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Original poster

Strange text

26 replies

Vintagecakeisstillnice · 11/10/2013 23:37

I received an odd text earlier this evening.

Number withheld: u need to accept the truth, he doesn't love you, he loves me. Hes with me in bed right now and has been with me every night this week. Just grow up and get over it.

Now OH was out tonight but I was on the phone to him when the text came through, and I could hear several of his friends in the background, recognised their voices, so it must be a busy bed.

As for the week well he's been snoring next to me every night.

And mainly I trust him, I know if he really wanted to cheat he would find the time, I've read/seen that often enough here and in RL. But I do trust him.

I showed him the text when he came in, and he was just puzzled, not flustered or worried, regularly gives me his phone to call and text for him when driving etc. commented that's odd who's it from?

He pottered off to bed now, he'd had a few beers (2 is a few to him as he rarely drinks), his phone is on the side, the laptop is a shared one same password, I know all his passwords, I actually have to remind him if some of them.

I feel like I'm defending him here, but this text has given me a niggle though not about my relationship but one of our friends. Her name is one letter different to mine and I'm now wondering if the text was meant for her?

He, the friend call him A has been very odd recently, popping in to say Hi on random days etc, for 5 minutes, and his wife when chatting to her seems to be under the impression that he'd spent the evening. . .

I have never lied to her, when she's said this stuff, I've said No, he was in for 5minutes, or just long enough for a cuppa.

A was meant to go out tonight but cried off at the last minute. He works shifts and regularly does overtime so been out at random times isn't unusual nor is it odd for someone in his profession to not be able to answer phone etc.

I know I can't say anything, it's a text from an unknown number, maybe it was meant for me? Maybe I'm being naive, maybe it's someone's idea of a (sick) joke.

It just odd.

OP posts:
akaWisey · 11/10/2013 23:48

You think A might be playing away?

Whatnext074 · 11/10/2013 23:51

This stupid woman - who can't get the number right - has put doubts in your head about somebody else. If her man is in bed with her then why does she need to text his partner?

I would ignore, delete and forget it.

hashtagwhatever · 11/10/2013 23:52

sorry I didn't understand that. you think A is up to no good? why would you be the recipient, if he was.

BillyBanter · 11/10/2013 23:57

I can't make sense of this.

What are you proposing happened for you to get this message? Confused

Original poster
Vintagecakeisstillnice · 12/10/2013 00:05

Ok, put it this way if in RL my name was Sara, A's wife would be Sarah. So I think the text I got was meant for A's wife.

I do think that there is something odd going on with A he's been acting very oddly even OH has mentioned it.

If he is playing away I don't want to be involved, that is I don't want him to be using the excuse of 'popping' in to see me as a cover if he is playing away. I will not lie for a cheater.

OP posts:
Whatnext074 · 12/10/2013 00:08

How can you with-hold your number when texting?

It's probably some nutty woman, don't waste your thinking time on it.

AlexaChelsea · 12/10/2013 00:10

How does one withhold a number on a text? I didn't know that was possible.

Anyway, could his be A's wife, telling you to back off as she thinks her husband is having an affair with you? Presumably, she will have noted his odd behaviour as you have, and he is popping round to your house.. If he is seeing someone else, maybe she doesn't believe you that he only popped in for 5 minutes.

TeamSouthfields · 12/10/2013 00:31

how can a text, be withheld??

Gruntfuttock · 12/10/2013 00:34

Well, it obviously wasn't meant for you, so I suggest you treat it as you would any wrong number. Just forget it.

BillyBanter · 12/10/2013 00:53

So A is sleeping with an OW. OW has accessed his phone, noted the number for Sara instead of Sarah and then texted Sara, you.

The popping in randomly for 5 minutes and her thinking it's all evening is a bit odd but what do you propose doing about it?

Mumof3girlys · 12/10/2013 01:04

How is it possible to without a number though text??? I'm pretty sure it's not!

