Reverse Phone Number Lookup

Once, I got a text message that says something like this:

“Don’t forget to feed the children, Bea. Have you had your lunch?”

Thinking that it was an important message sent to the wrong number, I dutifully replied and informed the sender that he or she had the wrong number. I regetted doing so at once when the unknown texter sent this back:

“What’s your name? Can we be textmates?”

I didn’t bother to reply to that one but for some reason it only encouraged the increasingly annoying texter to send me a barrage of messages, all nonsensical and all provoking me to reply.  I had to shut off my phone for a while just so I wouldn’t lose my temper.

On a really boring day, I may have wasted SMS charges to amuse myself - I onced exchanged text messages with someone I don’t know when this person sent me a quote I’m familiar with (from a favorite book). I never knew who it was or if it’s someone I actually know. 

Maybe these instances don’t matter nor merit enough attention to seek for the identities of the people behind the messages. We don’t really have a service to look up National Phone Numbers  more so cellular phone numbers. I know landlines have a directory assistance, but I’m not sure about Reverse Phone Number Lookup. This is especially hard for prepaid numbers; for post-paid, I don’t know if the operators would be willing to provide their subscribers’ personal details.

There’s an online service in the U.S. that serves as a “phone detective.” You just have to enter any active U.S. phone number and you can get very specific information on any individual. The site says  that “You are not limited to just to name and address. Instead, you will have access to detailed background information on almost every aspect of this person’s life.” It’s a little stalkerish but what if you really need to and your reasons are valid? Well, whatever the motivation is, it is a useful tool. But gaining full access to the service has an equivalent price, of course.