How to Find Cell Phones by Using Names

The Internet has made finding a person's cell phone number quick and inexpensive.

Finding a person's cell phone number can be a challenge, as very few people add their cell phone numbers to the white pages. It is possible, however, to find a person's cell phone number if they have attached that number to their name in a public record. Public records are open and available to the public, and online public record aggregators have made searching and accessing those records simple and relatively cheap.

Instructions

1. Conduct a search engine query for a "public records search." The results will include several different online public records companies offering "people searches," "background checks," and a whole host of different public record packages for wildly varying prices. Intelius and People Smart (see Resources) are well-known aggregators with large public record databases.

2. Choose the company and package that suits your needs. If all you are searching for is the cell phone number, a "people search" should do. Look for the package that contains the information you desire for the cheapest price.

3. Enter the name of the person you are trying to research. If you want to narrow down the list of results, enter a state where you know they have lived/live, then press "Search." A list of possible matches will come up, often with cities in which they have lived and a list of possible relatives, which will help you to select the right individual. Select the listing you believe to be that individual.

4. Follow the onscreen instructions to pay for and retrieve the records. A simple "people search" usually costs between $2 and $10 as of December 2010. The records will either be displayed within the browser or sent to you via email once payment processes.

Tips & Warnings

• Be prepared to pay a fee without a guarantee that the records you pull will include a cell phone number.

• Read the fine print before offering any online business your cell phone number. Make sure that you know if you are agreeing to a one-time fee or a membership service with periodic fees.

References

• Intelius: People Search
• Zabasearch: People Search by Name
• White Pages: Find People

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• People Smart: People Search and Background Checks by Name
• Intelius: People Search