Understanding Phone Number Spoofing: A Personal Experience and Call for Help

Introduction

Recently, I found myself in a rather unsettling situation. While catching up with an old friend over a Zoom call, they informed me that they had been receiving strange texts from my number—texts that I definitely did not send. The nature of these messages was quite innocuous, reminiscent of the common “New phone, who’s this?” type, but they also included some unusual photos I recognized from various “troll” accounts online. This raised a red flag for me, as it strongly suggested someone might be playing with phone number spoofing.

The Situation Unfolds

Initially, I dismissed it as a minor glitch, perhaps linked to some of the ongoing issues with number spoofing commonly used in scams. However, as the conversations progressed, it became clear that these texts were not maliciously intended for scamming—they felt more like an experiment to gauge who might respond. Frustrated and concerned, I took to Reddit to see if others had experienced something similar and to gather advice on how to mitigate the situation.

I documented the spam messages and shared them on the Verizon subreddit, hoping that someone might have useful insights or solutions. View the post here.

Seeking Solutions

After reaching out to Verizon for assistance, I received confirmation that the texts were not being sent through their network. This led me to suspect that my Apple ID could have been compromised. I quickly learned the importance of changing passwords and securing personal accounts—something I’ve now completed.

In light of this incident, I took proactive measures to inform my contacts, especially my friend who first alerted me to the problem. Additionally, I decided to update my financial institutions and remove my number from any associated accounts as a precautionary step.

Reflections and Advice

This experience has highlighted a critical issue faced by many individuals today: the vulnerability of our personal information. Living in a remote area during the pandemic, I hadn’t anticipated that someone could access my phone number or impersonate me. I remain skeptical that someone close to me would engage in such behavior, as it seemed more like a prank than a serious threat.

I encourage anyone facing similar issues to act swiftly—change your passwords, contact your service providers, and