New Delhi: Ever wondered why sometimes your phone flashes “Unknown Caller” and at other times it says “No Caller ID”? Turns out, these aren’t just random labels – they reveal completely different stories about who’s trying to reach you.
Tech experts explain that “No Caller ID” means the caller has deliberately hidden their number using the *67 (or #31#) code or through their phone settings. International scam calls, ex-partners, or even celebrities often use this trick. Your phone knows a number exists – it’s just being blocked on purpose.
On the other hand, “Unknown Caller” appears when the network itself cannot identify the caller at all. This usually happens with VoIP calls (WhatsApp, Google Voice), calls from old landlines, or when the telecom operator fails to transmit the number. Fraudsters running call centres abroad love this option because even Truecaller can’t trace them.
“Most dangerous spam and loan recovery calls now show ‘Unknown Caller’ because they route through internet servers,” says cybercrime analyst Rakshit Tandon. “No Caller ID can still be traced by police if needed, but Unknown ones are almost ghost calls.”
Both iPhones and Android devices display these differently, but the silence feature works the same – go to Settings > Phone > Silence Unknown Callers (iOS) or use the built-in spam filter on Google Dialler to send them straight to voicemail.
Next time your phone rings with either label, you’ll know exactly what kind of mystery is on the other end!