It’s 11:47 p.m. on a Friday night. As he pulls into his long, black driveway, his cell phone alerts him to a new message. You immediately see the message. Your heart begins to pound. “I’m watching you,” read the message…
Has something similar ever happened to you?
Maybe it wasn’t as horrible as this example, but many people receive harassing or mysterious text messages. You can choose to ignore the messages or you can track who is sending you these text messages and stop them.
How can I track the sender of a text message?
View the message on your phone. Look for the sender’s 10-digit phone number, which is usually at the top of the message body. Make a note of this phone number, as you’ll need it to track the sender.
Tracking the sender of the text message…
Follow these three steps to find information about the sender:
- search engines – Search Google or Yahoo for the phone number of the text message sender in XXX-XXX-XXX format. Look through the results. If you see other complaints about messages from the same number, it’s probably just a mass text spammer, nothing to worry about since they aren’t specifically targeted at you. You can find forums or profiles where the phone number has been posted online. Look up the author of these, as their username can give you a clue as to their identity.
- Call or text the number – Be careful here! If the SMS message was harassing or illegal in nature, you may not want to do this. However, if you think the message was a joke from your friend, calling or texting the phone number can be helpful in identifying the sender.
- Text Message Tracking Report – While this is not widely known, you can buy a report for less than $15 that will tell you the owner’s name, address, and lots of other information about any cell phone number. This information will let you know, without a doubt, who sent you the text. It can prove invaluable in addressing your concern with the individual, reporting it to authorities, or simply reassuring them.
Putting an end to the problem…
Often letting the sender know that YOU knowing their identity is enough to stop them. A text message tracking report includes information about your household, other household members, etc. Use this information to your advantage. Most SMS senders will be surprised that you were able to track so much information about them, and they will stop sending you messages quickly.
Your safety first
Please, if you feel threatened or in danger, call your local police. Do not take matters into your own hands as it is not worth the consequences.