Can Someone Hack Your Phone And See You

What Can Hackers Do with Your Phone Number?

About 60% of the world'southward cyberattacks beginning on mobile devices [*]. And it'south like shooting fish in a barrel to encounter why.

Your phone number is an easy access indicate for scammers and identity thieves. Once they know your number, they can utilise information technology to send you phishing texts, trick yous into installing malware and spyware, or use social engineering attacks to get you to hand over your personal identifying information (PII).

And one time they gain access to your PII, it doesn't accept much more to access your financial (and other sensitive) accounts.

Permit's examine how hackers can steal your telephone number, what they tin do with it, and how you can protect your mobile number and personal data from identity thieves.

How Tin can Someone Hack Your Phone Number?

If your number falls into the wrong hands, yous could get a victim of phone scams, fiscal fraud, and identity theft.

Unfortunately, information technology'southward remarkably like shooting fish in a barrel to find someone'southward number.

Information breaches are among the about common ways that scammers go access to your phone number. Only in that location are plenty of other ways they tin can steal your digits too.

"People search" sites like WhoEasy collect and sell your personal data to telemarketers and hackers.

Even if you're cautious nigh what you lot share online, it's non always possible to proceed your number rubber from criminals. Hither are five common ways a thief may try to find your telephone number:

Social media. Many social media platforms allow (or fifty-fifty crave) users to list their phone numbers. While that can assistance with platform security, it creates a potential security take a chance for your identity protection. Placing your number on websites and social media networks makes it easy for criminals to contact y'all and initiate fraud schemes.
Phishing scams. Criminals fool unsuspecting victims by sending emails or texts that impersonate legitimate organizations. One time the scammers gain your conviction, they tin direct you to a website to obtain personal information, like your phone number. In the first quarter of 2021 alone, researchers discovered over 611,000 phishing sites [*].
The Dark Web. Beneath the publicly accessible section of the internet lies the Night Web. Among other things, this is where criminals buy and trade personal data that is ofttimes stolen during a data breach. Telephone numbers were the quaternary most-common pieces of personal information leaked via data breaches in 2021 [*].
Shoulder surfing. Scammers can also listen in and steal your phone number while you're in public places. In a more than sophisticated version of the shoulder surfing scam, hackers hack public Wi-Fi and intercept any information yous submit to a website.
Stolen mail. Nefarious individuals tin can burglarize through your garbage to find sensitive information. Make sure to shred any documents that contain your phone number and other personal information.

💯 Pro tip: Bank check if your phone number is available to hackers and scammers on the Dark Web by using Aura'due south Night Web scanner →

What Tin Hackers Do with Your Number?

In the past, a hacker couldn't cause much fiscal damage with just your personal telephone number.

Today, nonetheless, our mobile devices serve as much more than accost books. We store reams of personal information on our smartphones — including photos, emails, and business relationship passwords.

One time hackers have your number, they tin use it to proceeds access to your well-nigh sensitive and valuable data, such as your:

Email accounts and contact lists
Financial assets and bank accounts
Current and previous home addresses
Social media and other online account passwords
Date of birth and Social Security number (SSN)
Names and contact information for your friends and relatives
IP addresses (for both your phone and computer)
Sensitive photos and videos that they can use for blackmail (i.due east., "sextortion")
Documents such as medical records, professional licenses, and ID

Smartphones comprise your personal data and digital footprint. This makes them a prime target for fraudsters who desire to steal your identity.

💡 Related: How Hackers Go Into Your Computer (And How To Stop Them) →

The Top 8 Ways Hackers Use Your Phone Number Confronting You

Rerouting your messages
Stealing your personal information
SIM swaps
Text scams and spyware
Doxxing that leads to harassment and fraud
Bribery using your sensitive data
Spoofing caller ID numbers
Preying on your family

Once criminals have your telephone number, they can engage in a range of identity theft schemes.

Hither are descriptions of the eight ways hackers could use your telephone number to steal your PII — and cause financial damage.

