Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Did he hack my phone?

89 replies

Lightpetal · 26/08/2022 23:30

It's so late here where I live but I can't sleep...My mind is racing... (Have already previously posted but I really needed to ask this before I lose my mind).

For 2 years, I have been in a controlling, abusive relationship where I have been blamed for a lot of stuff (including 'ruining' my partners mental health - his words).

I did some really silly stuff during our relationship which I am not proud of, and I have repetitively apologized for this, and have tried to make up to him and make him happy. I was messaging someone else at the very start (but never physically cheated) and I worked online doing some risqué stuff, let's say. I didn't tell my partner because Covid hit, I really needed the money and it was early on in our relationship. I regret not telling him and he has reminded me of this ever since.

This is where things get interesting...

The way he found this information out was he asked someone he knew (who was very 'high up') to see what I was up to. This guy he knew worked on the dark web, and so my partner gave him my number. The next day, my partner showed me what he had found and I apologized profusely and we agreed to work on our relationship.

Since then (about 2 years) my partner has been receiving private conversations, pictures, Skype/Facebook messages, private phone calls and private emails and sites that I have visited DIRECTLY to his phone. I was awake one night and I could see that a conversation I had started on another forum was getting airdropped to him but I couldn't do anything to stop it.

Every time he has received something he didn't know about, he would hit the roof, and would question and interrogate me for hours. The mad thing is, I have never once, questioned whether it could be him. It honestly did not cross my mind. It was only today on another thread that a couple of MNers mentioned it. Now, I can't not stop thinking about it.

He and (I) have always assumed it was someone online. Someone I spoke to, or that someone was out to get me, or jealous that I was happy. That's where the blame always lay. These messages and private conversations were only airdropped to him when my phone was on (or so I thought). It appeared that the sites I had visited on my laptop were also sent to his phone, or he certainly had knowledge about them that he would use in an argument to 'surprise me' so I would look really bad and couldn't say anything back.

We had a huge argument yesterday and he threatened to expose what I used to do on Facebook and said he was recording our conversation...this type of language about recording me without my knowledge etc just made me convince myself it was him.

He has previously said everytime that when he received something it ruined him..and he hated technology being in our lives. In the end I smashed my phone into a million pieces. He was still getting things sent to him when we moved from the UK, which I still didn't understand.

Here's the thing. My bank account has never been stolen or hacked into.
My other friends and ex partner (to my best knowledge) have never received anything like my partner has.
It is only him.

I believe now it's 100% him. Anyone else?!

OP posts:
Surtsey · 27/08/2022 14:29

You absolutely have to leave him. You need to change everything completely. New email address, new phone number (preferably with a different provider), set up new accounts on FB, Instagram or whatever, change all your passwords, everything. It might also be worth going into your bank and telling them exactly what has been going on. They should be able to give you a new account number and so on.

Use a work computer, a friend's phone, someone's landline. Don't assume that you can do anything in your home without him knowing about it. It is unlikely but he could even have hidden cameras set up.

MiracleBaby2022 · 27/08/2022 15:31

Something similar happened to me. You must leave him (with help as has been suggested by others) and never look back. People like this never change. You take good care of yourself! X

wellhelloitsme · 27/08/2022 16:19

Don't confront him before, or after, you leave.

It's not safe and it's utterly pointless because no good can come of it.

Do you have children?

Do you have a safety plan together with someone like women's aid or the police so you can leave safely as soon as possible?

He's threatened you with violence I recall from your other thread. You cannot risk confronting him at all, all that matters is getting out safely.

Dery · 27/08/2022 16:40

Of course it was him. Don’t confront him. This man is a criminal (stalking/coercive control/psychological abuse etc) and incredibly dangerous. How do you know he’s not seeing this thread? You need to leave ASAP but don’t discuss any of this with him. Abusers are at their most dangerous when they sense they are losing control.

