Analyzing Phone Records: What They can Reveal and How to Interpret Them

It’s late at night, and you’re cozied up with your partner, watching a movie. Suddenly, their phone rings. You see their expression change for a moment before they decide to ignore the call. And it’s not the first time this has happened. With each ignored call, that nagging voice in your head keeps getting louder; something just doesn’t feel right.

Or maybe you’re a parent, noticing your child getting frequent calls during dinner or late at night. It’s hard not to worry, right?

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In either case, ignoring your curiosity might drive you crazy. But here’s the catch: how do you even analyze phone records? And once you have them, how do you make sense of it all?

One of the most useful data sources for tracking these activities is a phone record. But what exactly can phone records reveal? How can someone interpret this information? In this blog post, we’ll break down what phone records are, what they can show, and how they can be used, all in simple language that even a high schooler can understand.

Analyzing phone records

What Are Phone Records?

A phone record is like a diary kept by your phone. It logs details about calls, text messages, and even data usage. According to recent statistics, the average American spends 4 hours and 37 minutes looking at their phone every day. That quickly adds up over time to about 1 day every week, 6 days every month, and 70 days every year. This time is sometimes more than the time an average American person spends with his parents or loved ones.

 So just by looking at These records are stored by your phone company, and law enforcement agencies or individuals (like employers or family members) might request access to them under certain conditions. There are two types of phone records message records and call records.     

  1. Call Detail Records (CDRs): 

This is a detailed log of every call made or received. It includes:

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  • Phone numbers of both the caller and the recipient.
  • The exact length of the call is typically shown in minutes and seconds.
  • The precise date and time the call was made or received.
  • Whether the call was incoming, outgoing, or missed.
  • Location information is based on the cell tower used during the call.
  • Charges or billing information, if applicable.
  • Details about the service provider used for the call.
  • Country codes for international calls.

 2. Message Detail Record (CDR): 

This is a detailed log of every messages made or received. It includes,

  • Phone numbers of both the sender and the recipient.
  • The exact date and time when the message was sent and received.
  • Type of message: SMS (text) or MMS (multimedia, including pictures videos).
  • The size or length of the message is often measured in characters or kilobytes.
  • Indicates whether the message was successfully delivered or failed.
  • The location of the cell tower used to send or receive the message provides rough location data.
  • Information about the carrier used to send the message.
  • The cost associated with sending the message, if applicable.
Analyzing phone records

What Can Phone Records Reveal?

In today’s world, let’s be real: phone records can reveal more about a person than they might admit. According to a recent survey, Nearly 3 in 5 (59%) use their phones on the toilet, and 27% text while at stoplights. These records go way beyond just showing who called or texted. They’re more like a window into someone’s social circle, who they interact with, and, more importantly, who they might be contacting when you’re not around.

You might think that phone records only show who you’ve called and when, but they can tell a lot more than that. Here are some key pieces of information phone records can reveal:

1. Social Networks and Relationships

Phone records can map out who you frequently communicate with. If you call or text someone a lot, it’s clear that they’re important to you. Investigators can use this to understand personal relationships, whether they’re family, friends, colleagues, or even people you might not want others to know about.

  •  Phone records reveal who you talk to the most, whether it’s a family member, close friend, or coworker.
  • If someone shows up a lot in your call or text history, it’s a sign they play a big role in your life.
  • Investigators can spot personal connections just by seeing who you reach out to regularly.
  • If you’re frequently in touch with someone you prefer to keep secret, phone records can bring that to light.
  • By looking at your communication patterns, investigators can piece together who’s in your inner circle.

2. Patterns and Routines

By analyzing the dates and times of calls or messages, it’s possible to understand your daily routine. For example, if you always make a phone call at 7 AM, it might suggest you’re commuting or starting your day. Consistent phone activity at certain locations can show where you spend most of your time, like home, work, or school.

  • The time of phone calls or messages reveals when a person tends to start their day, commute, or engage in routine activities.
  • Example: Regular calls at 7 AM suggest the individual might be commuting or beginning their morning routine.
  • Frequent phone activity at specific times and locations indicates where the person spends a significant amount of time.
  • Example: Calls made consistently from one location could point to their home, workplace, or school.
  • Regular patterns of calls or messages help in identifying a person’s daily schedule or routine, offering insight into their lifestyle.
Analyzing phone records

3. Location Tracking

Most people don’t realize that phone records can reveal their location. This is because phones connect to nearby cell towers, and the record of which tower was used during a call or text is saved. With this information, someone could figure out if you were in a certain city, neighborhood, or even near a specific building at a given time.

  • When a phone makes a call or sends a text, it connects to a nearby cell tower. The connection to specific towers is logged in phone records.
  • Phone records indicate which cell tower was used during a communication, providing a geographical clue of where the phone was at that time.
  • The logged cell tower data can determine whether someone was in a general area, such as a city or neighborhood, and sometimes even near a specific building.
  • The time of the call or text logged in the records can match with the location to pinpoint where someone was at a precise moment.

4. Unexpected Connections

Even though you may not realize it, your phone records could show connections between people. If two people regularly call or text the same third person, it can suggest they know each other. This is useful in investigations, as it helps authorities track down groups of people who may be working together.

  • Even if individuals are unaware, frequent communication patterns between them and a third party can suggest an unexpected connection.
  • If two people are regularly contacting the same third person, it could indicate that they may know each other, even if there is no direct communication between them.
  • Authorities can use these patterns to uncover groups of people who might be collaborating, revealing connections that were not immediately apparent.
  • This method is particularly useful in identifying larger groups that may be working together covertly.
Analyzing phone records

5. Personal Preferences and Interests

While phone records don’t show specific internet browsing history, your data usage can provide clues. Large spikes in data usage may suggest you’re streaming videos, using social media, or playing online games. Patterns in how and when you use data can be used to guess what kinds of apps or services you’re using.

