How to Trace a Fake IP

Identify the IP Address

1. Identify the IP address you would like to trace. The IP address can be found in email headers and is sometimes found in server or login information from bulletin boards, forums and other online services. The IP address will look like this: XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX. Each position in the address may be one, two or three numbers.

2. Trace an IP address using a free service such as What is My IP, IP-Address, or Arul John. Type the IP address into the search box and click the 'Search' or 'Enter' button. Some servers will show you each 'hop' the route takes until it lands on the IP address for which you are searching. Other servers will just show you the originating server information of the IP address.

3. Trace an IP address from your computer using the 'tracert' function in the DOS Command Prompt. Access the command box by clicking 'Start' and selecting 'Run.' Type 'cmd' in the dialog box and click 'OK.' When the Command Prompt opens, type 'tracert' followed by the IP address. It will look like this: tracert 192.168.1.1. The 'tracert' function will return the name and IP address of each server contacted on the way to the destination IP. The final entry will show the IP address you searched, followed by the name of the server that issued the IP address.