Unmask Blocked Calls
Am I the only one that really hates when people call and they intentionally block their caller ID? I have a few friends that do it for various reasons and I put all of them into voicemail because I don’t want to be playing the guessing game. Well, that game may be over. TrapCall has just been released (in beta). According to their website:
When you receive a blocked or restricted call, reject it. You don’t want to answer an unknown number anyway right? In a matter of seconds, the blocked call is sent to our servers, where it is instantly unmasked and sent back to your phone! All the while the caller hears a normal ring tone, oblivious to the fact that you know exactly who they are.
You then have the option to reject or accept the call at that point (rejecting it a second time goes to VM). This service is currently free as well. Reports are that it took 6 seconds to get results (meaning that you may need to alter the number of rings before a call gets routed to voicemail).
I haven’t tried it yet (I’ve trained my friends to email me if they have blocked caller IDs) but I’ll get to it soon. This currently works for AT&T and TMobile customers (others are going to be added shortly). Apparently there’s always been a loophole in callerID that’s been known and they’re just making it easier… So are we all better or worse for this? By the way, these are the same guys that are behind SpoofCard – the application that lets you make phone calls that appear to come from a different number so hiding and revealing identities seems to be their niche.
The download is available here.
Wired via 1800PocketPC
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Comments
Dr. Rob I also tried this today using *67 from my home phone to call my cell while hiding my number. this program worked as promised. Thanks for the info!
Joshua G I tried the free version, and now I can’t check my own voicemail. Everytime I try calling my voicemail to check my messages, I end up just leaving a new voicemail for myself. I emailed the company on how to fix this, but I haven’t heard a reply yet. Anyone else having this problem?
Amar I am also having a voicemail issue
my Fuze tells me that I have a new voicemail, but when I check it, I’m told that I don’t have any new voicemails
jakers the blacklist function is pretty sweet.
so’s the uhm… unblocking function.
i never had any use for the recorded calls, which i actually found a little creepy.
the voicemail forwarding is utter bulls**t. maybe it’d be better to call this CrapCall?
i ended up canceling the (free!)service when i was unable to check my voicemail for two days due to “all servers are busy” or some similar garbage. nice, yeah? i was pretty excited about it.
once i’d cancelled the service & dialed “**004*” or whatever to get my AT&T voicemail re-enabled, it still took another half day for the forwarding to go away. i continued to get txts advising that i had unchecked messages left in my TrapCall voicemail box, for two days AFTER i had discontinued the service(this tack reminded me of for-pay dating websites, like TRU, that don’t wanna get their scummy hooks out of ya). what a delight! i have no clue as to what, if any, unheard voicemails i abandoned at TrapCall. hopefully nothing deathly important.
i’ve no idea if it’s possible to use the service without employing their voicemail system. if so, then i suggest you dodge it & enjoy the other nifty stuff available. otherwise, good luck.
–j.
gocubsgo hey this service work on my phone when i test this i just end up getting the voice mail set up on my phone and it doesnt unmask the call whats going on? is it because i have verizon? if thats the case why do they even offer verizon use on trapcall?? help me
Demasys This service is for selective providers. It’s taking them years to get a system that work for more than one carrier. I see promises and no result. For now if you have boost Mobil or metro PCS in Florida you are out of luck. Funny when they have a drop down menu saying our carrier name…
kat i have a blackberry pearl 8100 w/ tmobile. i tried the free service but the part where i have to dial *0400 or something to get them forwarded, it gives me an Unexpected Supplementary Error or something?
Kamakzy56 “Does TrapCall use my cell phone’s minutes?
Yes, when you ignore a call, invoking the conditional call forwarding, you will be using your standard airtime minutes by sending the call back to TrapCall. When you answer the call sent back to you, because you are using two features simultaneously, you will be using double your minutes for the duration of the call. This scenario applies when you reject a call and then answer it when it is sent back and when the call goes to voicemail.”
no thanks 
Gina Williams Unfortunately, Sprint/Nextel has refused to allow this particular application. This of course makes me want to reconsider this company as my cell phone provider for the last 11 years. Not only do I have and have been with Sprint for all these years but also have several phones on my account with them. Sprint claims to have a ‘top notch’ corporate security; which I submitted a harrassing call report number to two years ago and followed up with a consent form with my local police department to assist in tracing the phone number of the person(s) that was calling/harrassing phone number. They done nothing and I later contacted them to inquiry about this application and why ‘they’ as a company would not allow it and they advised me that they never recieved such a claim from myself or my local police department. I know first hand the paperwork was sent because, I was present went it was forwarded by mail and fax because I am an emloyee of my local police department as well. Well, personally, since it is my choice to deal with the extra minutes/seconds using the service; am very much interested in the service. I have had the privelage to see how the service works from a co-workers phone who describes to the service. And let me tell you it only takes a few seconds for the caller to be identified. I’m very upset with Sprint to advise me to file a report and change my number so that I can’t protect myself and know when my harrasser is possibly going to stalk me. My situation is not to invade my harrasser’s privacy; which they are doing to me; but to at least be forwarned when this person is feeling lonely enough to be on my trail. I kindof want to know when i’m being sought after as oppose to them appearing out of thin air.
Laila i cant get this thing to work. i tried rejecting the call but i still dont get the number sent back to me? can someone pleaseee help!
manny how can you get it to work in UK does anyone have a kool, please, i went on the site and only asks for usa numbers, does anyone no how can i get this to work on a uk phone ? on a blackberry
I signed up yesterday for this service. It’s free and it REALLY WORKS. I have a unlocked/cooked Tilt and my fiance has a Fuze and worked perfect on both phones. Highly recommended.