Dangers of Giving People Your Phone Number and Email
How to Prevent Your Social Media from Popping Up, When You Do
-The Tactical Victim-
It’s a Mindset, a New Way of Life 🔒
It is very common to give out your phone number or email these days.
After dealing with my domestic violence and stalking abuse, threats, I became very aware of how easily information about us spread.
Email Security: Risks in Your Email’s Name You Never thought of | by The Tactical Victim | Medium
Pre-Paid:
Use pre-paid phones, and avoid using the main carriers for any type of service.
— If you use them for your pre-paid number, you need to make sure your name isn’t anywhere attached, that they let you type Everything in and so forth.
However, other stores with pre-paid phones are a better option, as you will be the one who sets up the phone from start to finish.
Social Media Connectedness
When we sign up for any social media site, they require either an email or phone number.
For convenience, you can opt to have the website pull up your phone/emails contacts, for the purposes of networking.
At the same time, those you give your email or number to, can do that with you as well.
Example: Have you noticed whenever you get someone number, their Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, show up?
The Danger:
After becoming a victim of violence, I have found the risk increases.
These sites will reveal your:
- Work Location
- Home
- Friends
- Places You Visit
- First and Last Name
All these “tid bits”, make it relatively easy for someone to find you.
My Abuser used All of this, to harass and try and harm me physically..
-So, this information is important to keep secret.
The Solution:
When you sign up to social media sites, dating websites, or anything else online, use a separate email for that.
In some cases, you can use a “temporary email service”.
Other times, you will need to a an email dedicated to that.
It could be a gmail or, you can use Mail.com.
What About Phone Numbers?
The best alternative, is Google Voice.
- You can also use WhatsApp for your Google Voice number too
In Practice:
Have your banking, social media, with one number, and then use Google Voice for those you meet, or for career contacts.
This article provides a variety of options.
- Some of these options are less reliable than others, have lot of ads, or don’t work for signing up.
- Usually, the paid ones are better and more reliable
Google voice still works with other services that require your phone number.
Some Resources and Options
Best Free Internet Phone Calls Apps (June 2023) (lifewire.com)
The 9 Best Second Phone Number Apps of 2023 (lifewire.com)
The 5 Best Apps to Make Free International Calls (2023) (lifewire.com)
I haven’t Tried Any of These. But, it’s worth a look
Best VoIP Cell Phone Service Providers 2023 — Forbes Advisor
-The Tactical Victim-
It’s a Mindset, a New Way of Life 🔒
