A reverse phone number search is a process where people try to find out who is calling their phone with a number that they do not recognize. Essentially, what this service is attempting to do is to conduct a 'reverse lookup' in hopes to find out not only the name of the caller, but in many cases their address as well as their service provider. There are various reverse phone number services available. Many are usually offered for a small fee. But, if you need to know who's been making unknown calls to you, or if you want to find out if your partner has been unfaithful to you, you by far need to get this type of service.

Cell phone records cannot be publicly accessed so, reverse phone number services charge a nominal fee for that information. A number of these services are springing up rather quickly and it's hard to know which ones to trust.

Here are some things to consider when looking for a reverse phone number search service:

• Grants you access to hundreds of millions of records about landline, mobile, and unlisted phone numbers

• Allows you to opt-out of their system and help you remove your information from 44 of the major databases

• Available experts at no additional charge to assist you locate the record in question

• Gives you access to their information by signing into their member's area from any computer

• Has a one-time-only membership fee rather than a monthly subscription payment (and includes unlimited reverse phone lookups)

• Their website is compatible with all major browsers and computer types

There are many reasons why you might want to conduct a reverse phone number search:

• Find out the source of a harassing ("prank") caller

• Research a number that appeared on your phone bill

• Locate an old friend from high school or college

• Research "missed calls" on your caller ID that you don't recognize

• Lookup someone's exact address or see what information they have on you

In the end, you'll want to use a reputable and reliable service with instant searches. Avoid poorly designed websites. Expect to pay $15 - $25 for a single cell phone number report, and around $35 - $50 for unlimited search access for a typical one year membership.

To find out who owns a certain number, try this Reverse Cell Directory!