Anyone who has spent any time investigating how to trace cell phone numbers eventually finds out the only reliable way to get results almost every time is using one the paid reverse cell phone directories. After that, the question becomes which directory to choose.

There are many directories available on the Internet. Many will advertise the ability to trace cell phone numbers for free. Those are the sites I would steer clear of. Any directory that offers the results of a mobile phone search has had to obtain their data from one the major wireless carriers. These carriers don’t offer free directories available to the public.

But if the number happens to be fax, VoIP, unlisted, or wireless, you’ll end up consulting one of the paid reverse cell phone directories. The reason is because these numbers aren’t considered public information and aren’t listed for privacy reasons.

Recently, however, the major wireless carriers began leasing the data behind all the numbers they service to the paid online directories. The directories now offer this information to anyone willing to pay a small fee for the results.

Just enter the number in the site, and you’ll be able to find out the owner’s name, billing address, previous addresses, names of possible relatives and neighbors, wireless carrier, other phone numbers belonging to the owner, and more.

The third reason is once again to lure you in with the promise of “free” search, but make that particular search very limited in scope. Then they will demand a fee prior to performing the original search you thought was free.

The first thing you need to distinguish is whether the number is a landline or wireless number. If the number is a listed landline number, just consult the White Pages or any other free directory and your problem will be solved there.

Find a site which is easy to find good sites to try. You can use Google, or better yet, a good reverse look up review site to find sites to try. There are plenty of them out there. However not all of them are good to use. Most are made by people who are working hard to provide an excellent product at a reasonable price. However there are some that are made by people who are only in it to get your money whether they provide a good service or not. Obviously you want to avoid those sites.