1. Rerouting your texts and calls

Mobile phone companies have security features to prevent scammers from making changes to your account. Unfortunately, still, hackers have found ways to reroute your number.

Here'south how it plays out:

Hackers contact your phone carrier visitor claiming to be y'all. They use your stolen personal information to pass security checks.
They enquire the company to reroute your telephone calls and messages to their number. Once the rerouting is complete, the scammer can intercept all communications meant for you.
Even worse, they can log into your online accounts by selecting "forgot password" and then use the password reset link that is sent to their telephone to accept over your accounts.
In another version of this scam, fraudsters will bulletin y'all near an item yous have for sale and ask you lot to "verify" your identity by sending them a code. But what arrives is actually a verification code that volition allow the scammer to have over your phone number.

In the news: In March 2021, Vice ran an experiment with a hacker to demonstrate how easy information technology is to reroute a phone number [*]. Within minutes, the hacker was able to take control of the reporter's number. The hacker and then rerouted all calls and messages and gained access to the reporter's Bumble, WhatsApp, and Postmates accounts.

📚 Related: How To Know if Your Phone Is Hacked (and What To Do) →

2. Stealing your personal information

Considering near of us rarely change our telephone numbers, those numbers go deeply connected to our other personal information. That means that if scammers have admission to your phone number, they can find out all sorts of other information about yous (and apply it to steal your identity).

Here's how it plays out:

Scammers observe your phone number on social media or by using a reverse lookup service similar Whitepages.
Side by side, they search your number online to discover other data that is attached to it. This could include other online accounts, your address, birthdate, and more.
They use this information to steal your identity, or to blueprint social engineering attacks that you're likely to fall for.

📚 Related: Is Identity Theft Protection Really Worth Information technology? →

three. SIM swaps

SIM swapping — or SIM jacking — occurs when fraudsters use your mobile carrier'due south "porting" characteristic to gain admission to your telephone number. Porting is a security characteristic that protects your data when yous change phone carriers. But scammers can exploit the system to have ownership of your number nether a new SIM card.

Here's how it plays out:

A scammer calls your phone carrier company and impersonates y'all to request that the visitor "port-out" your telephone number.
The visitor switches your telephone number to the hacker's SIM card.
With control of your phone number, the hacker non simply can receive letters on your behalf — but too ship messages, make calls, and access your accounts.

In the news: Twitter CEO, Jack Dorsey, was a victim of a SIM swap scam in 2019 [*] when hackers used his phone number to take over his Twitter account. Since then, the trouble has grown. The FBI reported i,611 complaints in 2021 with victims losing a combined $68 one thousand thousand to SIM swapping scams [*].

4. Text scams and spyware

Fake text message scams (also known equally smishing) are an increasingly common method that hackers use to attempt and trick people into sharing sensitive information or downloading malware onto their devices.

An example of a smishing text designed to get you to click on a malicious link. — An example of a **smishing** text designed to get you to click on a malicious link.

Here's how it plays out:

Perpetrators send malicious SMS, texts, or messages on Telegram and WhatsApp that claim to be from reputable businesses.
The messages include phone numbers or links to phishing websites. If yous appoint with either, the hacker will attempt to obtain your personal information.
Alternative text scams include artificial links that initiate a malware download. If you click on the link, your phone downloads spyware that allows hackers to read your messages and access your online accounts.

Aura malware protection can keep your devices safe from viruses and hackers — Aura protects your devices from hackers with powerful **antivirus software and a Virtual Private Network** (VPN).

5. Doxxing that leads to harassment and fraud

Doxxing refers to the malicious human action of revealing someone's private information online to the public. The term comes from 1990s hacker civilization in which rival hackers would "drop docs" to reveal someone's true identity.

Today, doxxing can lead to harassment, fraud, and other abuses of privacy.

Hither's how it plays out:

A hacker uses your phone number to gather and release your sensitive information on social media or other public sites.
The doxxing might happen on the Dark Spider web, where hackers dump thousands (or fifty-fifty millions) of people'due south personal data after a data breach.
Once hackers obtain your information, they can employ information technology to harass you lot, steal your identity, or access your online accounts.

