Why do you want my mobile number buddy?

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Why do you want my mobile number buddy?

Pathik B. Variya

Pathik B. Variya

Teacher, Researcher and (Hopefully One Day) A Nice Human Being
22 articles

#pv_diaries #privacy #spamming #frauds


Why do you want my number buddy?


As I was going through this article, https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/news/story/shopkeepers-can-no-longer-ask-for-mobile-numbers-before-generating-bill-new-govt-advisory-says-2383683-2023-05-24, I realised how common it is for the shopkeepers and restaurants to demand our mobile numbers. More than that, as Indians, we are least bothered about the misuse of our mobile numbers. I have seen many people making very absurd comments like I am available 24x7 and I have done nothing wrong or have nothing to hide, so I need not worry. Privacy, to them, is a luxury, that only the rich can hope and common men's privacy is also common privacy!


Some one month back, I went to a spectacles' showroom. Of course, I wanted new glasses. Everything went well. I liked a frame, ordered the specs, paid advanced and came back home. The order was ready to be delivered the very next day. A WhatsApp message from the showroom confirmed it. On reaching the showroom, the receptionist asked me for my birthdate. My mobile number was already with them so that they could communicate the details of the order with me. When I denied giving the date of birth, the receptionist, other customers around me and some staff members, started at me for two seconds, as if I had denied to pay the bill!


And then, there, a visit to a lassi shop, the shopkeeper demanded my mobile number! I denied giving the number and he gave the same looks!


Though none explicitly made any comments in any of the above incidences, it is clear how casually we take our privacy. Giving your mobile number to anyone is like giving a license to that entity to reach out to you on 24x7 basis. And, that entity can also share your number with hundreds of such other entities.


Giving the date of birth may open up a way for many hackers to hack into your personal details as DOB is used as a major checkpoint to verify one's online identity. Or the shopkeeper may himself keep sending a lot of uninvited emails or WhatsApp messages.


The most dangerous risk is of SIM Swapping, where someone gets control of your SIM card and gets your original sim card deactivated, using your KYC details, available with them (provided by you, may be). And as all the banking transactions depend too much SIM card (due to UPI type of technologies), SIM Swapping may cost a lot of financial loss.


Here are some ways, that I believe, one may try, to be safe. Of course, there is no sure way to be safe.


1. Avoid giving out any of your identifiable information to anyone, as long it is not mandatory. Like mobile number, date of birth, Aadhar or PAN number.

2. Lock your Aadhar card, by visiting its website, if you do not need to use it too often.

3. Do not enter any link on WhatsApp or email, if you are not 100% sure, it is from a trusted source. You can cross verify over phone, with the sender, if the email is from him/her only, if you doubt the sender's credentials.

4. Link a mobile number with bank accounts, that you do not use for normal communication. That way, you expose yourself to a potential fraud, a little bit less.

  1. Keep your bank and telephone service provider up-to-date with your latest address and alternative contact numbers, so that, they can contact you, in case of emergency or they can verify your identity through other means.
  2. Do not discontinue your old mobile number, before- assuring that it is not connected to any bank account. You can use UPI apps to check if your number is connected with any bank account.- assuring that your mobile number is not connected to other official accounts or cards like Aadhar, Income Tax, Insurance policies, any email account, social media apps or websites like WhatsApp, Telegram, FB or Instagram etc.- if you are not sure about the above points, you must not discontinue your old number at any cost. Giving out its control to other may mean giving out your digital identity's key to them.7. Last, but not the least, always keep yourself up-to-date about the latest methods of cybercrimes and follow the advice of cyber police stations.8. Also keep your mobiles protected through licensed version of anti virus and anti malwares. It may not be a bad idea to spend some money on your security and privacy.9. If you are too concerned about the privacy, you can subscribe to the VPN services of a reputed vendor only. Free VPN services are susceptible to data stealing.

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