tracfone - blocking a number

[vhelp]

I just got a tracfone for $49 at kmart. Its the Maxpatriot Android Smartphone (CDMA-V -- i think it uses verizon, which i'm trying to get away from completely)

specs:
* kitkat 4.1
* 4" screen
* 5mp camera and recorder
* 3g wifi
* Its one of those 90 day plans @ $19.99
* 60min card gets you: 180 minutes + 180 texts + and 180 MB data

From what i've read on some website reviews, its not a very good phone, with lots of problems.
see http://tracfonereviewer.blogspot.com/2015/01/unimax-maxpatriot-tracfone-review.html

Anyway. Before I break open the box seal, I would like to know if it is possible to block my number from anyone. I want to make it unlisted. In short, my brother says he can get any cell phone number, no matter what. Even if is unlisted. I told him I was planning on getting one but that I would not give him the phone number. He will track me on gps and know where I am 24/7. I thought that was creepy once he said that. Otherwise I may have to return it.

[TreeTops]

I have been using a tracfone for many years now. Using one of the cheapest, not a smart phone, as we don't get cell service here. No way to block any calls on my phone. I suspect that call blocking feature is probably carrier specific and tracfone will not tell you which carrier is going to be yours. Or maybe phone specific. Anyway email tracfone and ask them. Or call them.

[vhelp]

Sorry. What i meant by blocking is to make my phone number unlisted. And I don't want to be tracked since this phone has gps. I assume that as long as you have a person's phone number, you can track them anywhere, and know where they are, where they work, ... etc. I want to prevent that.

[TreeTops]

I can't do that here. I used to be able to block my land line phone number but my carrier was sold and new carrier took that feature away. I don't think you can do it with Tracfone either. But ask them.

[theewizard]

are you going to call your brother ?

if you don't call him, there is no need to try and block the number

you are not on contract, your name is not on any list associated with the phone and number

Verizon
To Deactivate Caller ID on individual outbound calls:

Press *67.
Dial the number.
Press SEND. The words "Private," "Anonymous," or some other indicator will appear on the called party's Caller ID device instead of your wireless number.

try this with somebody you trust, before you call your brother, best thing is just don't call him from your new phone

[vhelp]

thanks for the tips.

I still would like to know how is it possible for anyone to track or find my location through the phone or app.

How exactly does that work ?

[theewizard]

a few years back verizon offered a tracking app to "Parents"
the app went on the Parents phone, and would show them where the KIDs phone loaction
the kids phone had to be on the parents ACCOUNT

supposely there are APPs/malware that will track your location and give that data to the app writer
but this has to be ON your phone, and you had to be tricked into installing it

your brother cannot track your phone and location
unless he has the number
and can hack into the telephone company servers
but THEORETICALLY he could send you an email, that you open that installs a tracking app on your smart phone
if you turn off 'data' in network settings when not using it, nothing can track it

AGAIN..don't give him the number, try to avoid calling him from it
he can't track something that does not have your name in a computer account to be hacked

[cornemuse]

I've been using tracfone for many years. My 1st, a Nokia, died after about 8 years. (same original battery though!) Now a smallish Samsung.
Neither with gps. I got mine for making calls. If I expect a call, I turn it on, if not, its off. Simple. Dont know if I have ever recieved text or phone messages, never checked, not what is for.

-c-

[theewizard]

well thats nice that your phone works for you

but did you read this thread

your answer has absolutely nothing to do with the OP question

[vhelp]

i had an old tracone phone 10 years ago but it was cancelled by the tracone as absolute about 5 years ago. it did not have gps. anyway.

being trackable has its pros and cons. but in my case, its not acceptable for my needs.

at the moment, there is just not enough info for me to understand about this gps on cell phones. I originally wanted to give him the phone number so that I could get rid of verizon completely by cancelling the land line phone. but with gps on this new tracfone it scares me. especially when you know your own brother and what he's capable of, and things he's done in the past that pissed me off. if the number fell into his hands, there's no telling what he would do, relentlessly to me. anyway. i still have a few weeks left to decide. I have not broken the seal, so i'm good to go and return it if i decide. thank you for the insights.

[theewizard]

all phones have GPS built in , its the law, for 911
smart phones can have it off for everything but 911
so internet websites and apps can not track your location

[cornemuse]

well thats nice that your phone works for you

but did you read this thread

your answer has absolutely nothing to do with the OP question

Turning it off blocks #'s

[theewizard]

not what the topic is about

the topic is blocking the QP/callers number when , so the person being called . does not it is on caller ID