In the news: Washington Post internet culture writer Taylor Lorenz discovered and wrote nearly the identity of the creator of a right-wing social media business relationship "Libs of TikTok" [*], leading to a fierce debate well-nigh doxxing and journalism.

six. Blackmail using your sensitive data

Some scammers volition use your phone number to engage in blackmail. If they admission sensitive information — like photos and videos — they can threaten to release information technology to the public unless you lot pay a ransom.

Here's how it plays out:

Scammers enter your phone number into a people search site (such as Fast People Search) to reveal personal information about you.
Or, if they have access to your number, they could admission your iCloud accounts and other prototype storage services. (This is how CelebGate happened — when sensitive photos of celebrities were leaked online.)
Once scammers find sensitive information, they blackmail y'all for money.
It's impossible to know if they will follow through on their bluff or non. But if you don't pay up, the scammer may expose your personal data online or sell it on the Dark Spider web.

📚 Related: What Is the Google Vocalization Verification Lawmaking Scam? →

7. Spoofing caller ID numbers

Spoofing is a scam in which hackers conform the caller ID shown on the recipient'south telephone so that it seems to come from a reputable organization. This is how a scammer can call y'all with your caller ID reading "IRS" or "FBI."

Hither'south how information technology plays out:

You become an incoming call from a known and reputable business organisation or government organization, like the IRS. You answer the phone call and unwittingly engage in conversation with a fraudster.
The fraudster impersonates an official representative and informs y'all of an urgent situation. For example, they may say y'all have an unpaid tax neb or demand to "ostend" your SSN to protect it from scammers.
The spoof caller will attempt to convince you to share personal information or brand a credit bill of fare payment over the phone.

In the news: USAA Federal Savings Bank warned customers about a spoofing scam afterward a Phoenix couple was tricked into transferring about $two,000 from their account [*]. Ed and Cyndy Evans believed the text messages they received were from the bank. In reality, the scammer apace took their money and locked them out of their accounts.

8. Preying on your family

Sometimes, hackers don't go later you when they have your phone number — they target your loved ones instead. In these scams, fraudsters use your number to pull a fast one on family members and friends into disclosing personal data or sending coin.

Hither's how it plays out:

Hackers have over your number, unremarkably through a SIM bandy or business relationship takeover.
Then, they send messages to a family fellow member (such as a vulnerable grandmother) challenge they need financial assistance to go out of an emergency. For example, they could say they are injure or in prison house and need money for hospital fees or bail.
In a desire to assistance you (and frightened for your safety), your family member might wire coin, not knowing the coin is being sent to a scammer.

📚 Related: 12 Awful Senior Citizen Scams: How To Forbid Elderberry Fraud →

How To Secure Your Phone Number Against Hackers

Hackers can cause serious damage to your identity, reputation, and depository financial institution accounts with but your phone number. But with a few steps, you tin can secure your number against scammers.

Here are some ways to brand your telephone number more difficult for prying cyber criminals to hack:

Ever use two-factor or multi-factor authentication (2FA/MFA)

Two-gene authentication (2FA) is a cybersecurity measure that protects access to your accounts. You tin contact your phone carrier's customer service department and ask them to set up a secondary password on your account. This way, merely y'all can make changes or port out your phone number.

Lock your SIM

A SIM lock tin help prevent scammers from SIM swapping your phone. The lock requires an additional Pin number in social club for anyone to make changes or use your number.

To ready up a PIN on your SIM, contact your carrier, or set information technology directly on your iPhone and other iOS devices.

Pro tip: A countersign manager tin help protect your devices from SIM swapping and other phone scams. While hackers may proceeds access to your phone number to bypass 2FA, a countersign director allows you to hands apply unique and potent passwords that hackers can't get around.

Aura's password manager can let you know if your online accounts are at risk. — Source: **Aura Password Managing director**

Avert clicking links from unknown senders

When you receive text messages or emails from unknown senders, resist the temptation to click on whatever links. If yous get a message about a missed commitment, or find a message waiting for you lot in an online business relationship, log into the service directly — not from the provided link.

