What Can Someone Do With Your Phone Number?

This is not just a cautionary list. This is not just a scary story to be told around a campfire. This is not pulled from the plot of a horror movie. Unfortunately, the reality is that there are too many nefarious things that might happen should your private phone number fall into the wrong hands. 

So if you’re really ready to know the answer to the question “what can someone do with your phone number?” here are 20 true examples (and how to prevent them):

1. Identity theft

• A phone number might be all it takes to falsely present as you online.

2. Taking over your account

• Signing in with your phone number without two-factor authentication.

3. Phishing scam

• Sending a phishing text or phishing calls in an attempt to trick you into providing sensitive information.

4. Fraudulent purchasing

• If your number is linked to a store account, it could facilitate an online purchase. 

5. Harassment

• Harassing you or others with unwanted calls or messages. 

6. SIM swap

• A SIM swap tricks your mobile phone provider into transfering your phone number to a different SIM card. 

7. Spoofing

• Making it appear as if calls or messages are coming from you.

8. Blackmail

• Threatening to expose personal information or embarrassing details if you don’t comply with their demands.

9. Hijacking

• Along with your sign-in information, your social media can be hijacked and then passwords changed, effectively locking you out. 

10. Stalking

• Using your phone number to track your whereabouts or monitor your activities.

11. Financial fraud

• Gaining access to bank accounts to steal, make purchases, transfer funds, or otherwise commit financial fraud.

12. Social engineering

• Gathering additional information about you from unsuspecting individuals or companies.

13. Voice phishing (vishing)

• Voice phishing (AKA “vishing”) attacks involve posing as a trusted person to deceive you into providing sensitive information over the phone.

14. Ransomware

• Connecting to ransomware and threatening to release sensitive information or disrupt your services unless you pay a ransom.

15. Cyberbullying

• Using your phone number to engage in immature, cruel, and potentially dangerous cyberbullying against others. 

16. Doxxing 

• Publicly releasing your personal information online with the intent to intimidate or harass you.

17. Data breach

• Selling your number on the dark web or to other malicious sites as part of a larger data breach.

18. Spam calls

• Using your phone number to generate robocalls or send spam messages to you and others, inundating you with unwanted communications.

19. Extortion

• Threatening to harm you or your loved ones unless you comply with their demands.

20. Spyware

• A malicious link or attachment sent as a text message, tricking you into installing spyware on your device that can monitor your activities and steal your data.

So, what can someone do with your phone number? Too much. Way too much. 

The solution? Get yourself a private second phone number with Hushed to use online, to share with companies, and for other public-facing interactions. Keep your regular number close to your chest, be cautious with whom you share it, enable every security feature whenever possible, and stay safe from these truly scary scenarios. 

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