Was your old number allotted to someone else? How can you protect your personal details from your bank accounts, social media, and apps?
In today's digital world, have you ever considered how dangerous it can be if your old mobile number falls into the hands of an unknown person? A post is going viral on Reddit, in which a user has revealed these dangers. He explained that after getting a new SIM, he started receiving calls from strangers. Checking Truecaller revealed that the number previously belonged to a person named "Kiran," who was linked to several platforms, including Zomato, Swiggy, Uber, and Facebook.
The user wrote, "I can log into Kiran's Facebook account and see her personal details. New user offers are missing on Zomato, poor ratings on Uber... all because of the previous owner. Banks are demanding loan repayment, even though the number appears to be registered on government portals."
If you've ever logged into a bank account, Facebook, Instagram, Ola, Uber, or Zomato using a mobile number, and now that number has been deactivated and assigned to someone else, be cautious. This situation can prove dangerous for both your personal information and your money. Recently, several cases have come to light where new users have acquired old mobile numbers and, by logging in with those numbers, have accessed the previous owner's account.
Why does this happen?
According to Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) regulations, if a user hasn't recharged a number for 90 days, the company can consider it "inactive" and reissue it. The Supreme Court, while hearing a petition in 2023, stated that companies cannot be prevented from reissuing numbers. However, this increases the risk of misuse of user data.
What to do in this situation?
If someone else has now acquired your old mobile number, you must first change that number on all your online accounts.
Here are some important steps…
1. Bank account and UPI apps (Paytm, Google Pay, PhonePe):
Update your new mobile number by visiting a bank branch or calling customer service. In most apps, you can make the change by going to Settings → Profile → Update Mobile Number.
2. Social Media (Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter):
Go to your account settings → Open “Personal Information” or “Account Settings” → Add the new number in the “Phone Number” section and delete the old one.
3. E-commerce and Delivery Apps (Zomato, Swiggy, Ola, Uber):
Mobile numbers can also be changed in these apps within the profile or account settings. After making the change, be sure to verify them again with an OTP.
4. Email and Two-Factor Authentication:
On accounts with two-factor security (2FA) enabled, update your email ID and new number immediately so that no one else can verify your login attempts.
Final Tip:
The easiest way to avoid this situation is to avoid letting your old number remain inactive for long. If you change your number, first update it on all important sites and apps. Also, pay attention to login alerts and security notifications from your email account.
Remember, an old mobile number can pose a significant threat to your digital identity if it falls into the wrong hands.
Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from News 18 hindi. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.