Ever inquiry senders to confirm they are trustworthy and take authentic verification.

Ignore one-ring phone scams

Scammers want to get you on the phone. I way they've learned to do that is by calling you from a spoofed number and hanging up right away. If this happens to yous, don't let your marvel get the better of you. Don't phone call dorsum; instead, cake the number.

💡 Related: What is Vishing? Don't Fall For These fifteen Common Phone Scams -->

Never retrieve a number from an unsolicited text

If you receive a strange text message asking for you to call a phone number, ignore it. These are almost e'er text message scams where fraudsters desire to get you on the telephone and fob you lot into giving up personal information.

An instance of a smishing text designed to go you to phone call a scammer back.

Go fraud monitoring

Aura's credit and fraud monitoring checks your banking company accounts, credit cards, and credit reports for suspicious activity. If scammers gain admission to your bank account through your phone, Aura will let you know quickly and so that yous can shut them down.

Go along your phone safe in public

The easiest fashion for a scammer to steal your phone number is to get physical access to your telephone.

When criminals stole my phone while I was on vacation, they were able to access all of my accounts, lock me out of my e-mail, and steal tens of thousands of dollars. E'er go on your phone in sight, and fix upwards biometric security measures similar fingerprint ID to secure your telephone if it's stolen.

📚 Related: 10 Airbnb Scams That Will Ruin Your Next Holiday →

Install antivirus software

Yous can utilize antivirus programs on both mobile and reckoner devices. Cyber security programs block malicious code or malware, making it harder for hackers to access your data or steal your phone number.

Double-bank check websites

Ensure that the websites you visit are the existent bargain. Hackers will create imitation websites by changing ane letter or number of a webpage URL (for example "Walmrat" instead of "Walmart").

These sites might appear identical to service providers such as your bank — which tin trick you into sharing your phone number and other sensitive information.

Shred one-time documents

Never throw away annihilation that contains identifying data, such as your telephone number. Make certain to shred or burn the files so that the information is unrecoverable.

Did Your Phone Number Get Hacked? Do This Now

Perhaps information technology's already too late, and you know that someone has your phone number and is targeting you with a scam.

Hither's what to practise if yous think a hacker has access to your phone number:

Contact your phone service provider. Let your mobile service provider know that your accounts have been hacked. Asking a second password for business relationship logins to prevent anyone from gaining illegal access.
Become the word out. Tell your friends and family that your number is now compromised by scammers.
Update your 2FA data. Change any accounts that use your telephone number for 2FA. Fifty-fifty better, use an authenticator app like Authy instead. These tools combine passwords and biometric data to secure your accounts.
Proceed your circle small. Don't give out your phone number to whatsoever new people for the time being. Limit the scammer's potential target pool.
Alter your security questions. Immediately change your security questions on Google, Facebook, and any other online accounts in case they've also been compromised.
Contact the authorities. If your identity has been stolen equally a result of a phone scam, file an official written report with the Federal Merchandise Committee (FTC) at IdentityTheft.gov. If you have any information that could help lead to an arrest, you'll besides want to file a law written report with your local constabulary enforcement.

Follow the Fraud Victim Checklist . Take steps to secure your accounts and minimize the damage from fraud.

The Bottom Line: Protect Your Phone Number From Scammers

Hackers don't care if yous utilize an iPhone or an Android phone. All they need is your phone number to steal your identity, money, and more.

As hackers become more sophisticated, y'all must take preventive activity to keep your devices, finances, and identity rubber. Lock your SIM with a PIN code, be conscientious with unsolicited calls and text messages, and try non to give out your phone number to too many people.

For added protection, sign up for Aura'south all-in-one digital security solution.

Aura protects your devices from scammers, monitors your online and financial accounts for signs of fraud, and keeps your passwords secure. And if the worst should happen, y'all're covered past a $1 1000000 insurance policy for eligible losses due to identity theft.

Set up for ironclad identity theft protection? Try Aura xiv-days gratis.