In the good old days while employee at TPC , a look at database a pain on a data terminal.
A trip to Kirsten business library in Boston or any major city, and a manual scan of “The Blue Book” would produce the name, address, or any number reverse search style.Listed or unlisted or so called private, non-published.
Both still exist and probably are how most reverse search companies still get their numbers, for a starting point. By a rather pricey subscription cost weekly or monthly. Reason for business library.
False telephone numbers are a whole nother problem.
Back to my phone call, it was a scam, false representation. I didn’t fall for it. I did swear to press charges against them.
And that’s it. One little codicil it’s been approx 40+ years since I worked for TPC (It’s an old Godfrey Cambridge movie line.)
Might or might not be called Blue Book still, whether in data form or printed.
Froze
And yes, after long days/nights, I'd still like to swing these hunks of glass , plastic and silicon against the nearest wall Come on retirement!