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Original poster

any ideas how a stranger in the street got my number?

51 replies

yescheese · 05/09/2020 22:15

Hi all,

Bit of a tech related mystery I'm hoping you may be able to help me solve!

On my way home this evening, I ignored a bloke in the street trying to talk to me (not in a rude way, it was a 'trying to pick up' approach, not passing the time of day!).

Thought little of it then got home, say, 20 mins later to a WhatsApp message i think is from him, vaguely describing himself, saying he would like to meet me later.

He didn't say his name or use mine or sound as though he had recognised me so I don't think he was an old acquaintance.

I have now blocked and reported him.

None of my friends, including techie sorts and a couple of software engineers have any idea how he might have got my number!

my Bluetooth and tethering were off and it was very dark so I don't think he could've sneaked a photo and done face recognition (plus my number shouldn't be searchable online).

Anyone got any ideas?? I am more interested than anything!

OP posts:

CarolVordermansArse · 06/09/2020 00:02

@haveagoodyear

Wouldn't the OP know if someone was coming her phone though?

www.istartips.com/how-to-clone-a-phone-without-touching-it.html

lifesalongsong · 06/09/2020 00:03

Could be someone who knows your by sight and also knows a friend of ours and got your number via the friend what did he Santo you?

EmilySpinach · 06/09/2020 00:08

I also think it's a coincidence.

NoProblem123 · 06/09/2020 00:20

LinkedIn ?
Photo, general location, company, etc fir everyone to see.

Very weird !

HeronLanyon · 06/09/2020 04:20

kindergarden ReplyAll podcast - love from me too.

Absolutely amazing podcast. Who knew a ‘tech’ podcast could be so bloody wonderful with remarkable stories.

‘Yes yes no’ segment mind blowing at times.

A dream of a podcast.

popcornlover · 06/09/2020 04:42

Did you save his number as a contact to see if he had a photo on Whatsapp? I can only think that he has been interested in you for a while and may have found your number and address. Does your work involve your number being public anywhere? Is your address registered anywhere because of work? This is immensely creepy...

Original poster

yescheese · 06/09/2020 08:41

popcornlover annoyingly, on WhatsApp it turns out that if you block and report it deletes the messages (i may have missed a tick box to opt out of this but it is the default) so I don't have the messages or number as I didn't save it.

No to my private number being public for work, I have a work number and mobile.

I'm not really part of any WhatsApp groups where I don't know everyone there.

I agree the simplest explanation would be that it's someone else but I honestly can't think who (haven't given my number to any men recently who fit the description he gave) and if they were a past acquaintance I'm not sure why they would describe themselves and not give a name or say where we met. With the timing and his approach, it really does stack up that it's him.

Suppose I'll never know but thanks all anyway!

OP posts:

EmilySpinach · 06/09/2020 09:00

But if the message does not have your name or any other identifying info which would place you exactly at that time and location then the chances are it wasn't meant for you.

You were approached in the street; at the same time another woman was chatted up somewhere and either gave the man a fake number to get rid of him, inadvertently generating yours, or gave him a correct number and he mistyped. It is a massive coincidence if that is what has happened but with the reopening of bars and pubs there are a lot more people back out on the pull on a Saturday night!

EmilySpinach · 06/09/2020 09:03

Hit post too soon - what's more likely? That he has access to top-secret government-level technology and is using it to try and pull, or that in all the numbers being swapped on a Saturday night one accidentally came to you?

popcornlover · 06/09/2020 11:29

I hope that nothing else comes of it and you can forget about it. Very weird!

MadisonMontgomery · 06/09/2020 11:34

What did he say to you when he approached you in the street? I would think the most likely explanation is that he has seen you before, you have a friend in common or something and he already had your number.

Original poster

yescheese · 06/09/2020 11:43

haha Emily I wasn't thinking of anything as exciting as top secret phone hacking tech, just wondered if there was some way of connecting that I wasn't aware of.

Yep, fully willing to accept coincidence as a very possible explanation, stranger things have happened. As I say it was largely the description that he gave (not very detailed, say 'tall blond man', but accurate about the guy I saw) that mainly made me wonder.

