I’ve got a story that’s especially important if you’re the kind of person who loves to mix business with the convenience of your cell phone. 📱

Phone Number Online

So, a buddy of mine out West decided to put his cell number on his business website, thinking it’d be a great way to connect with new customers. Then he hired a marketing agency to promote his site on Facebook. Sounds like a solid plan, right? Well, hold on to your hats, because this is where it gets interesting—and a bit concerning.

Having your cell number out there in the wild world of the web does crank up your risk of bumping into scammers and all sorts of digital mischief, like spoofing or redirecting attacks. These hosers can use your number to try and phish their way into your accounts or even pretend to be you! 😱

Now, I pointed out a nifty trick I’ve had up my sleeve. I use a Google Voice number on my website, which always takes a message. It’s free, and I’m not sweating over an info leak at that stage of a relationship. Smart, huh?

But that’s not the only advice I gave him, because there’s more!

eSIMs…

Ever heard of eSIMs? Most new smartphones let you rock two numbers and even tell you which one’s getting a call. Pretty slick, right?

So, before you go changing your number and playing hide-and-seek with the internet, check out these steps my pal now takes to keep the digital boogeymen at bay:

1. He’s a privacy ninja on Facebook and other social platforms, making sure his digits are only visible to his inner circle.
2. Accepting friend requests? He’s like a detective, verifying identities before spilling any personal beans.
3. Business calls? They get their own special number. It’s like keeping work shoes and party shoes separate.
4. Phishing lures? Not today, Satan! He doesn’t bite on strange links or cough up info unless he’s 100% sure who’s asking.
5. Account check-ups are his jam. He spots anything fishy, and he’s on the phone faster than you can say “unauthorized charge.”

And here’s the kicker: when you ring up a number that seems as American as apple pie but turns out to be pricier than a five-star dinner, you could be in for a wallet-busting surprise. I’ve heard horror stories of folks getting dinged $10 a minute! 😵

Don’t Call Back!

I have a friend who doesn’t answer phone calls from numbers he doesn’t recognize. Ok so far. But then he calls them back and asks “who’s this?” Crazy. So now they know they’ve got a valid phone number, they know he’ll interact with them (which he does), and they play their ploy.

So, what’s the takeaway from all this? Just be extra cautious when you’re hitting that call button. If you’re ever in doubt, give your phone service provider a shout before you dial those mysterious digits.

Make sense? How would you handle it? Remember, it’s all about being savvy and staying one step ahead of those pesky hosers. And if you’re looking for more tech tips and tricks, keep your eyes peeled for my next chat. We’ll keep it real and keep those digital gremlins at bay! 👾🛡️

Stay safe out there, and don’t forget to pass this along to anyone who might need a heads-up. Catch you on the flip side! ✌️