How Do Unknown People Get My Phone Number and Why Am I Receiving Calls About My Comments on Websites?

Receiving calls from unknown numbers can be a frustrating experience, especially if the calls reference your online activities or questions on platforms like Quora. This situation is not uncommon and understanding how your phone number might have been obtained can help you take the necessary steps to protect your privacy.

There are several common ways your phone number might have been obtained:

Publicly Available Information

If you’ve shared your phone number on social media forums or other public platforms, it's accessible to anyone browsing those sites. Anybody can collect and retain this information, leading to unwanted calls.

Data Brokers

Companies called data brokers collect and sell personal information, which includes phone numbers. They might gather this data from various sources such as public records, online activities, and other means. These companies often compile extensive databases of personal information and sell them to businesses and individuals for marketing or other purposes.

Website Comments and Quora

If you’ve commented on websites or posted questions on platforms like Quora and included your phone number or linked to an account that has your number, there’s a risk that your number might have been harvested by bots or other users. Spammers and marketers often use automated tools to collect information from these platforms.

Phishing or Scams

Scammers may use tactics to gather personal information under the guise of legitimate inquiries. If you’ve interacted with questionable businesses or websites, they might sell your information to others, leading to unwanted calls and texts.

Previous Contacts

If you’ve shared your number with someone who then shared it with others, that could also lead to unwanted calls. Sometimes, people unintentionally share phone numbers for convenience or trust, leading to unsolicited communication.

Understanding how your phone number might have been obtained is crucial for taking the necessary steps to protect your privacy. Here are some measures you can consider to reduce the number of unwanted calls:

Protecting Your Privacy

Do Not Share Your Number Publicly

Avoid posting your phone number on public forums or social media. Keeping your contact information private significantly reduces the risk of unwanted calls.

Use Privacy Settings

Check the privacy settings on your accounts to limit who can see your information. Most platforms offer options to control who can view your profile and contact you.

Block Numbers

Use your phone's blocking features for persistent callers. Most smartphones have built-in options to block specific numbers or numbers within certain areas.

Register with Do Not Call Lists

In some regions, you can register your number with local Do Not Call lists. This limits telemarketing calls and helps reduce the number of unwanted phone calls.

If the calls persist or seem suspicious, consider reporting them to local authorities or your phone service provider. Many phone companies have mechanisms in place to handle such complaints and can help identify and block scammers.

By being proactive and taking steps to protect your privacy, you can significantly reduce the frequency and impact of unwanted calls and texts.

Note: If someone is calling you with just the first six digits and repeatedly trying to reach a certain set of numbers, they are most likely using a type of software called a robodialer. Robodialers dial all numbers in a specific exchange one after the other. For example, they might dial 0000-9999 for the first six digits of a phone number. This process rarely implies that the caller has "got" your number, but rather that it is just one of many numbers they are attempting to reach.