The process of concealing one’s caller identification, often termed “private calling,” allows an individual to make a telephone call without revealing their number to the recipient. This is generally achieved through the use of a specific code or service provided by the telephone carrier. As an example, preceding the dialed number with *67 in the United States and Canada will typically block the caller ID.
The practice of obscuring one’s number serves a variety of purposes, ranging from maintaining personal privacy during infrequent calls to preventing unwanted return calls in business contexts. Historically, this function has been available through operator assistance, but technological advancements have enabled widespread, user-controlled access to this feature. It’s worth noting that emergency services may bypass this block to ascertain the caller’s location for assistance purposes.