How to Log and Report Malicious Calls with Call Trace (*57)
How to Log and Report Malicious Calls with Call Trace (*57)
Section titled “How to Log and Report Malicious Calls with Call Trace (*57)”SIPSTACK’s *Call Trace (57) feature lets you flag and record details of a malicious call — including the phone number, date, and time — immediately after it occurs. This information is securely stored by SIPSTACK and can be shared with law enforcement upon request. Call Trace is designed for serious incidents such as harassment, threats, or obscene calls.
What is Call Trace (*57)?
Section titled “What is Call Trace (*57)?”Call Trace is a feature that captures the details of the most recently received call on your line. When you dial *57, the call information is logged in SIPSTACK’s system. This information is not displayed to you directly — it is stored for authorized release to law enforcement agencies.
How to Use Call Trace
Section titled “How to Use Call Trace”- Hang up as soon as possible after receiving the malicious call.
- Dial *57 immediately using the same phone line, before making or receiving any other call.
- Listen for the confirmation message. A recorded message confirms that the call has been traced and logged.
- Contact law enforcement if the call involves threats or illegal activity. Inform them you have used Call Trace. SIPSTACK can provide the traced call details to authorities with your permission.
- For fraud-related calls, you may also contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.
Availability and Cost
Section titled “Availability and Cost”- Availability: Call Trace is available to most SIPSTACK customers with an active phone plan. Contact SIPSTACK Support to confirm eligibility for your account.
- Cost: A fee of $5.00 per trace may apply.
When to Use Call Trace
Section titled “When to Use Call Trace”*Use Call Trace (57) for:
- Threats, harassment, or illegal calls requiring law enforcement involvement
Use other tools for:
- Everyday robocalls or telemarketing (use spam filtering or call blocking)
- Reporting nuisance numbers (use your device’s built-in report spam function)
Additional Call Management Tools
Section titled “Additional Call Management Tools”| Tool | Best For |
|---|---|
| Call Trace (*57) | Serious threats or harassment requiring law enforcement |
| Spam call filtering | Automated identification of suspicious callers before they reach you |
| Device block/report spam | Marking individual numbers on iOS or Android |
| National Do Not Call List | Reducing telemarketing calls — register at 1-866-580-3625 or via the CRTC website |
Frequently Asked Questions
Section titled “Frequently Asked Questions”Does Call Trace work on both landlines and mobile phones? Yes, as long as it is enabled on your plan. Contact SIPSTACK Support to confirm compatibility.
Can I see the caller’s details after tracing? No. The traced call information is stored securely by SIPSTACK and only released to authorities with your explicit permission.
*What if I forgot to dial 57 right away? Call Trace only captures the last call received. If another call came in before you dialed *57, the previous call cannot be traced.