Let me first say that doing a free reverse phone search online should be a simple task. However with so many websites vying for your time, the marketing hype and scams abound. How can you just get the information you need without all the hype and be safe online at the same time.

What sites do you visit, where is the best ? Great questions. Let me explain the basics so you can make an informed decision.

An online reverse phone look up is not as clear cut as it should be. Many sites claim they have the information only to try and sell you a membership or some crazy online identity fraud prevention system. So many obstacles, so many choices. The real facts are that most online reverse phone searches and phone directory look up services get their information from similar places.

Let's face it, either the phone number is a land line, a cell phone, a Google voice number, a Magic Jack number, a Skype number or one of a thousand other types of numbers. However, only land line (residential and business) phone numbers are typically published in the white pages or an online phone directory.

There are over a million web sites that sell published phone book information, which if you know where to go, you can get for free. Some also have access to unpublished and even cell phone number information. While others have access to commercially available proprietary data and public records.

Unfortunately there isn't one site that can provide you with a free reverse phone search for every single phone number out there. Area codes split, new numbers are issued every day at a rate that no one can keep up with. People change and port phone numbers to different carriers faster than superman can change his clothes.

How to tell the good web sites from the bad ones. Here are some good rules to follow, not just for reverse phone number searches but for doing business online in general.

Just like going to a store or restaurant near your home you want to make sure that the site you do business with has their house in order. If you walked into a restaurant and it was dirty, smelled gross or had food on the walls, you'd probably walk out.

Well going to a web store that has links and images all over the place or looks sloppy and careless, would give you the same feeling. Stick with your gut instincts. If the housekeeping is poor, do you really want to trust them with your credit card?

There are several trust factors that should help you decide who you do business with online:

Does the web site have any certificates or awards?

Are they a member of any local or national reputable associations (BBB member?)

Is there a toll free or contact phone number with hours for support or help?

Is a real physical address displayed or found?

A Copyright date at the bottom of most web site can help determine length in business. If you go to Google and type "whois and the website name" (ie. whois searchbug.com) it will show you the "created date". Look for web sites with longevity, one's that have been around a while (like a decade).

Avoid web sites:

with no support or contact phone number

with no physical address

with no contact page or a contact page without any contact information only a form

Since I'm in the business of information I've fully investigated many of the scam sites. However, here is a small list of trusted sites.

Searchbug.com - free white and yellow pages, small fee for premium records (unpublished, cell phone, public records plus commercially available private data).

whitepages.com - free white pages as it say

bestpeoplesearch.com - free white page and deep web search

Google.com - use phone book search syntax by typing "rphonebook:name

Google.com - simply enter phone number in Google, only free results no paid results

Once you find a trustworthy site you can then find out the information about the phone number and the mystery will be solved.