So it’s time to call your new client. Or maybe it’s the hot date you met at Trader Joe’s. The only problem is you can’t read their phone number! Staring at the napkin, you try to decipher if it’s an 8, or a 1, or a 0. Or worse, you can read all the numbers just fine. But why are there only 6 digits?
So what do you do? Where can you go for help? Who can you call?
I decided to write this blog because a few days earlier, this is exactly what happened to a friend of mine. My friend is a no good, lousy duck stuffer (a taxidermist).
He came to me because he needed to call a new client about a bird he just mounted. But the client’s handwriting was so crappy that he couldn’t make out a digit in the phone number. I was able to find the number anyway using Google. However, it was not your typical Google search.
How To Google A Number That’s Mostly Right
Sadly, Google did away with its reverse phone number lookup. And if you enter a 6 digit # or 8 digit # with dashes, Google thinks it’s a subtraction problem!
But Google can pull up plenty of phone numbers if you give it some hints. This includes lots of business numbers and even some cell #s. And remember, you want to find the number they gave you. Not the old landline they discarded 10 years ago. Here’s how:
678-58?-9228. Or maybe you got sloppy and wrote 678-587-92228.
Or worse, the guy gave you a bum phone number and no last name.
But don’t you fret. All is not lost! Simply Google their name along with the area code and first three 3 digits of the phone number. OR, if you think that too could be wrong, try their name along with the last 4 digits at the end of the phone number. You can also search for part of the phone number along with their name in quotation marks. Don’t know the last name? Try with just their first name. Did you get too many hits? Then refine your search with a city or state.
Google Search Examples With Partial #s
When Unsure of Last 4 Digits (Google 1st 3 digits w/ or w/o area code)
Graham Firestone 587 (rare name: not sure of the last 4 digits)
Greg Napster 404-394 (for more common names add an area code)
“Greg Napster” 404-394 (Narrow search with name in “Quotes”)
Graham 678-587 Roswell (first name w/ city)
Graham 587 lawyer (first name w/ profession)
Firestone “587” Roswell (last name w city)
When Unsure of First 3 Digits (Google last 4 digits)
Graham Firestone 9228 (rare name, last 4 digits)
“John Smith” 9228 (common name in quotes)
“John Smith” 9228 Roswell (add a city)
Graham 9228 Roswell (first name w/ city)
Graham 9228 Morosgo (first name w/ rare street)
Graham 9228 lawyer (first name w/ profession)
Or Use Asterixes for missing #s! And Add a first Or Last Name if Known
678******9228
309******58 “Mcwhorter”
770******7474 “steve”
But What If I Can’t Find It On Google?
Look, life’s tough. And you can’t always get what you want. Partial number searches don’t seem to work on Facebook, Pipl, the Whitepages or on Linkedin. But they may work on your emails, or in Excel or in a Word document.
Or, if you know which digit is missing, plug in numbers
0 -9 and put the whole phone number in a reverse cell phone lookup. Sites like OK Caller or SpyDialer will often return a full name once they have the right phone number.
Other Blogs
- Sleuth For The Truth (Blog Index A-Z)
- Christian-SOS (Walking Daily with Jesus)
That’s good to know that if you can’t find the number on google that you could find it on a reverse phone number lookup. I would think that wouldn’t be too hard to get the remaining digit since there are only 10 options. I’ll have to give that a try if I ever get an incomplete phone number.
Is this free I don’t know Oklahoma area code or nothing I’m trying to fund my missing uncle. He’d been missing for four years or more. Can u help me
It’s all free,though sometimes the free links change or lead you to ads that are not free. If you have specific info you would like me to background, you can email me at
sleuthforthetruth@gmail.com.
Graham
Missing to numbers in middle of number but got the area code first number then last four126 4. 4032
With out a name or some more info, I can’t help here.
