Reverse phone lookup is the process of looking up available details about the registered user of a phone number. When registering new phone subscribers, carriers collect their contact information and store these details in accessible directories. A reverse phone lookup service searches these directories and retrieves user information on the subjects of the searches. When a user submits a number to a phone look service, they want an answer to the question, “who is this number registered to?”
What are South Dakota Phone Numbers?
South Dakota phone numbers are the series of numeric digits allocated to telephone service subscriptions in the State of South Dakota. Telephone services, technologies, and usage patterns have evolved over the last 20 years with wireless and internet-based services outpacing landline phone services.
This trend is clearly evident in a 2018 survey conducted by the National Center of Health Statistics. The survey discovered that the total number of landline-only households represented a mere 3.9% of the total number of households in South Dakota. Comparatively, the total number of wireless-only households represented 60.9% of the total number of households in the state. These figures are a clear indicator of the change in user preference with regard to telephone services.
South Dakota enjoys decent coverage from the four major phone carriers. AT&T provides 99% coverage, Verizon comes in at 96.7%, while T-Mobile has 85.5% coverage in the state. Sprint provides the least coverage with only 3.3% coverage but has roaming agreements with the other carriers for areas it does not cover.
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is an internet-based telephone service with a rapidly growing subscriber base. In the US, VoIP subscriptions for business and personal applications have increased remarkably, with user numbers rising from 34.2 million to 118 million between 2010 and 2018.
Can I Search a Phone Number and Find Out Who it Is?
Simply put, the answer is yes. Phone number search tools can retrieve subscriber information from carrier directories simply by querying them with user-submitted phone numbers. A phone number lookup application can be used to perform a phone number lookup by name, address, or any other available information.
If a call is received from a suspicious phone number, there are lookup tools capable of answering the question “who called me.” However, you should note that scammers are able to modify their phone numbers in order to evade detection.
What are Phone Lookup Services?
Phone lookup services are online applications that look up unknown phone numbers and return information about their owners. These services are increasingly popular as a result of the rapid adoption of phone services and the sharp rise in the number of assigned phone numbers.
Most phones have Caller ID, a type of phone lookup service that reveals the available information about the phone number of an incoming call. It identifies callers so you can make informed decisions on whether to screen the call or not. However, a Caller ID is not always accurate. For those trying to hide their identities, there are hacks and apps for tricking Caller ID into displaying other phone numbers and names besides the callers’. Tools capable of fooling Caller ID are popular with scammers.
What Information Can You Get from a South Dakota Phone Number Lookup Search?
A South Dakota phone number lookup search can return the following information about the phone user associated with a submitted number:
- Name
- Address
- Age
- Gender
Most reverse phone lookup free services can find these pieces of information about any phone number available in phone carriers’ databases. Sometimes the details in those records are no longer current. For example, subscribers may change their names, genders, and addresses since they provided these details to their carriers. To find up-to-date information about an unknown caller, try a paid reverse phone lookup service.
Phone number lookup services that charge subscription or one-time fees find information from a wider range of sources. They can find up-to-date information about an unknown caller by checking public social media posts and public listings published online. You can also use paid searches to investigate identified callers, as these services can find public records.
Additional details from these records are useful when doubting the credentials of a cold caller. You can determine whether they are likely to be scammers. Similarly, additional details may be required to fully identify phone stalkers and spam callers. Such details are useful when reporting these fraudsters and nuisances to law enforcement.
What is a VoIP Number?
A VoIP number is a virtual phone number assigned to a VoIP telephone subscriber. Telephone services are basically data transfers between different locations. Landlines use copper wire lines for these transfers, while cellular phones use radio waves, and VoIP uses the internet.
Unlike landline and mobile phone numbers, VoIP numbers are assigned to individuals and not physical equipment. Being able to route calls across the internet gives VoIP certain advantages, such as improved portability, higher efficiency rates, and lower costs. An added advantage of VoIP numbers, especially for businesses, is that a single number can be used on several devices simultaneously. VoIP numbers have proven very convenient across different types of users, including phone scammers.
VoIP calls can be extremely difficult to track, especially if the users do not want to be identified. Because VoIP numbers are assigned to individual users and not fixed equipment, location data is difficult to verify. Consequently, if callers using VoIP services do not wish to be located, they can choose to hide or change their numbers or names. A scammer can make a VoIP phone call from anywhere in the world and have it registered as a local call to the receiver. VoIP numbers can also be altered to look like recognizable numbers, further confusing the receivers and hiding the callers’ true identities. All of these features make VoIP numbers very appealing to phone scammers.
The difficulty in identifying phone scams using VoIP services means that citizens should be extra careful responding to phone calls, even from familiar-looking numbers. The FTC recognizes this need and provides useful information on blocking unwanted calls on its website to help evade scam calls.
What is a South Dakota Phone Number Area Code?
Area codes were first introduced as part of the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) in 1947 by the Bell System and AT&T. The need to facilitate long-distance calling while taking into account the continuously expanding population necessitated the reinvention of the existing telephony service at the time. The NANP was developed to solve these issues.
An area code is a set of three digits that specify designated locations in the NANP. They enable phone connections by identifying different geographical locations during the call routing process. The NANP is currently under the purview of the Federal Communications Commission and is run by the NANP Administrator. The NANP Administrator is charged with the allocation of numbering resources created by the NANP. Implementation and management of allocated numbering resources are handled by each state.
In South Dakota, the state's Public Utilities Commission introduces and manages area code. It is responsible for maintaining the single South Dakota area code currently active.
What is a South Dakota Phone Number Prefix Code?
A phone number prefix code is the set of three digits that comes after the area code in a phone number. They specify a more exact location of a phone number, such as a district or neighborhood. In the telephone number (605) 773-3215, 605 specifies the area code, and 773 is the prefix code. When the international country code is used, such as in +1 (605) 773-3215, +1 specifies the country code, 785 specifies the area code, while 296 is the prefix code.
Is There a Way to Lookup a Phone Number for Free in South Dakota?
Yes, inquirers may lookup a phone number for free in South Dakota using free reverse phone directory websites. All that is required to do a reverse phone lookup on such sites is an active phone number and the state in which it's registered. If a person desires more detailed information, they may need to pay for some services; however, basic contact information such as name, address, and social media profiles may be free. It should be noted that most of these services are not 100% accurate or comprehensive. There might be inconsistencies with their data due to changes in user information or other reasons. Additionally, sometimes confidential numbers cannot be looked up via public records; in such cases, inquirers may need to contact cell providers directly.
Is Reverse Phone Lookup Legal in South Dakota?
Like the rest of the country, South Dakota does not have laws ruling on the legality of reverse phone lookup and does not regulate those providing this service. However, using a phone number lookup search is legal in the state as long as it is used for legitimate purposes. These include identifying unknown callers and investigating phone scams and stalking. South Dakota requires users and providers of reverse phone lookup services to obey its civil and criminal laws while finding strange callers.
Furthermore, they must also respect the privacy of the unknown callers they identify. Following privacy laws is a key part of operating within the framework of South Dakota’s civil laws. Providers of phone number lookup searches must only serve results containing information available in the public domain. These include public posts on social media channels and other online forums as well as court and law enforcement records made available to the public.
