How to make your calls untraceable

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Who hasn't gotten an unwanted call?

Now you can protect your number from strangers and give them a fake one, thanks to several apps. But the technology could also be used against you.

A burner phone is the term to describe a disposable prepaid phone used to avoid being tracked. Now, you can turn your own phone into a burner by arming yourself with apps. Streeterville resident Alexei Mlodinow uses a popular app called Burner.

"I think it is great to have the ability to, you know, protect your number when you are selling something on Craigslist or making any transaction like that," Mlodinow said.

Downloading it is free - you pay for credits depending on how many numbers you want to generate and how many texts and minutes you want to use. It can also be a tool for dating.

"Not getting into a situation where you have someone repetitively calling you or texting you - you can kind of provide yourself with that layer of protection," Mlodinow said.

Cynthia Kron says she started using the app after receiving relentless calls following a bad date, including threatening voicemails.

"He was calling and leaving harassing and obscene messages consistently and it scared me," Kron said. "I filed a police report but I didn't know enough about him to find him and file a restraining order."

Just one tap eliminates a number and can cut someone off.

But could that layer of privacy also be used by the wrong people - like someone trying to sell stolen or recalled items online?

Burner says it requires "... all Burner users to have a verified carrier phone number." The app also says "we comply with valid law enforcement requests for subscriber information... when circumstances warrant doing so within our legal and policy framework."

Mlodinow and other users say they love the option to keep important information out of the public eye.

"Your phone number is really an important way of reaching you and an easy way to make your life difficult if someone has it," Mlodinow said.

There are other similar apps out there, like Google Voice.

Burner says it can give users the option to add more numbers for business transactions or food deliveries. The numbers it hands out can be local area codes or any other unused number.