Did u find help with this, I have the same issue, I desperately need to find this full number
Stephen Jones gave me his phone number, but it got smeared on the card. It looks like the first# is an 8. The next two are missing. Next numbers are 635-6150. I think it’s his cell phone, but not sure. He works for home care with heart in boardman, ohio
Someone added this number to my PayPal. (7**)***-9959. I would like to know who it belongs to.
Contact PayPal customer service (888) 221-1161
or take the actions below.
https://www.google.com/search?sxsrf=ALeKk01dknYFm_tAQ8vCDYfyjJxeEH2QUA%3A1609004016476&source=hp&ei=8HPnX53-GsuC5wKL8pjQDw&q=strange+number+on+paypal+account&oq=strange+number+on+paypal+account&gs_lcp=CgZwc3ktYWIQAzIFCCEQqwI6DAgjECcQnQIQRhCAAjoECCMQJzoLCC4QxwEQrwEQkQI6CAguELEDEIMBOg4ILhCxAxCDARDHARCjAjoICAAQsQMQgwE6BQgAEJECOgUIABCxAzoFCC4QsQM6CAguEMcBEKMCOggIABDJAxCRAjoCCAA6CwguELEDEMkDEJMCOggILhDHARCvAToOCC4QsQMQgwEQyQMQkwI6AgguOggIABCxAxDJAzoFCAAQyQM6BAgAEAo6BggAEBYQHjoICCEQFhAdEB46BwghEAoQoAFQ2wVYzSpguCxoAHAAeAGAAasDiAHzGZIBCjI3LjMuMC4xLjGYAQCgAQGqAQdnd3Mtd2l6&sclient=psy-ab&ved=0ahUKEwidtt6Gl-ztAhVLwVkKHQs5BvoQ4dUDCAg&uact=5
I only have the last 2 digits of 76 and pretty positive area code is 706 by proximity. A lady at sprint store was helping me set up my iPhone and put her number in it 5 years ago. Not knowing it was 2 way factor – I am trying to figure out all numbers ending in 76 with an area code of 706. Is this possible to get help?
Do you have any other info such as the person’s name? See also this link below for more info on the 706 area code. https://www.whitepages.com/phone/1-706
Hello. I am trying to find the last four digits of a phone number and know a good amount about the person I am looking for. I see you are still replying to comments so I thought I would give this a shot and reach out for help. Do you think it’s possible for you to help me? I’ll be 100% honest and say that I don’t wanna put all the information here and would prefer to email if possible. If you are ok do this and help I would be very appreciative. If not I totally understand too
940-xxx-xx61
Name: Lindsey Cash
Aubrey texas
Carrier: TMOBILE
Can anyone help?
I would not get hung up on the phone number and just focus on providing information on how to identify her among all the other people with the same name. Then I may be able to get you an email or phone number that actually works!
For the kind of information that will help me most, see
http://consumer-sos.com/Georgia/People_Search/sleuthing_for_people_online_step.htm#MakeAListOfAllYouKnowAboutThePerson
If you want to find their contact info on your own, see
http://consumer-sos.com/Georgia/People_Search/peoplesearch1.htm#BackgroundingPeopleByTheirPhoneEmail%20orAddress
Met someone in a store tonight in Seattle, thought I saved his number in my phone, but when I got home it wasn’t saved. He said his name is Whitney, I remember the first six digits were 206-680-XXXX
I am trying to find brian charles carr cell phone number It begins with717902. He lives in PA possibly lancaster. he is 69 years old. I no longer have his address either. Can you help me? my e-mail address is cperhealth@yahoo,com
Send me an old address and this could help me find him. g_firestone@yahoo.com
Hi trying to find a UK mobile number … I know the first name only and have 10 digits (so missing just 1 digit) can you advise here? As rally need ot contact them.
Thanks in advance.
Try Googling the first name and the last 4 digits
try also the First name and area code and 1st three digits
Looking for complete number last 4 digits are 4550
Try adding a first name or a last name or an address to the number in Google. Otherwise you will have at least one of these numbers in all the 50 states and DC.