It is 11:47PM on a Friday night. As you pull into your long, pitch black driveway, your cell phone alerts you of a new message. You immediately view the message. Your heart begins pounding. “I’m watching you,” reads the message…

Has something similar ever happened to you?

Maybe it wasn’t as horrifying as this example, but many people receive harassing or mysterious text messages. You can choose to ignore the messages or you can trace who is sending you these text messages and put an end to them.

How can I trace the sender of a text message?

View the message on your phone. Look for the sender’s 10 digit phone number, which is usually located above the message body. Write this phone number down, as you’re going to need it to trace the sender.

Tracing the text message sender…

Follow these three steps to find information about the sender:

1. Search Engine – Search Google or Yahoo for the text message sender’s phone number in XXX-XXX-XXX format. Look through the results. If you notice other complaints of messages from the same number, it’s probably just a mass text message spammer — nothing you should worry about, as they are not specifically targeting you. You may find forums or profiles where the phone number has been posted online. Look for the author of these, as their username may give you a clue to their identity.
2. 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 your friend’s joke, calling or texting the phone number back may prove to be useful in identifying the sender.
3. Text Message Trace Report – While this is not widely known, you can purchase a report for under $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 message. It can prove invaluable when addressing your concern to the individual, reporting them to the authorities, or simply putting your mind at ease.

Putting an end to the problem…

Often, letting the sender know that YOU know their identity is enough to make them stop. A text message trace report includes information about their home, other household members, etc. Use this information to your advantage. Most SMS message senders will be surprised that you were able to trace so much information about them and will quickly stop sending you messages.

Your safety comes first

Please, if you feel threatened or feel you are in any danger, call your local law enforcement. Do not take matters into your own hands, as it is not worth the consequences.