topic Re: Someone is receiving calls from my number! in Get Support

Someone is receiving calls from my number!

eternal — Tue, 04 Jan 2022 20:48:52 GMT

Strange problem here! Apparently a stranger received two missed calls from my phone number today (I got the person to read the number out loud so I know they weren't mistaken). They called me back thinking they missed a call, but I don't have any outgoing calls on my phone's history. It doesn't seem like a scam either because the person was confused as well. Any idea what can cause this?

Re: Someone is receiving calls from my number!

matbasm — Fri, 30 Mar 2018 20:55:31 GMT

One thing that comes to mind would be someone spoofing their number with yours. Also, any chance you have another app that could be dealing out?

Re: Someone is receiving calls from my number!

computergeek541 — Fri, 30 Mar 2018 21:03:43 GMT

@eternalwrote:
Strange problem here! Apparently a stranger received two missed calls from my phone number today (I got the person to read the number out loud so I know they weren't mistaken). They called me back thinking they missed a call, but I don't have any outgoing calls on my phone's history. It doesn't seem like a scam either because the person was confused as well. Any idea what can cause this?

This could be a case of a cell phone carrier mistakenly assigning a phone number to more than one person. That has happened before, and even to me where Telus assigned my phone number to another customer at the same time I had the phone number active at a different carrier.

In addition, this could be a case of someone attempting to port your phone number to another carrier (even if it's by accident with a mistyped phone number). While some carriers assign temporary phone numbers or don't assign the requested number that is being transfered to the account until the phone number port is fully completed, some carriers don't do it like that. Some carriers (including all Telus brands) immediately assign the request phone number to the account before authorization for the transfer has even been confirmed by the old carrier. This means that if I were to take random Canadian phone number and tell Public Mobile to port it into my account, all outgoing calls will show the caller ID information of that phone number, even though I don't have the right to use that number. Eventually Public Mobile would force you to change the number because the number port request would be rejected, but in the meanwhile, someone could keep using your phone number for outgoing calls.

This third scenario is the most likely. It is easy to spoof phone numbers. People can use software or some websites to make the call display information for an outgoing call show any phone number that they wish.

Re: Someone is receiving calls from my number!

passiveegg — Fri, 30 Mar 2018 21:20:45 GMT

The only solution I can think of is that someone is just using your number as a spoof because they aren't any other ways to do it.

Re: Someone is receiving calls from my number!

Korth — Fri, 30 Mar 2018 21:30:47 GMT

A fourth possibility (although actually the first I would consider likely):

The issue is not technical or network-related at all. It is human error. Numbers can be transcribed incorrectly every time they're spoken or heard, written or read. The person who received the calls from "your" number may genuinely believe no mistake is possible, yet still be entirely incorrect.

Technical malfunctions happen all the time, true ... but if this a one-time thing then I'd dismiss it as human error, I'd only consider it something more after it's confirmed over multiple instances and multiple sources.

Re: Someone is receiving calls from my number!

will13am — Fri, 30 Mar 2018 22:06:39 GMT

@eternal, it might be worthwhile asking the moderator team to look into this anomaly. The moderator team can be reached via private message using this link. Refer to the following link for information on contacting the moderator team.

http://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/Knowledge-Base/Updated-Contacting-our-Community-Moderators/ta-p/76452

Re: Someone is receiving calls from my number!

LEGO — Sat, 31 Mar 2018 01:47:01 GMT

@eternal And this had surprised you? How about your own number calling you? This happened to me twice on landline.

Re: Someone is receiving calls from my number!

Mulder7983 — Fri, 06 Apr 2018 15:05:08 GMT

i wont private chat pm and change the number

Re: Someone is receiving calls from my number!

Luddite — Fri, 06 Apr 2018 16:41:59 GMT

@Mulder7983 If you are wishing to connect with the moderators click this: message to moderators to send a private message to the moderator team with your phone number, account PIN, and an explanation. Moderator hours are: Monday - Friday 9AM (ET) - 9PM (ET); Saturday - Sunday 9AM (ET) - 7:30PM (ET).