Potentially paranoid WhatsApp question

[Chuckthefucklebrothers]

So I've been seeing this bloke for about 6 weeks now, when we first got together he was having issues with his phone network & changed his number (hmm...)

When he WhatsApps me, it shows up as his old number, when he texts, it's the new number. Am I missing something or has he got two phones (or at least two sims) on the go?

Thanks so much if anyone a bit more tech-savvy than me can answer this one!

Ohh goodness me, some real paranoia here. I'm always changing my number as is my husband when our contacts are up.

It's a nightmare for a while as whats app, FB, iCloud etc use all our old numbers. Which take a while to deactivate once you've cancelled with the network.

Even when the number has been cancelled it is still possible for the apps to use the number but go to the new phone as it is done via wifi not phone number like a text.

This is definitely innocent. My mum comes up on whatsapp as her original number and she's not conducting secret liaisons as far as I know.

Think I'm gonna give him the benefit of the doubt... For now!

There are a few other things that have set off my (highly tuned) bullshit radar that I will be keeping an eye on too.

If you want to check, 141 it and phone his old number. If he answers there's your answer.
Likely his old number is still active but not on use if he was hoping to get it back.

I gave my old phone to my sister last month and she put her existing six card in the new phone and gave her old handset, minus sim card, to her DP. A few days later I received a "who's this" WhatsApp message from my sisters profile, complete with her number at the top, from her DP who had inherited all of her contacts minus names!
I know for sure that my sister had her sim card in her new phone so the WhatsApp profile had gone with the handset and somehow had retained the old number. So it definitely is possible.

Honestly, this isn't a sinister sign. My mum actually changed her number, so new SIM card in new iphone, changed it to her old number, so the original iphone number genuinely no longer exists ( or someone else has it) yet it still comes up on her whatsapp.

It's not dodgy, I had a temporary number when I bought a new phone and then cancelled it to go back to my old number once that contract had ended. My temporary number still shows up for some friends on whatsapp even though I've cancelled it.

If you have other concerns though, maybe he's not for you.

Aww, feeling very much reassured, you lovely people!

To be honest, I think I'm gonna be a bit paranoid & insecure no matter what - my relationship track record isn't great! First 'D'H was a total psycho fantasist who lied about anything & everything & made me feel like I was losing the plot... As well as being physically & mentally abusive. I see the potential for this in everyone now

It doesn't help that this is a long distance relationship, so the opportunity is there, whether or not the motivation is. Also, things have moved along pretty quickly - I wasn't even planning on ever getting into another relationship after marriage number 2 went tits up... Funny how things turn out

This has happened on my watssapp with my son, who changed his number. I thought it was weird as well. Seems to be ok though.

I had whatsapp on my old UK number when I moved to Germany and obviously changed it. Basically to change your number on whatsapp is kind of a pain and if you just carry on using the app, it doesn't ask you to change it. So I never bothered.

I'm surprised he hasn't just ported the number when he changed networks? I haven't changed my number in about 15 years I reckon (if not more).

I would also phone the old number to see if it rings. It all just sounds a little bit odd.

DH travels a lot and has a different sim for each country. His whatsapp messages always come through as his original number, when he first registered with whatsapp, no matter what sim he is using. If you have other trust issues with him then focus on those - don't go mad checking into whatsapp, which works a bit weirdly and is notoriously glitchy anyway!

Isn't that quite difficult as well tribpot? I wanted to do it a while ago but it seemed to involve contacting the company and getting a special number and all sorts.

You do have to get a number but it's very little trouble compared to the hassle of telling everyone you've changed number. Sometimes it can take a while to do but it's a fairly automated process now, quite routine.