OP posts:

Zaphodsotherhead · 06/09/2020 11:44

I haven't got a proper answer, but just wanted to take the opportunity to say that people generally don't realise how much information is available about them written down and on their person.

I work behind a till and people flip their wallet open to take out their card and often give me a close up, clear and memorisable look at their NHS number, photos of their children and house, their full name (and often their date of birth via their driving licence), and frequently, for older people, their PIN written down inside the sleeve.

I often say that, were I an identity thief, a couple of days in my job and I could have access to more identities than I could use.

Original poster

yescheese · 06/09/2020 11:46

Madison he kind of hissed and said 'come here a second'. Didn't sound like someone who recognised me, even if they couldn't think of my name in the moment.

OP posts:

popcornlover · 06/09/2020 11:58

@Zaphodsotherhead

That’s true. I’ve also seen an alarming increase in people wearing work lanyards on public transport - you can see their name and where they work! As well as knowing what bus/tube/train stop they got on at! And as well as knowing what their interests might be if they have reading material to occupy the journey!

Browzingss · 06/09/2020 13:15

I don’t know why people are calling this a coincidence? It’s not even that! OP hasn’t confirmed that the man in person and WhatsApp man are the same person; the WhatsApp sender didn’t have a photo up and didn’t say anything concrete to confirm that it was the man in the street. The WhatsApp sender could be anyone - it’s not the same man.

It’s a coincidence that the WhatsApp sender messaged her the same day she met the man in the street, yes. But I don’t think the coincidence here is that the cat caller was given the wrong number by another woman which happened to be OP’s. The only way that would make sense is if the woman knew OP’s number and purposely gave it out instead of her own.

so I don't have the messages or number as I didn't save it.

Yes you do - it’s in your list of blocked contacts in settings

EmilySpinach · 06/09/2020 13:27

I don’t think the coincidence here is that the cat caller was given the wrong number by another woman which happened to be OP’s. The only way that would make sense is if the woman knew OP’s number and purposely gave it out instead of her own.

That would be mad, and isn’t what I’m suggesting. I think OP was messaged by a different man, probably accidentally. It’s coincidence that it happened after she was approached in the street.

DetectorSpective · 06/09/2020 13:35

If you blocked him his name will appear on WhatsApp under your blocked contacts. You could use the number to search FB for a photo.

He may have a WhatsApp photo but only allow people whose number he has saved to view his photo.

RingtheBells · 06/09/2020 13:51

Phone nos. are often on delivery address labels but I doubt that is it in this case

Original poster

yescheese · 06/09/2020 13:52

aha just found the number on my blocked list... nothing comes up on FB or Google

OP posts:

DetectorSpective · 06/09/2020 14:13

Usually a person's name appears on WhatsApp, you'd have to unblock him first though to check. If you unblocked and clicked his (blank) profile photo a name will usually appear on the bottom right. See photo attached.

If it was me I'd unblock him and ask how he got my number as curiosity would get the better of me - probably best to not do this though!

any ideas how a stranger in the street got my number?

Ariela · 06/09/2020 15:03

Did you visit a pub or cafe where you had to sign in a book, after other people, as opposed to giving your number to the barman?
In which case anyone following you in could work out who you were and your number.

Original poster

yescheese · 06/09/2020 15:18

Not for a couple of weeks, Ariela, my friends have copped for signing in more recently. Also, as far as I recall, it's been slips of paper or an electronic system rather than a book in the places I've been.

OP posts:

growinggreyer · 06/09/2020 15:22

I think you should take care of your personal security over the next few days/weeks. Can you change your routine so you leave home and return at different times, travel by a different route, and swap your outer wear and bag so you look different. What you would do if he approached you again?

Original poster

yescheese · 06/09/2020 18:04

thanks growinggreyer luckily I was a sweaty mess with my hair tied up and no bag coming back from the gym so he might not recognise me again as I don't often go since Covid-19.

If i see him again, I will just avoid and shut down any conversation he may start. Even if he didn't text me, I don't really want to engage with a catcaller.

Obviously I don't know for sure it was him who messaged me so I won't mention that.

OP posts:

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