You sound like you trust your partner and story doesn't add up if he has been with u all week so just ignore for now

whatnameshallibetoday · 12/10/2013 01:08

yes it is possible - you can withold your number full stop on some phones, on individual calls and texts on othesr

Mojavewonderer · 12/10/2013 09:12

How do you withhold your number on a text then? I want to play a trick on my husband and will use my daughters phone hehe ;)

Mojavewonderer · 12/10/2013 09:13

Oh and op ignore the text, it wasn't meant for you so who cares.

Distrustinggirlnow · 12/10/2013 09:20

Show text to A next time he pops in for a cuppa with a, ha ha what do u make of this shite, type remark.

And watch for the colour to drain from his face...

sixfootplus · 12/10/2013 09:51

@OP

There are several ways to send a text and with hold your number.

1, Go to the mobile phone suppliers website and send a text via there.

2, Use a program/app like textdropp etc.

3, Use anonymous texting websites like fakemytext, textem and text port.

2 & 3 can only send messages and not recieve because you would have to put an email address in to do so.

It could be some random thing, probably is, but will need looking into further to be sure.

Original poster
Vintagecakeisstillnice · 12/10/2013 09:51

I'm 50% in favour of ignoring 50% showing A next time…

Though seriously I'm not going to do anything at present.
I haven't seen A's wife call her Sarah in a wee while. We keep saying we'll do lunch/ night out soon.
I think I might sort out seeing her sooner rather than later. Just in case she needs a shoulder to vent on.

OP posts:
AlexaChelsea · 12/10/2013 09:57

And do you think Sarah might think A is having the affair with you?

Lumobile · 12/10/2013 10:08

I want to know how the number was withheld too.

sixfootplus if we're talking about UK mobile phones, your points 1, 2 and 3 all send a number. It may not be the actual number of the users mobile phone account but it will be one from their own bank of numbers or even a fake one that the user can choose. A text is never sent as 'withheld' from a UK mobile account, it will always show a number, whether just 5 or 6 digits for text responses or a 11 digit mobile number.

There are plenty of ways to send a text message anonymously, ie without giving your own number, but I'm not aware of any that don't show some sort of number on the display.

Lumobile · 12/10/2013 10:10

Oh, just to add, there are some older Nokia phones that there is a way to withhold a number but AFAIK it's only on much older devices from around 2001-2003.

chimchiminee · 12/10/2013 10:11

Definitely fishy. Could have been sent by someone who has both of your numbers in their own phone - anyone else in your social circle been behaving oddly?

WonderWomanInAOnesie · 12/10/2013 10:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

sixfootplus · 12/10/2013 11:07

@Lumobile

The withheld tag is the clue here. If you use one of the examples I gave above, you can type in the senders details as withheld and then send a text to the other persons mobile number. They then receive a message from withheld.

The way for OP to test this out is to send a response to the message and see if anything comes back. If it doesn't, then thats because there is NO recipients email addy or number to send that too.

A simple Google search will tell you that this is the case & also that there are dozens of possible ways to send anonymous texts. The UK does have a lot more restrictions than other countries, but it IS possible...

sixfootplus · 12/10/2013 11:12

Also..

If you are adamant that it's not possible & sound like you have a much better knowledge of the working of the mobile phone network than me - mine is network hardware and handsfree kits - then can I suggest if you have the time, that you do some tests with some of these programs and post the results?

I've never sent anonymous texts myself, never had the need too, but have asked some online buddies & been told yes it is possible!

Original poster
Vintagecakeisstillnice · 15/10/2013 13:07

Hi, the text header where it would normally say the name says unknown, as does the area the number would come up.

I've spoken to Sarah over the weekend, and we had a long chat there is an explanation for his odd behaviour not really my place to go into the ins and outs here. But she does not think he is cheating.

There's been nothing else since.

So for now I'm just going to put it down as a random event with no explanation for now.

OP posts:
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