In today’s digital age, personal information is more vulnerable than ever before. One such piece of information that can be easily obtained and misused is a phone number. Recently, there have been numerous reports of phone numbers being found on the dark web. In this article, we will explore what this means and what steps you can take to protect yourself.
Use Caution With Suspicious Emails
The Texas Department of Public Safety provides the “Identity Theft Brochure” only as a convenience. USERS ARE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR VERIFYING THE ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, CURRENCY AND SUITABILITY OF ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN. The Department does not endorse, guarantee or warrant any of the referenced commercial products or services and any mention of commercial products or services is for informational purposes only. The Department has provided links to Internet sites maintained by third parties which may be of interest to users, but for which this agency has no responsibility. The Department makes no representations or warranties of any kind as to the accuracy or any other aspect of the information contained on such Internet sites.
What is the Dark Web?
Spoof Your Phone Number When Scamming Other People
Pay for premium and you’ll also get text message alerts, webhook alerts, queries to Hashcast’s API, and leakage source information. DeHashed offers a feature-rich, powerful, and fast API that integrates with a company’s own security applications. On average, DeHashed queries take 80µs (with HTML generation), and their API takes just 25µs. 1000’s of law enforcement agencies and Fortune 500 companies utilize DeHashed for their day-to-day investigative and protection needs.
The dark web is a part of the internet that is intentionally hidden and is inaccessible through traditional web browsers. It is often associated with illegal activities, such as the sale of stolen personal information, drugs, and weapons. The dark web uses a special browser called Tor, which allows users to remain anonymous while browsing.
Integrated Security
Even the best identity theft protection can’t prevent every data leak. A monitoring service will notify you if your social security number, credit card number or other sensitive information has appeared on the dark web. If you encounter strange activity, ask the institution to close the account.
How Did My Phone Number End Up on the Dark Web?
“Data is transmitted very quickly. There’s no ship time. Criminals buy it, they get it instantly, and they can cash it out,” said Wilson. Dark Web Monitoring provides a dynamic approach to fraud and identity protection by actively seeking out compromised information, helping you stay one step ahead of hackers and cybercrooks. The dark web is a place where identity thieves can buy or sell personal information on hard-to-find websites and forums.
Of 8 People Killed In Head-on Crash In California ID’d
If your information is part of a dossier that includes multiple pieces of personal data, then you should take immediate action to protect yourself against identity theft and other cybercrime. The FTC’s (Federal Trade Commission’s) identity theft portal is a great place to start. Yes, you should be worried if your information is on the dark web. How worried will depend on what information is out there and the context in which it appears on the dark web. If it’s just your phone number that’s been published as part of a huge data breach, you should take precautions but everything should be OK. You can get your personal data off of these sites by manually going through each company’s opt-out procedure.
- Change your passwords often, and use a password manager if you tend to forget passwords or don’t know how to create strong options.
- But before visiting any sites on the dark web, get comprehensive cybersecurity software to protect yourself from any threats you may encounter.
- They will guide you through changing your number and help transfer your contacts and important information to the new one.
- They will also work to resolve any ID theft issues that may come up and can even reimburse you for funds lost depending on the coverage you choose.
- This will ensure that your traffic is encrypted and that your IP address is hidden.
There are several ways your phone number could have ended up on the dark web. One common way is through data breaches. Hackers can gain access to large databases containing personal information, including phone numbers. They can then sell this information on the dark web to anyone who is willing to pay.
Another way your phone number could have ended up on the dark web is through social engineering. This is when someone tricks you into giving them your personal information, often through phishing emails or phone calls. Once they have your phone number, they can sell it on the dark web.
Online enrollees will receive notification of these changes via email. First-time CustomersAll first-time customers are eligible to purchase the first 30 days of service for $1. You may be eligible if you have not previously purchased any CreditSecure product. If the contents of your wallet are lost or stolen, CreditSecure will assist you with canceling and replacing lost or stolen cards.
What Can I Do if My Phone Number is on the Dark Web?
If you discover that your phone number is on the dark web, there are several steps you can take to protect yourself:
- Change your passwords: If you use the same password for multiple accounts, change them immediately. Use strong, unique passwords for each account.
- Contact your phone provider: Let them know that your phone number has been compromised. They may be able to provide you with additional security measures, such as two-factor authentication.
- Monitor your accounts: Keep a close eye on your bank and credit card statements for any suspicious activity. Consider placing a fraud alert on your credit report.
- Consider using a virtual private network (VPN): A VPN can help protect your online activity by encrypting your data and hiding your IP address.
Conclusion
Should I be worried if a scammer has my phone number?
Instead of you receiving these codes, scammers who have your phone number can get them. The consequences can be severe. They could block accounts, send fake messages, or make purchases without your consent. They could also get your financial statements or messages from these accounts.
The discovery of your phone number on the dark web can be alarming, but it’s important to take action to protect yourself. By changing your passwords, contacting your phone provider, monitoring your accounts, and using a VPN, you can reduce the risk of further damage. Remember, it’s always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your personal information.
Should I change my phone number if a scammer has it?
If you've recently been the victim of identity theft, then changing your phone number is one of the optimum ways to protect yourself from repeated identity theft. There are also various software services and tools that can protect you from repeated identity theft.
