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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:
rwalker · 02/08/2025 16:32

Why wouldn’t you just ask him

it’s not beyond the realms of possibility he’s put the wrong random number in rather than him being a serial predator

popcornpower2025 · 02/08/2025 16:42

Beanzmeanz · 02/08/2025 16:00

He has never had my personal number. He works in a completely different department in a different office.
i believe he must have accessed my HR record to get my number. I do believe the forwarding was a mistake but why is he looking at my details

Show quote history

To what end? What a strange conclusion to jump to

NoSuchBass · 02/08/2025 16:45

popcornpower2025 · 02/08/2025 16:42

To what end? What a strange conclusion to jump to

Show quote history

Yeah like what's the point? What do you think he was trying to achieve?

BUMCHEESE · 02/08/2025 16:54

I think OP means he went onto the HR system to get her personal number

Then accidentally diverted calls to it?!

SerendipityJane · 02/08/2025 16:55

Has he asked "AI" to setup his email ?

Marieb19 · 02/08/2025 16:57

You have to speak to him about it, or report it and get someone else to ask, why he published your private phone number and how did he get it.

AgnesX · 02/08/2025 17:00

I hope not. I wouldn't know how to even access my own HR records never mind anyone else's.

If he's in IT/HR and has access to this data he'll be looking at a disciplinary. It's not on.

Sorry this was meant to link to the comment about getting the OPs personal number.

dogcatkitten · 02/08/2025 17:01

Maybe he asked for his manager's personal number (with their permission) if he is not going to be around for a while and HR gave him the wrong one. Probably some stupid mix up not a conspiracy of some sort.

UpMyself · 02/08/2025 17:01

It's probably a scam and nothing to do with Barry.

Some random person rings you and asks for a very common name, you responded by giving the caller a different but similar name, the one of a colleague.

healthybychristmas · 02/08/2025 17:02

It is very strange but between HR and IT it should be sorted out.

Original poster
Beanzmeanz · 02/08/2025 17:02

BUMCHEESE · 02/08/2025 16:54

I think OP means he went onto the HR system to get her personal number

Then accidentally diverted calls to it?!

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

OP posts:
Someone2025 · 02/08/2025 17:03

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

Show quote history

What comment did he make on your age?

Are you a junior member of staff

PinkyFlamingo · 02/08/2025 17:05

Beanzmeanz · 02/08/2025 15:57

I feel too weird. I don’t know him well he works in a different office.
We have interacted recently regarding one of my team and the day before we were at a work social where I briefly spoke to him.

Show quote history

Oh come on, just ask him!

DiscoBob · 02/08/2025 17:08

Surely Barry just mistyped his own number when setting up the footer? And it just so happens it was your number it led to?

Or there's some sort of drop down list or spreadsheet that helps IT create the footer and someone misaligned the data or selected the wrong thing? Are you next to him alphabetically on the company systems?

Weird but I don't think sinister.

Westpoint · 02/08/2025 17:10

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,

Perfect!

KrisAkabusi · 02/08/2025 17:12

I think it's bizarre that you've jumped to illegally accessing your data for nefarious purposes rather than some sort of mixup or mistake. I xantvsee how home diverting his voicemail to your number benefits him in any way. Its just not logical.

NoBinturongsHereMate · 02/08/2025 17:13

UpMyself · 02/08/2025 17:01

It's probably a scam and nothing to do with Barry.

Some random person rings you and asks for a very common name, you responded by giving the caller a different but similar name, the one of a colleague.

Edited

And how would this explain the number being on Barry's email footer and voicemail forward?

Blackandwhitesue · 02/08/2025 17:18

Blackandwhitesue · 02/08/2025 16:25

I'm sure there's more than 1 person in the world with his name. Just a weird coincidence!

Op is only replying to the conspiracy posts

Hello!! Two people can have the same name. Just an odd coincidence!

This thread will go on and on into at least a part 2 and 3.

CyanDreamer · 02/08/2025 17:21

BUMCHEESE · 02/08/2025 16:54

I think OP means he went onto the HR system to get her personal number

Then accidentally diverted calls to it?!

or not accidentally, because it's not like anyone would notice? 😂
God forbid asking the guy , or just pointing it out to him. Much better for the OP to run wild on some weird conspiracy theory.

OP, of the all the private info that can be found in your HR file, why do you think your mobile number is of any interest to anyone, what exactly could he do with it?

(can you hack through a phone from their phone number? Access their social media and whatsapp and emails? I genuinely have no idea, but if anyone knows how to do it, let me know 😂)

Newname42 · 02/08/2025 17:22

If he did illegally access your records to get your personal number, then surely he’d have better plans for it than using it as his forwarding number? It’s useless and dumb because he’ll be found out within 24 hours and had zero benefit.

It’s either a scam - e.g ‘did you recently had an accident? - ‘do you mean the one on Primrose Hill last month? - ‘yes that’s exactly the one I’m calling about’ or a typo/coincidence combo.

WonderfulWoman · 02/08/2025 17:24
Always Sunny Reaction GIF

He has never had my personal number. He works in a completely different department in a different office.
i believe he must have accessed my HR record to get my number. I do believe the forwarding was a mistake but why is he looking at my details.

Shedmistress · 02/08/2025 17:25

I wonder if he wrote it down to use at a later date and didn't write your name next to it, and mistakenly put it in the email forwarding note after forgetting it was yours.

I'd ask my boss to instigate a formal investigation. If youd been harassed or followed youd have no idea it was this guy. And what else has he accessed of your personal data?

KiwiFall · 02/08/2025 17:29

I’d email the guy myself asking politely if and why he had put your personal mobile onto his forwarding calls. If you don’t feel comfortable asking or emailing the guy yourself then ask HR/IT to look into what’s happened but if they do that you may never find out.

Lunde · 02/08/2025 17:29

Most likely he has either transposed some digits when typing in his e-mail info or for some reason thinks your number is his number/alt has had your number in the past.

It seems a pretty small thing that can be easily cleared up.

I had someone (complete random) who thought my private mobile number was hers - even though I'd had the number for a decade. It was mildly irritating to get her texts and calls. OK the 6am ones from her work mates were pretty irritating as was the calls from an angry tattoo artist. Took months for her to change everything.

cyvguhb · 02/08/2025 17:31

Beanzmeanz · 02/08/2025 16:00

He has never had my personal number. He works in a completely different department in a different office.
i believe he must have accessed my HR record to get my number. I do believe the forwarding was a mistake but why is he looking at my details

Show quote history

Does he work in HR?

Even if he did and copied your number for some reason it's quite a stretch for him then to accidentally paste it into his email signature

Who has to paste their own phone number into anything, you'd type it in wouldnt you ?

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