Can You Get Someone’s Phone Number Using Proximity with an iPhone?

Recently, I went on a date where we inadvertently skipped the step of exchanging phone numbers. Although my date provided their number at the end of the evening, I didn’t save it or reach out afterward. To my surprise, after deleting our conversation on Bumble, I received a text message that left me curious.

This led me to wonder about the technological possibilities behind retrieving someone’s contact information. I was aware that my AirDrop settings were configured to allow connections only from people in my contacts. However, I have always thought that obtaining a phone number via proximity wasn’t feasible.

So, can anyone shed light on how this might have happened? I utilize an iPhone XR with the latest software update, and I’m interested in learning more about whether it’s possible for someone to reach out through proximity features without prior permission or contact. Your insights would be greatly appreciated!