  •  Significant increases in data usage might indicate activities such as streaming videos, using social media, or playing online games. These spikes can hint at your interests in entertainment or social engagement.
  • The timing and frequency of data usage can reveal your habits. For example, if data usage peaks during certain hours, it may suggest when you’re most active on social media or engaged in online activities.
  • By analyzing data usage patterns, investigators can make educated guesses about the types of apps or services you are using. For example, frequent high data usage during the evening might suggest evening video streaming or gaming sessions.
  • Consistent data usage trends can provide insights into your hobbies and preferences, such as a preference for mobile gaming, social networking, or video content based on the type and volume of data consumed.
Analyzing phone records

How to Obtain Phone Records:

Now, the question arises of how we are going to obtain the phone records. According to a survey published on one of the websites, 30% to 50% percent of people hide their phones from their partners.  The easiest way is to check your partner or kid’s phone to see any suspicious activities and calls, but that would be an invasion of privacy. So to avoid this, let us go through the legal ways and methods to obtain phone records when the phone is not ours. 

1. Obtaining Your Own Phone Records

The simplest method for accessing your own phone records is to contact your phone company directly. Call their customer service line, specify the months or dates you need records for, and follow their instructions. Be prepared to verify your identity by providing details like your account number, phone number, address, and possibly a PIN or Social Security Number.

Most phone companies charge a fee for providing detailed records, especially if you request paper copies. In some cases, you may be able to receive a scanned PDF for free. Always inquire about the cost before making your request.

Many phone companies offer an online portal where you can request your phone records. Log into your account on the company’s website and look for options labeled “usage,” “records,” or similar. If you don’t have an account, you may need to create one first.

Analyzing phone records

2. Installing Phone Monitoring App

If you need to keep track of your partner or child’s phone use, consider installing a monitoring app. It’s an easy way to stay informed about who they’re talking to and what’s being said. If you’re feeling extra cautious, you could even use the app to monitor your partner’s phone; just remember to handle with care Popular options include TeenSafe, mSpy, and The Spy Bubble. These apps can track calls, messages, and even the phone’s location. Remember, it’s crucial to install these apps on a phone that you own and provide to your partner and child rather than sneaking onto a phone they purchased themselves.

Set aside time each day to review the phone’s usage. Depending on how frequently your partner or child uses their phone, this task might seem overwhelming, but daily check-ins can make it more manageable.

Following is the list of top Phone monitoring apps available 

  • mSpy
  • Eyezy
  • FamiSafe
  • FlexiSPY
  • uMobix
  • ClevGuard-Anti Spy Scanner App
  • iKeyMonitor
  • MobiStealth
  • Qustodio Parental Control App

3.Call the Phone Company Directly:

If you prefer, you can also request phone records directly from the phone company, especially if the phone is in your name and you’re covering the service costs. Review these records to check calls and text messages’ timestamps and recipients, though you won’t be able to read the text content.

4. Obtain Phone Records Through Court:

When involved in a legal dispute, obtaining phone records can be crucial for building your case. Phone records may serve as vital evidence in various situations, from proving a connection between individuals in criminal cases to validating claims of infidelity in divorce proceedings.

Phone records can be crucial in legal proceedings, such as divorce cases or criminal trials. If you need these records for a lawsuit, ensure you have a valid legal reason and the lawsuit is already filed.

During the discovery phase of the lawsuit, you can request the production of phone records from the opposing party. Be specific about the records you need, including date ranges and the reasons these records are relevant to your case.

 If the opposing party does not voluntarily provide the records, you may need to issue a subpoena to the phone company. This legal document compels the company to release the records. Consult with a lawyer to properly prepare and serve the subpoena.

Analyzing phone records

How to Interpret Phone Records

When you get your Call Detail Records (CDRs) from the company, they might look like they’re written in code. These records are full of numbers and abbreviations that can seem like they’re straight out of a secret agent’s notebook. But fear not; We’ve got a solution for you.

We’re providing you with a super helpful table that breaks down all those cryptic codes into simple, everyday language. Think of it as your personal translation guide for call data. With this table, you’ll be able to understand exactly what’s what without scratching your head or needing a spyglass.

NAME ON YOUR REPORTDESCRIPTION
Calling NumberSubscriber who made the call.
Called NumberSubscriber who received the call.
Queried NumberSubscriber to be billed (this may be a duplicate, so numbers with this value other than the target are deleted).
Destination NumberThe final destination number to which the network connected the call (might be different from the one dialed by the subscriber if network translation was applied).
Dialed NumberDialed digits.
DateDate of the call in the format mm/dd/yyyy.
Time24-hour time format – hh
TimezoneTimezone of the call.
Timezone TypeTimezone type: S = switch timezone; T = Tower timezone.
DurationDuration of the call in the format hh
DirectionDirection of the call: 0 = outgoing; 1 = incoming.
LAC1st LAC (Location Area Code) value in decimal.
Cell ID1st Cell Site ID value in decimal.
EnodeEnode (LAC, Cell ID, Sector for LTE sites).
TRouteTerminating Route: LAC CI value. This is a combination of the Last LAC and CI.
Answer StatusAnswer status of the call: 1 = Unanswered; 2 = Answered.
Completion CodeCompletion code: 0 = completed successfully; 3 or 4 = abnormal completion (network interruption).

Final Words:

Phone records are powerful tools that can reveal a lot about a person’s life, from their social circles to their daily routines and even their location. While they can be useful for law enforcement, employers, or even parents, it’s important to understand what these records show and how they can be interpreted. 

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