All phone numbers are recycled. No one gets rid of a number without a good reason since it a pain in the butt to notify everyone. So now you know why the former owners got rid of that number.
I recently got a new cell phone number and am flooded every day with phone calls to try to sell me health insurance. I've asked all of them to remove my number from their call list. They say they will remove it from his/her own call list but another representative may call back. Also its a different phone number every time.
All phone numbers are recycled. No one gets rid of a number without a good reason since it a pain in the butt to notify everyone. So now you know why the former owners got rid of that number.