How can the police tap cell phones?

The police must first obtain a wiretap order before eavesdropping on your phone conversations. This is similar to a warrant. The police must prove to a judge that they have probable cause to believe that tapping your phone lines will help them to solve a serious crime, such as drug trafficking, money laundering, or terrorism. read more

December 10, 2013 in Freedom of Information, Frequently Asked Questions. Some of the most popular crime movies and television shows feature “tapped” phones and law enforcement officers listening in on suspects’ phone conversations. read more

Police are also required to limit wiretapping only to phone conversations that are likely to yield evidence against the suspect. Pen Registers and Tap and Traces. Two other investigative methods are "pen registers" and "tap and traces." Pen registers record all numbers dialed from a particular phone line. read more

For smart phones, you might be able to install a tap detecting app that can pick up on tap signals and unauthorized access to your cell phone data. The effectiveness of these apps is debatable, so even these may not provide you with irrefutable proof. read more