What Is a Restricted Call?

Dave Moore - June 27, 2024

A restricted call is when you get a call from an unknown number where the caller’s identity is intentionally hidden. There are all sorts of reasons why people choose to hide their numbers, such as privacy, business, or just not wanting to be traced. Scammers have also been known to hide their identities with the help of restricted calls.

In this article, we are going to explain what a restricted call is, why people use it, and if there is any way to find out the identity of the caller.

What Is a Restricted Phone Call?

Getting a phone call from an unknown number can be quite unnerving, especially when your phone doesn’t even show the number. A restricted phone call is when the caller intentionally hides their identity. Instead of their number, all you see on your phone is “Unknown” or “Restricted.”

A restricted phone call doesn’t show up in your call log, so you can’t just glance back and see who tried to reach you. In fact, it’s nearly impossible to trace a restricted phone call because no one can see any information associated with the restricted number.

It’s very easy to hide your caller ID no matter what phone you use. On the iPhone, for instance, you can turn it off by going to Settings, tapping Phone, choosing Show My Caller ID, and then tapping the switch to disable it.

Android phones have similar settings that allow you to enable restricted phone calls.

Why Do People Use Restricted Calls?

Most people use restricted phone calls to maintain privacy and keep their identity hidden. Many businesses use them to prevent people from calling them back. In most cases, though, scammers and telemarketers use restricted calls to stay anonymous.

It’s not just used by businesses and scammers, though. Anyone who wants to hide their phone number for any reason can use it. If you call someone you’ve never talked to before on the phone without hiding your caller ID, then they’ll get access to your phone number.

With the help of Google or a reverse phone number lookup tool, anyone can use your number to find more information about you, especially if you’ve linked it to your social media profiles.

Making a restricted phone call is an easy way to hide your number from people who you don’t want to get calls from again and again.

If you’re worried about scam calls and can’t see the caller’s number, it’s usually best to avoid answering restricted calls altogether. If it’s important, they’ll leave a voicemail or find another way to reach you. If it’s a scammer, they’ll likely move on to the next person on their list.

Is It Possible to Trace Restricted Phone Calls?

Depending on which phone provider you use, you might be able to trace restricted calls or at least call them back. After getting a restricted call, dial *57 on your phone. This will alert the phone provider that you want to trace the call. There’s no guarantee that they’ll find anything, but once they’ve been informed, you can talk to law enforcement and file an official report. 

Let them know that you dialed *57 after receiving the restricted call, and they’ll reach out to your phone provider to get more details. However, as mentioned above, if the phone provider is unable to find anything, then the police might not be able to help you, unless you have reason to believe that you’re being harassed or stalked by someone.

You can also dial *69 right after getting a restricted call to call them back. It won’t reveal their identity, but it could be useful if you were expecting a call, like for a job interview.

Another thing you can do is reach out to your phone provider and request a copy of your phone records. This can help you identify incoming calls and see the numbers, even if they were initially restricted. It may not always work, though, as restricted calls usually don’t show up even in your detailed call history.

Can You Block Restricted Calls?

Yes, most phones today give you the option to block restricted calls. This will prevent them from calling you again in the future. To block restricted calls on the iPhone, you’ll have to enable Do Not Disturb and change a few settings.

Go to Settings > Focus > Do Not Disturb > People. Here, you’ll see an option called “Allow Calls From.” If you tap this option, you’ll be able to change who you get calls from when Do Not Disturb mode is enabled. By selecting Contacts Only, you’ll only receive notifications for calls from numbers saved in your phone’s contacts list.

You can also go to your call log and tap the blue icon next to the number. This will open up more details about the caller, and from there, you can tap ‘Block Caller’ to prevent them from calling again.

Blocking all calls except those from contacts is an extreme measure, but it can definitely help cut down on unwanted interruptions. While it means only people you know can get through to you, it also means you might miss out on important calls from new contacts or businesses.

Android phones offer a similar feature where you can block calls from restricted numbers, though the settings can vary depending on the model you’re using.

Hide Your Identity by Enabling Restricted Calls

Hiding your caller ID is a great way to protect your identity when calling someone, but keep in mind that most people are apprehensive about answering calls from unknown numbers.

If you keep getting calls from a restricted number and you think you’re being harassed, then we recommend contacting your phone provider and reporting the issue to law enforcement, as that’s one of the easiest ways to trace restricted calls.

They’re not always used for malicious reasons, though. Businesses often hide their numbers to maintain privacy or to prevent customers from calling back directly. Nevertheless, if the thought of receiving a call from a restricted number gives you anxiety, then you could simply block all unknown calls by turning on ‘do not disturb’ on your phone or adjusting the call settings to block unknown numbers.