Privacy feels like a myth these days. You hand over your phone number to a "mandatory" field on a pizza website, and suddenly your phone is buzzing with spam from three states away. It’s exhausting. Honestly, the most basic way to reclaim your peace of mind is learning how to block your number before you even hit the call button. Most people think they need a fancy app or a paid subscription to disappear from Caller ID, but that's just not true.
The tech is already sitting in your pocket.
Whether you’re calling a Craigslist seller, checking in with a distant relative you’d rather not have calling you back, or just dealing with a business you don't trust, hiding your identity is surprisingly easy. But there's a catch. Some methods work for a single call, while others are a "set it and forget it" toggle in your settings. If you mess it up, you're basically handing out your digital fingerprint.
The *67 Trick: Does it Still Work?
Old school? Yes. Effective? Mostly.
If you grew up in the 90s, you probably remember *67. It’s the "classic" way to block your number. You just dial those three digits before the phone number, and on the other end, the person sees "Private," "Restricted," or "Anonymous." It still works on almost every landline and smartphone in North America today.
But here is where people get tripped up: *67 is a per-call tool.
If you hang up and call back without dialing the code, your number is fully visible again. It’s also worth noting that this doesn't work for toll-free numbers or emergency services. If you call 911, they see you. If you call an 800-number, the company might still harvest your data through a system called Automatic Number Identification (ANI). Companies pay for ANI because it bypasses standard Caller ID blocking. It's a sneaky workaround that most people have never even heard of, but it explains why you still get marketing calls after calling a "private" customer service line.
Changing Your iPhone or Android Settings for Good
If you want to go dark permanently, you’ve gotta dive into the menus. It’s tucked away, almost like the manufacturers don't really want you to find it.
On an iPhone, you’ll want to head to Settings, scroll down to Phone, and look for Show My Caller ID. Toggle that off. Boom. Every call you make from that point forward is masked. On Android, it's a bit more "fragmented" because every brand—Samsung, Google, Motorola—likes to move the furniture around. Usually, you open the Phone app, hit the three dots for Settings, then go to Supplementary Services or Calling Accounts. Look for Caller ID and set it to "Hide number."
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Keep in mind that some carriers actually disable this toggle.
If you’re on a specific plan with a smaller carrier, or sometimes even the big ones like Verizon or AT&T in certain regions, that menu might be greyed out or missing entirely. If that happens, you’re stuck using the manual codes or calling your provider to request a permanent block at the network level.
When Blocking Your Number Just Isn't Enough
Sometimes, hiding your number is like putting a mask on a loud person. People might not see your face, but they still know you're there. If you’re trying to avoid being tracked or sold to a database, simple Caller ID blocking is just the first step.
Think about "Burner" apps.
Services like Burner or Hushed provide you with a secondary, disposable VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) number. This is way more secure than just blocking your Caller ID. Why? Because when you block your number, many people simply won't pick up. I know I don't. A "Private Caller" notification is an immediate red flag for many. A secondary number allows you to look like a "real" person without giving away your primary digital identity—the one linked to your bank account, your Facebook, and your medical records.
Data security experts like Michael Bazzell, who literally wrote the book on disappearing from the internet, often suggest that your "real" number should be treated like a Social Security number. You don't give it to the guy selling a used couch. You use a secondary number for that.
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The Legal Side of Hiding Your Identity
Is it illegal to block your number? No.
Is it illegal to use a masked number to harass or defraud someone? Absolutely. The Truth in Caller ID Act of 2009 in the US makes it a crime to transmit misleading or inaccurate caller ID information with the intent to defraud, cause harm, or wrongly obtain anything of value.
So, if you’re using these tricks to prank your ex or spoof a bank’s number to steal someone’s password, you’re looking at heavy fines or jail time. But if you're just a private citizen who doesn't want every telemarketer in the hemisphere to have your direct line, you're perfectly within your rights.
Why Some Calls Still Get Through
You might notice that even with every setting turned off, some systems still "know" it's you.
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This usually happens because of TrapCall or similar unmasking services. These are paid apps that people use to unmask "Private" and "Blocked" callers. They work by redirecting your incoming call to a toll-free number owned by the service. Since toll-free numbers use the ANI system I mentioned earlier, the block is stripped away, and the receiver gets your real number.
It’s an arms race.
You hide, they seek. If you find that your blocked calls are being unmasked, the only real solution is to use a VoIP number that isn't tied to your SIM card. Apps like Google Voice are great for this because they act as a "buffer." You can give out your Google Voice number, and even if someone unmasks it, they're just getting a secondary number that you can delete or mute at any time.
Practical Steps to Secure Your Phone Today
Stop treating your phone number like public information. It’s the key to your digital life. If you want to take action right now, here is the smartest way to handle it:
- Test your current setup. Use *67 to call a friend or your own work phone. See what shows up. If it says "Private," you're good for one-off calls.
- Check your OS settings. If you’re making a lot of calls to strangers (like for work or selling items), turn off the "Show My Caller ID" feature in your phone's main settings menu.
- Get a "Trash" number. Download a secondary number app. Use this for all retail sign-ups, grocery store loyalty cards, and online marketplaces.
- Call your carrier. Ask them about "Outbound Caller ID Blocking." Some carriers offer this as a free add-on that ensures your number is never broadcast from their towers, regardless of your phone's software settings.
- Beware of Toll-Free numbers. Never call an 800, 888, or 877 number and expect to remain anonymous. They are literally paying for the right to see who you are.
The goal isn't necessarily to become a ghost. That’s hard. The goal is to reduce your "surface area" so that when the next data breach happens—and it will—your primary, personal number isn't the one being sold on a dark web forum for five cents.