It would be wise for you to do the Freedom
Program and/or seriously work on your shark cage before you date again. You have been too trusting about all this.

Lightpetal · 27/08/2022 16:43

Thank you. So, he's threatened me a couple of times. One time he thought I said something really bad about his late dad and made me apologize for it. I had no idea what he thought i'd said. He then came close to my face and asked if I wanted to be hit by him. He punched the wall instead. Our last argument when I tried to leave he threatened to smash my face/teeth in, and called me a slag, a c u next Tuesday and other names. He stole all my possessions and threatened to smash them up if I got help.

We don't have children together- thank God. I just have one DC from previous relationship. I am leaving next week, for DC's sake if nothing else.

I don't live in the UK anymore so logistics are a bit different, but doable. I've been very up and down today emotionally. The hacking situation has really got to me, but I'm not going to confront him. It's not worth it.

He's been his usual arsehole self today- speaking to me like shit and making demands. 😒 I don't have the energy for it anymore. I do want him to know that I know about what he has done. For two long years I have blamed myself, when all along it was HIM. Not going to lie, that stings.

Anyone suggest writing a letter before I leave?

OP posts:
MzHz · 27/08/2022 16:51

No just leave

ditch the old number, email address, Facebook, every single social media contact or whatever that you have, change it.

you don’t need to explain anything to this arsehole, you owe him nothing.

live your best life. You deserve it

Dery · 27/08/2022 17:13

He’s an abuser and the advice for dealing with abusers you are leaving is very clear: do NOT tell them anything. Leave when he’s not at home. Abusers are at their most dangerous when they’re losing control. Your priority must be to get you and your DC to safety as soon as you can. Once you are safely away, you could, if you wished, write a letter. But he’s not going to admit he’s wrong. A letter is unlikely to achieve much.

wellhelloitsme · 27/08/2022 17:16

Lightpetal · 27/08/2022 16:43

Thank you. So, he's threatened me a couple of times. One time he thought I said something really bad about his late dad and made me apologize for it. I had no idea what he thought i'd said. He then came close to my face and asked if I wanted to be hit by him. He punched the wall instead. Our last argument when I tried to leave he threatened to smash my face/teeth in, and called me a slag, a c u next Tuesday and other names. He stole all my possessions and threatened to smash them up if I got help.

We don't have children together- thank God. I just have one DC from previous relationship. I am leaving next week, for DC's sake if nothing else.

I don't live in the UK anymore so logistics are a bit different, but doable. I've been very up and down today emotionally. The hacking situation has really got to me, but I'm not going to confront him. It's not worth it.

He's been his usual arsehole self today- speaking to me like shit and making demands. 😒 I don't have the energy for it anymore. I do want him to know that I know about what he has done. For two long years I have blamed myself, when all along it was HIM. Not going to lie, that stings.

Anyone suggest writing a letter before I leave?

You have a child.

Your duty of care is first and foremost to them.

Brilliant news that you don't have any children together.

Do not confront this man. Do not write him a letter. Do nothing to confront him at any point and do nothing to engage with him from the second you leave.

There is nothing to be discussed with an abuser. He'll never believe he's wrong and it only leaves the possibility for him to pretend he does and persuade you things will change. They wouldn't, which is why an conversations with him from when you leave onwards are so very, very risky and are a risk you should not take.

Consult experts (womens aid, if there's an equivalent in your country, and police) to get you out safely, as soon as possible, from this controlling and abusive environment which is rapidly escalating to potential physical abuse too.

You sound a little numb to quite honestly bad this is and I think that means it will be important for you to have some counselling once you're safe and away from this man. So you can avoid this ever happening again for you and your child's sake 

Dery · 27/08/2022 17:37

OP - every word of Wellhello’s post is brilliant. Please do as Wellhello advises.

AgentJohnson · 27/08/2022 17:49

Just leave and don’t look back.

