Can You Grab Someone’s Phone Number via Proximity on an iPhone?

In today’s digital dating landscape, navigating the complexities of communication can sometimes feel overwhelming. Recently, I had an interesting experience following a date that left me pondering a curious question: Is it really possible to obtain another person’s phone number through proximity on an iPhone?

After wrapping up a great evening with someone I met via Bumble, we ended the night without exchanging contact information—he shared his number with me, but I failed to save it. Not long after I deleted our conversations from the app, I received a text message that caused me to raise an eyebrow.

Here’s the scenario: my AirDrop settings are configured to allow requests only from my contacts. This makes me question how he managed to reach me without having my number saved in his phone. Is there a way for someone to capture personal information when you’re nearby, especially using an iPhone XR with the latest software update?

While there are various communication methods available today, the concept of acquiring someone’s phone number simply through proximity does raise concerns about privacy and technological capabilities.

If anyone has insights or experiences related to this topic, I’d love to hear your thoughts. How does this work? Is it something unique to certain apps, or is there more at play here than I realize? Your expertise could help clarify this modern dating dilemma!