instance, one statute allows law enforcement to obtain a court order directing access to a company’s stored communications when the officer shows a “reasonable basis” to believe the information is “relevant and material to an ongoing criminal investigation.” .)

    Legal Ways To Track Someone By Their Phone Number

    How do the police track a mobile phone? (AKIO TV)

    Here is a truth: there are no third-party applications that will allow you to track someone by their phone number. Unless you have added them in-app and they allowed you to track them using their cell numbers, or you work for the government and obtained a valid warrant to do so.

    What do you do then? How do you track them?

    Also Check: What Kind Of Training Does A Police Officer Need

    Can You Track An Imei Number

    Step 1: Search for IMEI tracker in Google Play, find AntiTheft App & IMEI Tracker All Phone Location on your phone. Make sure your phone is running on Android 4.4 or higher. Then, start installing the app. Using the IMEI number to track the lost phone is not the only function of an IMEI tracker.

    What’s Included In A Successful Trace

    A successful trace captures the calling party’s phone number and if the phone number is serviced by CenturyLink the name and address as well. The phone number, name and address are turned over to the CenturyLink Call Identification Center.

    For legal and privacy reasons, we aren’t able to share the caller’s personal details with you. We can only release this information if we receive a subpoena, court order, or a request from a law enforcement agency.

    Note: We are not authorized to answer questions about subpoenas or provide legal advice to our customers.

    Also Check: Can You Get A Police Report

    How Long Has Law Enforcement Been Using Stingrays

    The technology is believed to have originated in the military, though its not clear when it was first used in combat zones or domestically in the U.S. The earliest public mention of a stingray-like device being used by U.S. law enforcement occurred in 1994, when the FBI used a crude, jury-rigged version of the tool to track former hacker Kevin Mitnick authorities referred to that device as a Triggerfish. In a case in Utah in 2009, an FBI agent revealed in a court document that cell-site simulators had been in use by law enforcement for more than a decade. He also said they werent just used by the FBI but also by the Marshals Service, the Secret Service, and other agencies. Recent documents obtained by the ACLU also indicate that between 2017 and 2019, the Department of Homeland Securitys Homeland Security Investigations unit has used stingrays at least 466 times in investigations. BuzzFeed News had previously obtained records showing that from 2013 to 2017, HSI had used the technology 1,885 times.

    Can Police Read Your Texts Without You Knowing

    How Police Trace Cell Phone Location By Mobile Number or ...

    Generally speaking, police cant seize any private communications without a warrant. They cant wiretap telephone conversations, read emails, or read text messages without consent of at least one of the parties of such communications. only those text messages the complainant allows the officer to read.

    Read Also: How To Know If Police Are Investigating You

    Directions For Customer Originated Trace

    • To activate the feature from most UT phones:Hang up the receiver, pick receiver back up and press *57 immediately following a threatening or harassing phone call, and before making another call.
    • To activate the feature on a multi-line phone :Hang up the receiver, pick receiver back up and press the phone number key that received the call and press *57 immediately following a threatening or harassing phone call, and before making another call.

    You will hear the message You have successfully traced your last incoming call. This automatically records the calling number in an electronic log at UTPD even if it is blocked from Caller ID. After activating Call Trace, you should then contact UTPD at 471-4441. Since this information is considered confidential, it can only be viewed by UTPD.

    Why Is It Called A Stingray

    The name stingray comes from the brand name of a specific commercial model of IMSI catcher made by the Florida-based Harris Corporation. That companys StingRay is a briefcase-sized device that can be operated from a vehicle while plugged into the cigarette lighter. Harris also makes products like the Harpoon, a signal booster that makes the StingRay more powerful, and the KingFish, a smaller hand-held device that operates like a stingray and can be used by a law enforcement agent while walking around outside a vehicle. About a dozen other companies make variants of the stingray with different capabilities. The surveillance equipment is pricey and often sold as a package. For example, in documents obtained by Motherboard in 2016, Harris offered a KingFish package that cost $157,300 and a StingRay package that cost $148,000, not including training and maintenance. Documents obtained this year by the American Civil Liberties Union indicate that Harris has upgraded the StingRay to a newer device it calls a Crossbow, though not a lot of information is known about how it works. Separately, a classified catalog of surveillance tools leaked to The Intercept in 2015 describes other similar devices.

    StingRay II, a cellular site simulator used for surveillance purposes manufactured by Harris Corporation, of Melbourne, Fla.

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    I Should Be Charging For All My Info

    From Bob on March 19, 2021 :: 4:36 am

    what you normal regular people need to understand is this. Stop being so damn gullible. Dont open everything you receive. NEVER absolutely NEVER open a text or email from someone you dont know just by opening it you grant access from even the dumbest hackers. And you dont just factory reset a device and it be all good. Factory reset doesnt delete EVERYTHING first you have to delete and wipe your cache logs ALL OF THEM then factory reset. I am a hacker. You delete the cache logs because every password ever used on that phone honestly everything ever done with that phone can be seen or retrieved from your cache logs EVERYTHING. I tell you this because Im sick of all these wannabe no degree dipshit 3rd world country faggots trying to get 1 over on the U.S. theyre lame and skills suck. Keep on comin at me Imnotthe1 and above all use a damn VPN pay for it its worth it or if your info means that little to you get the mayivpn its free and works pretty good. And turn off you Gdamn nfc payment its the devils gateway for the lamest dipshit to steal your info and not even the best hacker would know if it happened if their nfc was on. Developer mode bluetooth debugging run off built nfc stripper app

    The Phone Is Traceable The Person Using It Not Exactly

    How Can Police Or Hackers Track Your Phone?

    Prepaid phones are traceable within the right conditions. This means that whoever is tracking the phones location knows the number or the IMEI number. The IMEI number works as an ID for your phone. So, unless the person tracking your phone has some of these two informations, they cant successfully track the phone.

    Now, the important thing here is to understand that the phone is traceable, but the person is not. When you buy the prepaid phone, you can easily register it without giving away any of your personal information. This way, if you get rid of the phone, no one will be able to tell that its yours.

    As explained above, there are a few methods to pinpoint the location of the phone once the person knows the number. If the phone is with you, theyll be able to get to you but only because you still had the phone. If you get rid of the phone, you wont have problems.

    Another thing that is important to keep in mind is that the phone cant be tracked while turned off. So, if you keep it turned off, no one will be able to track it. Now, 4 seconds while turned on is enough in some cases for the phone to be tracked.

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    Can Your Phone Number Help Track Your Exact Location

    No.Your phone number does not point out the exact details of your location. It is a different case if GPS is actively working or an application is providing the details.

    So, how do police track the location by knowing the contact number?

    The concept of triangulation is used for this purpose. I have mentioned about triangulation in the previous article. Three satellites determine your location roughly.

    Refer for more details | Visit that page, read it and return again. It is related and more detailed.

    Similarly, mobile networks use the concept of triangulation. Three adjoining networks are present and they together determine the area of that device.

    This clearly means that the phone number can never trace the exact location. It can only provide a specific range of location.

    After reaching in that particular zone of range, manual searching needs to be done.

    So, what if there is a huge society with multiple buildings having hundreds of floors and flats? Then it becomes next to impossible.

    If the phone is off then nobody can track it. Sure, the police can know the location where the phone was active last time. But if the criminals move after switching it off, it is again next to impossible to track the live location.

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