Name99 · 27/08/2022 18:31

I wouldn't bother with writing him a letter, his brain doesn't function like normal people.
Just leave, block him and don't look back
Be prepared for the abuse to ramp up when he realises he's lost control and you leave.

Lightpetal · 29/08/2022 03:42

Can I ask, is it normal for abusive people to be nice and lovely? My partner was in a foul mood yesterday - very up and down with his moods (always thought he had bipolar). But I went out and got him some food, and he perked up a bit. Then he gave me a kiss on the head, and said 'Thank you' which he doesn't normally do and this morning he's been quite affectionate and nice.

I'm planning on leaving Wednesday, but hate how he's all nice and pleasant because in those moments it reminds me of how he used to be and that wipes out all the bad stuff.

I know I need to leave, but it's so hard walking away. I thought he was my soul mate. 😔

OP posts:
HoneyIShrunkThePizza · 29/08/2022 04:35

Wait, you think saying 'thank you' is a grand act of kindness?

You really need to leave. And no, don't write the letter. Don't give him anything he can keep, twist, share or use to reel you back in.

Celticdawn5 · 29/08/2022 04:45

There may be a chance he has access to your Mumsnet account and knows you are planning to leave, hence being nice and confusing your plans?
he is an abuser. you must leave.

Lightpetal · 29/08/2022 06:39

I just feel so down. Can't stop being an emotional fool. When he's around me, I just want to get away and don't really care. When he's gone and I'm on my own, I just feel so so sad. What we've been through is more than most people have in marriages.

Do you think an abuser can change? or do you think he's always been that way.

OP posts:
Sparkletastic · 29/08/2022 06:59

Someone this abusive will never change. He's done a real number on you if you are even considering staying. Get away. You will soon get perspective on how terrible his behaviour has been once you have some distance.

Wearefoooked22 · 29/08/2022 07:26

If it’s an iPhone he has synced your phones,he’s logged in with your Apple ID,change your email and password.

Mosso · 29/08/2022 07:38

He will be nice for a bit then he will threaten to punch you or actually do it. Is he reading this do you think?

He synched your Apple ID and watched your every move. He's not a nice man, he's an abusive cunt.

Aussiebean · 29/08/2022 08:55

This may help explain it

www.healthline.com/health/relationships/cycle-of-abuse#the-cycle

Lightpetal · 29/08/2022 09:06

Thank you. I no longer have that phone anymore - I smashed it up and he said he no longer receives anything. I feel completely and utter broken inside though. All our plans, hopes and dreams in the bin. Everything we spoke about in the bin.

Never in my life felt this way. 😪

OP posts:
Name99 · 29/08/2022 09:12

Of course they are nice sometimes, they wouldn't get away with it if they were abusive 100% of the time

Lightpetal · 29/08/2022 15:37

Had a think tonight about everything and realised that although my partner hasn't behaved the best, nor have I. I'm going to stick by him. I love him and know that he's had a very rough time and I want to help him through it. I believe people can change and everyone deserves another chance.

OP posts:
stevalnamechanger · 29/08/2022 15:40

He's clearly gained access to your iCloud account I assume or google drives / google accounts

catandcoffee · 29/08/2022 15:46

Lightpetal · 29/08/2022 15:37

Had a think tonight about everything and realised that although my partner hasn't behaved the best, nor have I. I'm going to stick by him. I love him and know that he's had a very rough time and I want to help him through it. I believe people can change and everyone deserves another chance.

ok 👍 🙄

stevalnamechanger · 29/08/2022 15:48

Lightpetal · 29/08/2022 15:37

Had a think tonight about everything and realised that although my partner hasn't behaved the best, nor have I. I'm going to stick by him. I love him and know that he's had a very rough time and I want to help him through it. I believe people can change and everyone deserves another chance.

What a stupid idea OP

You are playing into his hands

Men like this don't change

Men like this kill people

Having a rough time is NOT a an excuse for bad behaviour

Swipe left for the next trending thread