Every once in awhile I get a call from an area code and/or phone number I don't recognize. Nine out of ten times it's Direct TV trying to up-sell additional services or someone seeking donations. But occasionally the number seems like a residential number in my own area or nearby...yet...my phone's address book doesn't connect a name with the number.

Maybe a friend switched providers and numbers, or maybe someone I know is calling from their work line (worst case scenario, someone is hassling you via phone). Here's a method to help reverse track someone calling you without paying a fee...

Unlike in the past with land lines, there isn't a directory for cell phone numbers, which means there are a multitude of pay online services providing reverse search information for names, numbers, and addresses. But because a great many of us are now social media site users, there's a Google search trick you can use to yield a connection between name and numbers:

Using Google.com, type in the following with the phone number in place of brackets and "phone number here":

[phone number here] site:facebook.com

If, for example, you are trying to do a reverse cell phone search free on the number 888-123-4567, you would enter:

888-123-4567 site:facebook.com

If the ubiquitous Facebook doesn't work, try switching out LinkedIn.com or Google+ for the site designation. If the person is active online, there's a decent chance this search technique will bring back some information.

(Image: Gregory Han)