You’re standing in line at the grocery store, trying to get a return authorized, and the customer service rep asks for a callback number. You hesitate. Do you really want this random person—or the massive database they represent—to have your personal cell digits forever? Probably not. Privacy is basically a luxury good now, and honestly, the need to call someone using another number has shifted from a "spy movie" trope to a daily survival tactic for regular people.
Whether you're selling a beat-up sofa on Facebook Marketplace, dating someone you met on an app, or just trying to keep your work life from bleeding into your Saturday morning pancakes, masking your real number is just smart. But it's also tricky. If you do it wrong, your call looks like a robocall from a spoofed overseas warehouse, and nobody picks up. If you do it right, you're just a person with a second line.
Let's get into the weeds of how this actually works in the real world.
The Old School Way: *67 and Why It’s Kinda Dead
We have to start with the classic. Most of us grew up knowing that dialing *67 before a phone number blocks your caller ID. It’s free. It’s built into the North American Numbering Plan. It works.
But here’s the problem: it shows up as "Private Listing" or "Unknown Caller."
In 2026, who actually answers an unknown caller? Almost nobody. Most smartphones now have a setting to "Silence Unknown Callers" automatically. If you use *67, your call isn't just masked; it's often invisible. You’ll end up in voicemail purgatory. Plus, *67 doesn't work for toll-free numbers or 911, and some people have "Anonymous Call Rejection" enabled, meaning your call won't even ring through. It’s a blunt instrument in a world that requires a scalpel.
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Virtual Phone Numbers Are the New Standard
If you actually want to call someone using another number and have them, you know, pick up the phone, you need a secondary virtual number. This is VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) technology. You aren't "spoofing" in the illegal sense; you're just routing a call through a different digital doorstep.
Google Voice is the big dog here. It’s been around forever, it’s free for personal use in the US, and it gives you a legitimate 10-digit number. You can pick your area code. This is huge. If you’re calling a local contractor, they’re way more likely to answer a 310 or 212 number than some random "Private" tag.
Why Google Voice Isn't Always Perfect
Google Voice is great, but it’s tied to your Google account. If you're trying to compartmentalize your life for security reasons, having everything linked to one Gmail address might feel a bit risky. Also, Google has a habit of "sunsetting" products or changing terms of service without much warning. For a more "disposable" feel, people usually turn to apps like Burner or Hushed.
These apps are interesting. They let you buy a number for a week, a month, or a year. Once you’re done with that Craigslist sale? Burn the number. It vanishes. The person on the other end never saw your real SIM-linked digits.
The "Dual SIM" Revolution in Your Pocket
Check your phone's settings. If you have an iPhone (XS or newer) or a recent Samsung Galaxy, you probably have an eSIM.
This changed everything.
You no longer need a shady app to call someone using another number. You can literally have two active cellular plans on one device. One is your "Home" line, and one is your "Work" or "Privacy" line. Providers like Mint Mobile or Tello offer dirt-cheap secondary lines for $10 or $15 a month.
When you go to dial a number, the phone asks which "line" you want to use. It’s seamless. It’s professional. And because it's a real cellular line and not a virtual VoIP number, it’s less likely to get flagged by banks or "short-code" SMS services that often block virtual numbers for 2FA (Two-Factor Authentication).
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The Ethics and the Law (The "Don't Be a Jerk" Clause)
We have to talk about the Truth in Caller ID Act. In the United States, it is technically legal to use another number to call someone, unless you are doing it with the intent to defraud, cause harm, or wrongfully obtain something of value.
If you're calling a friend to prank them? Fine.
If you're a doctor calling a patient from your personal cell and want to hide your home number? Totally fine and actually recommended by most medical associations.
If you’re pretending to be the IRS to steal someone’s Social Security number? That’s a felony.
The FCC has been cracking down hard on "neighbor spoofing"—that annoying thing where scammers use a number that looks just like yours to get you to pick up. If you're using a secondary number service, make sure it's a reputable one. Avoid "free" web-based spoofing sites that don't require an account; these are often honeypots for data or are used primarily by bad actors, meaning the numbers they provide are already blacklisted by major carriers.
What Most People Get Wrong About Privacy
People think that because they are using a different number, they are invisible. That’s a myth.
If you use an app to call someone using another number, that app still has a record of your real IP address, your credit card info, and your device ID. Law enforcement can still subpoena those records. "Another number" is a privacy shield against the person you’re calling, not a cloak of invisibility against the infrastructure of the internet.
Also, keep in mind that "CNAM" (Caller Name) databases take time to update. If you just bought a new secondary number, it might still show up as "John Doe" (the previous owner) on someone else's screen for a few weeks.
Choosing the Right Method for Your Situation
Not all "fake" numbers are created equal.
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- For one-off transactions: Use a "Burner" style app. It's cheap, temporary, and requires zero commitment.
- For a side hustle or small business: Use a dedicated VoIP service like Grasshopper or Zoom Phone. It gives you a professional greeting and extensions.
- For long-term personal privacy: Use an eSIM. It’s the most stable and reliable way to manage two identities on one piece of hardware.
Making the Call: Step-by-Step
If you've decided to go with an app-based route, the process is usually pretty uniform.
- Download the app and verify your real number (this is for their security).
- Select your desired area code. Pro tip: pick one that matches where you live so people actually answer.
- Grant the app permission to access your microphone (obviously).
- Sync your contacts if you want, but honestly, for privacy, it's better to just copy/paste the number you're calling.
- Place the call. The app uses your data (Wi-Fi or 5G) to bridge the connection.
If you're using the eSIM method, you don't even need an app. Go to Settings > Cellular > Add eSIM. Once it's active, open your Phone app, tap the "Primary" button at the top of the dialer, and switch it to your secondary "Travel" or "Business" line.
Actionable Next Steps
Privacy isn't a "set it and forget it" thing. It’s a habit.
- Audit your digital footprint: Look at how many stores or services have your "real" number. Start swapping them out for a Google Voice or permanent secondary number.
- Test your display: Call a friend's phone using your secondary number first. See how it shows up. Does it say "Spam Likely"? If so, you need to reach out to the provider and have them fix the STIR/SHAKEN registration for that number.
- Use different voicemails: Make sure your secondary number has a generic greeting. Don't say "Hi, this is [Your Real Name]." That defeats the whole purpose.
Using a different number is about taking control of your accessibility. You wouldn't give your home address to every person you meet on the street; you shouldn't give out your primary phone number that way either. Start small, get a secondary number for your online listings, and see how much the "spam" noise in your life drops. It’s a game-changer.