Can you search someone by phone?
A few weeks ago, I wrote an article for the New York Times Magazine about how to search for the perfect gift for someone. In it, I noted how difficult it can be to find the right present, especially if you don't know much about the person you're buying for. I also mentioned that most people nowadays like to be able to search for what they need online, so I thought it would be a great idea to see if someone could be found by phone number alone. I was immediately reminded of the classic film, The Man Who Wasn't There, and how the main character (Kevin Bacon) wanted to be able to find someone by phone number but couldn't.
Can you search someone by phone? Yes, you can. It's not easy, though. If you don't know much about the person you're trying to find, it can be hard to figure out what number to call. Luckily, there's an app for that.
Look up the Phone Number
The best way to find someone by phone number is to first look up the area code and phone number on Google. Once you've found that information, you can use various tools to see who might be connected to the number. There are several options, but the two simplest are Find My Phone and Lookup A Number. The former is an app that you can download directly to your phone, while the latter is a website that allows you to look up numbers and get calling cards delivered to your door.
So, let's say you've found the number for Amy Schumer (310-929-4564). If you want to call her, you'll have to enter the number in the appropriate place in the app or on the website. Once you do, you'll see a map with a crosshairs in the middle of it. That's your target.
Now, it's time to pull the trigger. If you've downloaded the app, all you have to do is press the red button and you'll get a beep on your phone. Look at your screen to make sure the number was found correctly. If so, you can then choose from a list of possible matches to call. Pressing the button for the person you want to call will connect you with the service and get the process started. One downside to this method is that if the person you want to call isn't available, you won't be able to make the call. So, you'll have to keep trying numbers until you reach someone who answers the phone or goes to voicemail.
Make Calls
Another way of finding someone by phone number is to call the number directly with your cell phone. If you want to reach Michael Phelps, for example, you could try 206-264-1620. You'll need to enter the number and then press the call button. There's no app for this; you just need to make the call and see what happens.
Unfortunately, this option is a little more dangerous, as you're essentially placing a call to someone who could potentially be dangerous. The upside to this approach is that if the person you want to reach answers the phone, you'll be able to get the information you need quickly and move on with your life.
Search By Address
If you know the approximate location of the person you're looking for, you can use online tools to find their exact whereabouts. For example, if you know that Amy Schumer is based in New York City, you could try using Google Maps to search for her address and see what turns up. In my case, the closest I could find to her exact location was 44 West 42nd Street in Manhattan.
However, keep in mind that this method isn't exactly accurate. The best way to find someone's address is through a third-party site or app that handles location data. For example, if you're looking for Amy Schumer and she has listed her address on her Twitter account, you could try looking it up on Snipplr, a website that allows you to search for addresses and get directions. Or, you could try the Find My Address feature on Google Maps, which does the same thing.
Once you have the address, it's time to ring the bell. If you've found Schumer's address on Snipplr, for example, all you have to do is press the yellow button on your phone and you'll get a beep. This is followed by a list of possible matches. You can then scroll down the page and find the person you're looking for.
Use An IP Address To Track Someone
If you found the person you're looking for and want to find out more about them, you can use IP addresses to track them down. As the name implies, an IP address is a numeric identifier that acts as a proxy for a computer or device. For example, perhaps you found Amy Schumer's address and you want to know more about her. You could try entering her address in a Google search field and see what comes up. Alternatively, you could go to the website WhatIsMyIP.com and enter her address there. This will then tell you all kinds of information about her and maybe even let you call her if you get her phone number.
The downside to this method is that you have to already know the address or have it readily available. If you don't, you'll have to fi