There are certain circumstances in which a person does not want to provide a call recipient with information they can trace. Caller ID spoofing is a technology that more phone consumers are using for the purpose of hiding their identity from the people they call. With the technology that is available today, it has become much easier for telephone subscribers to obtain the tools necessary to successfully become a caller ID spoofer.

What type of technology is required? Although there technically are different methods, currently the most popular and widely used option is VoIP. Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, as it is primarily called, is a technology that enables phone calls to be made via an Internet connection. Essentially, when a spoofer uses VoIP, they transfer calls from the telephone provider to the web. A private and secure channel is used, and this is what helps to keep the spoofed call safe from detection.

Other caller ID spoofing technologies include:

- Switch access to the Signaling System #7 (SS7 or C7) network. SS7 is a protocol utilized by telecommunication companies for the purpose of interoffice signaling.

- VoiceXML (VXML). This is a technology that specifies interactive voice dialogs between a computer and a person. It enables voice applications to be created and arranged in an analogous form to HTML for the purpose of visual application.

VoIP is the best method for masking caller identification because it is easy to use, and is a reasonable cost. You can obtain this service from different sources online. However, although Voice over Internet Protocol can be used to protect a phone consumer's privacy, it can also be used to invade it. Thus, not everyone who uses Caller Id spoofing has good intentions. Some use this technology with malicious and criminal intent, such as to trick a call recipient into believing their bank is phoning, and attempting to scam them out of their personal banking information.

Therefore, if you have caller ID, remember that you cannot always trust the information that is displayed on your phone when an incoming call occurs. Nevertheless, although spoofing can be used for illegal purposes, it is one of the best ways to protect your number and identity when you make calls to people you don't know, or don't trust. Hence, a person can attempt a phone number search on your false telephone number, but they will not be able to successfully trace it to you.