*57 - 12/15/07 03:01 PM
How effective would using *57 call trace be to find out where a call come from? Caller ID info says 1-877-241-1442 which is a bogus number
Re: *57 - 12/15/07 04:40 PM
Here is Pennsylvania's take on the matter
*57 or Appropriate Call Trace Code. A call trace feature offered by the Commonwealth's telecommunication carrier which can be activated by pressing a designated code. The feature code locks the last incoming call in storage. The information is only accessible by the responsible law enforcement agency. Most locations provisioned as Type 1 and 2 lines from TelCove utilize the *57 feature code; however, Type 5 lines (re-billed lines from Independent Vendors) are handled differently according to each Vendor.
(1) Lines located in Sprint territory carry the *57 call trace capability on all lines. However, they will not report a trace to the authorities until 3 successful traces have been made.
(2) Lines located in Commonwealth Telephone Company and Northeastern Telephone territory, as
well as Business Lines in Verizon territory automatically carry the *57 call trace feature. However, Centrex lines in those territories may have different codes and agencies should refer to the list on the OA/BIO website listed below.
NOTE: Some rural areas and old PBX systems may not be equipped to handle the Call Trace feature.
*57 or Appropriate Call Trace Code. A call trace feature offered by the Commonwealth's telecommunication carrier which can be activated by pressing a designated code. The feature code locks the last incoming call in storage. The information is only accessible by the responsible law enforcement agency. Most locations provisioned as Type 1 and 2 lines from TelCove utilize the *57 feature code; however, Type 5 lines (re-billed lines from Independent Vendors) are handled differently according to each Vendor.
(1) Lines located in Sprint territory carry the *57 call trace capability on all lines. However, they will not report a trace to the authorities until 3 successful traces have been made.
(2) Lines located in Commonwealth Telephone Company and Northeastern Telephone territory, as
well as Business Lines in Verizon territory automatically carry the *57 call trace feature. However, Centrex lines in those territories may have different codes and agencies should refer to the list on the OA/BIO website listed below.
NOTE: Some rural areas and old PBX systems may not be equipped to handle the Call Trace feature.
Re: *57 - 12/15/07 05:43 PM
Ugh, it's been a long day. I can't even read questions correctly. 
Re: *57 - 12/15/07 09:47 PM
Exactly, Don. The use of the *57 feature is only of value to law enforcement personnel. An end user cannot gain any information from this service.
Here in the GTE portion of Verizon's service territory, they also charge $2.00 per trace attempt and you never know if it worked or not.
Here in the GTE portion of Verizon's service territory, they also charge $2.00 per trace attempt and you never know if it worked or not.
Re: *57 - 12/16/07 06:57 AM
Three things to remember when initiating a Customer Originated Trace:
1. Initiating the trace must be done after the call you want to trace has already completed. Many people dial *57 while the call they wish to trace is still in progress. This doesn't work. You must wait until the call you wish to trace has already completed. Dial *57 as quickly as possible to initiate the trace prior to receiving another inbound call.
2. Make sure you stay on the line after dialing *57. You should receive a voice announcement informing you that the trace was completed as requested. This announcement may also provide other special instructions based on your specific provider or servicing CO's internal procedures.
3. As precisely as possible, make sure that you annotate the exact time you received the call, and also the exact time that you initated the call trace. This saves the law enforcement agencies alot of time when coordinating to retrieve this trace data from the servicing CO.
1. Initiating the trace must be done after the call you want to trace has already completed. Many people dial *57 while the call they wish to trace is still in progress. This doesn't work. You must wait until the call you wish to trace has already completed. Dial *57 as quickly as possible to initiate the trace prior to receiving another inbound call.
2. Make sure you stay on the line after dialing *57. You should receive a voice announcement informing you that the trace was completed as requested. This announcement may also provide other special instructions based on your specific provider or servicing CO's internal procedures.
3. As precisely as possible, make sure that you annotate the exact time you received the call, and also the exact time that you initated the call trace. This saves the law enforcement agencies alot of time when coordinating to retrieve this trace data from the servicing CO.