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Original poster

Weird event at work - should I do anything?

257 replies

Beanzmeanz · 02/08/2025 15:36

Just that really. So last week I received a call on my personal mobile asking for someone else I didn’t catch what they were saying so asked them to repeat it. It wasn’t a name of anyone in our house - think Harry Jones so I said sorry wrong number.
Just as I was about to hang up I thought the name sounded a bit like someone I work with so I said did you say Barry Stones to which they said yes.
So I said well I work with them but I don’t know how you would get this number. They confirmed who they were (genuine) and that they had called the number of this person’s email footer.
I am bamboozled so I report it to our IT bod.
They ask me if my no. is 07xxx etc which it is and tell me this guy has set his v/m to forward to my mobile.
He doesn’t have my mobile, I’ve never given it to him and we have work mobiles

OP posts:
Spottyfish · 02/08/2025 23:26

user1471597558 · 02/08/2025 23:23

Did he copy your email signature?

😂😂😂

user1471597558 · 02/08/2025 23:23

Did he copy your email signature?

AprilShowers25 · 02/08/2025 22:48

FOJN · 02/08/2025 22:44

This has got to be one of the most painful threads I've ever seen on MN. It makes "cancel the cheque" seem sane.

Agreed 🤣

FOJN · 02/08/2025 22:44

This has got to be one of the most painful threads I've ever seen on MN. It makes "cancel the cheque" seem sane.

AprilShowers25 · 02/08/2025 22:42

VaccineSticker · 02/08/2025 22:40

I came here to say the same thing.
Easily done.

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It’s not in his email signature!

VaccineSticker · 02/08/2025 22:40

SoSoLong · 02/08/2025 16:00

Have you maybe put your number in your email signature, he copied the signature as a template and forgot to change the number to his? Strange if you only give out your work mobile, but I can't think of another explanation.

I came here to say the same thing.
Easily done.

Florrieboo · 02/08/2025 22:38

Just send him an email and CC in HR or managers or whoever and tell him he has the wrong number on his sig and that it is yours. This does not need to be a drama.

BirthdeighParteigh · 02/08/2025 22:38

This happened to me - sort of. I kept getting calls to my mobile, but all the people were looking for someone in a different department.

This was back in the day of desk phones. Turned out that IT had allocated the same phone extension to us both. My colleague had the extension listed on her email - but it forwarded to my mobile.

There could be an innocent explanation to this.

WimbyAce · 02/08/2025 22:36

cyvguhb · 02/08/2025 22:34

To me HR and payroll are the same department but I accept that may not be the case everywhere

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Urgh no we are definitely not!

cyvguhb · 02/08/2025 22:34

WimbyAce · 02/08/2025 22:25

Payroll. We have access to all personal info.

Show quote history

To me HR and payroll are the same department but I accept that may not be the case everywhere

BlazenWeights · 02/08/2025 22:30

We definitely can see peoples mobile numbers at my work. When you click on a persons Team profile, it brings up email and phone numbers. Don’t need to access a HR system for that.

Namechange7282829 · 02/08/2025 22:30

How bizarre! Does anyone else at work have your personal number? I.e could it be a case of Barry Stones being off sick/breaking his work phone and his boss (or whoever) requesting a divert to his personal mobile but accidentally giving yours instead?

Ohnobackagain · 02/08/2025 22:30

Namechangerage · 02/08/2025 16:32

Dear Barry,

I had a call on my personal phone number asking for you, and IT informed me that your phone was forwarded to my personal phone number. As it was my personal number and not a work one, I have asked IT to remove this. I’m not sure how this happened, if you have any insights please do let me know.

Best wishes,

This @Beanzmeanz

WimbyAce · 02/08/2025 22:25

cyvguhb · 02/08/2025 22:08

What other function would have access to private personel records? Unless it's a very small company how would that be a thing?

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Payroll. We have access to all personal info.

WimbyAce · 02/08/2025 22:23

Sorry I assumed you were both single. Does Baz know you are married? I think he looked up the number and has since sobered up and thought better of it.
Honestly I'd spend no more time on this unless he pops up again.

Lemonsugarpancake · 02/08/2025 22:11

Do you have your work phone set up to divert to your personal phone? As maybe it's your work phone number which is similar to his.

cyvguhb · 02/08/2025 22:08

Beanzmeanz · 02/08/2025 21:25

He’s not in HR but another central function where I presume they have access tio personal records.
Im a manager I cannot see my teams phone numbers, dob or address on our HR system. Literally 2 out of 200 have my mobile. I’m married with 2 kids

What other function would have access to private personel records? Unless it's a very small company how would that be a thing?

IMustDoMoreExercise · 02/08/2025 21:55

Beanzmeanz · 02/08/2025 17:02

Yes exactly this. Whats the chance of the million different mobiles numbers out there he without seeing it or knowing it types my personal mobile in.
i don’t work with him. He’s quite high up and I’ve not been there that long. It happened the day after a work social we were both at. Where we interacted a little and he made a comment on my age

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What was the comment about your age?

FOJN · 02/08/2025 21:47

AprilShowers25 · 02/08/2025 21:44

For those who think it is intentional, what would be the point of him diverting his phone to OPs personal mobile?

OP has spent a few days thinking about this which keeps him at the forefront of her mind. I don't know how or why this has happened but never underestimate the batshit things stalker types will do to get the attention if their victim.

Internaut · 02/08/2025 21:47

Beanzmeanz · 02/08/2025 15:58

No the IT bod actually said his work mobile is completely different

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Could he have put in a personal mobile number that is similar to yours?

AprilShowers25 · 02/08/2025 21:44

For those who think it is intentional, what would be the point of him diverting his phone to OPs personal mobile?

Cerezo · 02/08/2025 21:42

BAZ! Barry Stones is up to shenanigans- OP send him an email asking for an explanation so it’s in writing.

FOJN · 02/08/2025 21:41

Beanzmeanz · 02/08/2025 21:25

He’s not in HR but another central function where I presume they have access tio personal records.
Im a manager I cannot see my teams phone numbers, dob or address on our HR system. Literally 2 out of 200 have my mobile. I’m married with 2 kids

OP I know you have had lots of people telling you to ask him directly and if the divert had gone to your work mobile I would find it easier to believe it happened as a result of a weird tech glitch and think that was appropriate BUT you know you did not give him your personal mobile number and yet he has obtained it and diverted his voicemail to it. There may still be an innocent explanation but I'm inclined to think it's best dealt with by HR. IF his intentions are nefarious its better if you have as little involvement in getting to the bottom of it as possible.

rwalker · 02/08/2025 21:39

The key is finding out what number it was supposed to to be diverted to
my mums and my youngest numbers aren’t a million miles different
it’s a bit since been involved in stuff like this but you always had to key a code in something like #21# then the number
so the chance of him finding her number through whatever means then reading it and manually keying it in just seem very strange

Churchofthegoddamnwild · 02/08/2025 21:36

I can’t believe the amount of people that seem unable to take in the basic details that have been reiterated multiple times now.

I can understand your concern about this, OP.

Was this work social at your work premises and would he have returned to his desk after? It wouldn’t explain how he got your number (unless a colleague gave it to him) but could explain how he could somehow accidentally input your number while setting up call forwarding, maybe? In that maybe he was trying to call you but clumsily dialled the key combination that sets up call forwarding

It’s odd, for sure.

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