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Steps to take when your phone number is listed publicly online

Harry November 8, 2024

Discovering your phone number is out there for everyone to see is like realizing you’re shouting your business in a crowded room. You may notice (more) spam calls blowing up your phone or having suspicious texts slide into your inbox.

So, if your number has been leaked or publicly listed on the internet, here’s your memo to get it ‘out of sight, out of mind’.

Step 1: Google yourself

First things first – go ahead and type your number into Google. This will help you see where your number is roaming. Type your name along with your phone number and check what comes up.

If you want to dig deeper, check out some people search websites: white pages, PeekYouor select Spokeo. They collect all kinds of public information, so if they have your numbers you’ll know where to start the cleanup.

Step 2: Clear your tracks on people search sites

Then target sites that list your data. Many of these people search platforms, including Whitepages and Spokeo, have opt-out options for removal of your information. Here is the drill:

Visit the website.
Locate the ‘Opt Out’ or ‘Remove List’ section (usually located in the Help or Privacy areas).
Follow its instructions; most people will ask you to fill out a form or send an email request.

Attention: This is not a one-click miracle. You will need to visit each site separately. But think of it as spring cleaning your digital life.

A group of cubes all displaying social media logos

(Image credit: Shutterstock/Bloomicon)

Social media is often the culprit for making too much of your personal data publicly available. Quickly review your privacy settings on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), and any other accounts you use.

On Facebook: Go to your profile by clicking on your account picture and name in the top right corner > Edit details > Update your information > Overview or Contact & basics and make sure only you can see your contact details.
On LinkedIn: Click Your Picture > Settings & Privacy > Name, location and industry > Edit contact information and double-check that your phone number is publicly listed.
On Instagram and X: Although they don’t usually show your phone number, it’s worth checking their settings if they’re linked to your profile.

It only takes a minute, but it can save you from a lot of unwanted attention.

Step 4: Clear cached search results

Have you noticed that something you deleted still appears on Google? This is because search engines occasionally keep ‘cached’ versions of old pages. This means that even if you delete your number from a site, it may still appear in search results.

Fortunately, Google has a Refresh Outdated Content tool that you can use to update search results. Just add the URL where your personal information is located; It will work its magic.

Step 5: Block disturbing calls

If spam calls start invading your phone, it’s time to get serious about call filtering. Both iPhone and Android have built-in settings to silence unknown numbers:

On iPhone: Go to Settings > Phone, scroll down, and tap to turn on Silence Unknown Callers. This way only your contacts can call and unknown numbers will be silenced.
On Android: Open Settings > Spam & Call Filtering or Call blocking (depending on phone model and system version), where you can enable call filtering or block known spammers.

However, third-party applications such as truecaller or Hello It can also provide an extra layer of defense against spam calls. Caller ID on steroids, if you will.

Step 6: Jump to Call Log

If telemarketers are wearing out your patience, the National Do Not Call Registry may give you a breather. Sign up donotcall.gov (For the United States) and within a month the legal marketing calls will start to fade. But keep in mind that this isn’t foolproof, it’s more like an additional layer of armor against spam.

And remember, this only includes legitimate marketers. Fraudsters can still escape; So be careful of unknown numbers.

Step 7: Beware of phishing texts and ‘smishing’

When your number is public, you may notice more spam messages claiming ‘your bank account has been hacked’ or offering a ‘free holiday’. Don’t take the bait! These scams (known as SMS phishing or ‘smishing’) may seem safer, but tapping or responding to links only gives scammers the green light to keep pestering you.

Delete them instead. Additionally, if you’re feeling proactive, you can report spam texts to 7726 (SPAM) on most mobile carriers in the US. Don’t let these scammers fool you.

Step 8: Create a public phone number

If your main number is bored enough, it might be a good idea to get a second public number. Vehicles like Google Voice It allows you to create another phone number that will be forwarded to your real device. You can provide this number instead of your original number on online forms, shopping sites, dating apps, and the like.

Don’t worry if your public number also starts receiving spam. You can easily change your primary phone number without the hassle of changing it.

Even after you’ve done the heavy lifting, be wary of new leaks. Once in a while, repeat steps 1 and 2 to make sure your information doesn’t show up somewhere new. You may also consider a privacy monitoring tool.

Moreover, whenever possible, avoid sharing your phone number when creating a new account anywhere online. The less available to anyone’s use, the better.

final thoughts

Finding your phone number in the wild can feel extremely personal, and dealing with the consequences can be a headache. But remember, you’re doing everything you can to protect your privacy. And in today’s digital jungle, a little effort goes a long way.

While you can’t completely purge yourself from the Internet, these smart apps will help you stay in control and get rid of spammy and fraudulent stuff. So pour yourself a cup of tea (or whatever you like) and calm down. You can do this.

Pasteleria-edelweiss

Pasteleria-edelweiss

Steps to take when your phone number is listed publicly online

Step 1: Google yourself

Harry

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Steps to take when your phone number is listed publicly online

Step 1: Google yourself

Harry

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