I receiveived a call from this number today but did not answer. They left no message so I called the number back just to see if I could identify who was calling. I got the message "The number you have dialed, 626-468-0021, has been disconnected or is no longer in service".
Does anybody know how caller I.D.'s are manipulated to display a phony number?...just curious.

I did not answer the call and they left no message. The caller I.D. displayed the subject phone number along with "California" which I assume indicates it was a cell phone.
I called the number back just to see if I could identify the caller but got the message "The number you have dialed, 626-468-0021, has been disconnected or is no longer in service".

Here's the website for a product which does just that.  I live in area code 626 and yesterday programmed my answering machine to not show "626" if the call was legitimately from my area code.  When "California" called again today and the number showed the 626, I immediately knew it was a spoofed number.  It is sad that "we" now have to spend money to buy devices to attempt to deter these EXCESSIVE, irritating calls.  I also read that it is "illegal" to "spoof" your number, but.....
http://www.spooftel.com/?gclid=CJekzseK878CFQ8daQod1iYAhA
And here's another website which tells you how to do it:  http://www.ehow.com/how_6920460_fake-caller-id.html

Second day in a row "California" at 626 468-0021 called but at different times of the day. As I previously mentioned, yesterday I programmed my answering machine to not show area code 626 (my area code) if the call legitimately came from this area code.  When the 626 appeared in the Calling Number spot, I knew it was not legit.  This helps some as we are Senior citizens and our friends do not like talking to answering machines.  Was concerned that we'd miss important calls from them.

Hang up