Your Phone Number Can Make You a Target

In the last few years, attempts to exploit phone numbers have become increasingly common. The abundance of sensitive information online enables hackers to gather more data easily.

Let’s assess how hackers find and fraudulently use your phone number, as well as what you can do to defend yourself and your business against such threats.

Have You Been Targeted?

There are various incentives for hackers to acquire as much personal data as they possibly can. If a cybercriminal finds your phone number, they can target you and your organization in various ways, as it is often linked to more sensitive data like banking details or email addresses.

Bad actors often pose as legitimate businesses, deceiving the victims into sharing their phone numbers usually through shady web forms, phishing emails, etc.

There are many apps and websites that require personal information, such as a phone number and an email address during a registration process. If these entities don’t take data security seriously, your sensitive data could be exposed.

Fraudulent Methods

Today, companies store vast amounts of customer data within their databases. If these systems get breached, sensitive customer data is at risk.

Hackers utilize several methods for grabbing relevant data.

Sometimes scammers dig through your social media profiles, personal or business websites to find this information.

In data breaches, cybercriminals hack entire databases which may include phone numbers, email addresses, and social security numbers.

In phishing scams, perpetrators impersonate a trusted authority, such as your bank or a government agency, to convince you to share any sensitive data.

Scam calls are another fraudulent method that cybercriminals use. These are more common than you might think. A 2025 Pew Research Center report found that 31% of Americans get a scam call every day and 68% of US adults receive scam phone calls at least once a week.

Also, data brokers legally sell personal data for marketing purposes, creating opportunities which hackers can exploit.

Being Proactive Is Crucial

The best way to protect your phone number is to be aware of when and where you are sharing it. Do not share it online and make sure that you don’t give it out to anyone you don’t trust, whether it is a business or an individual.

Never give out company financial details on the phone unless you prompted the discussion, and if you are uncomfortable with a phone call you have received, just hang up and call the company back using the official phone number, the one listed on their website.

Beware of phishing attempts. If cybercriminals have your phone number, you must be careful every time you receive a dubious SMS or call. Hackers may use these tactics to deceive you and steal even more sensitive information damaging your business, your reputation, etc.

Never reuse passwords; create a unique one for every account. This remains highly effective even if your phone number is public or exposed without your permission.

Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) as it strengthens the security of your online accounts. In addition to the user/password combination, MFA asks you to also enter a one-time password generated in an authenticator app or use a physical security key. This makes it much more difficult for hackers to access your accounts, even if you accidentally disclose your password to a bad actor.

Regularly check your business bank statements for any unauthorized activity. If you notice anything suspicious, don’t hesitate to report it.

Get fraud alerts. There are mobile carriers which offer services that warn you if something suspicious is happening with your account (e.g., an unlawful attempt to transfer your number from one device to another).

Stay updated on the latest cybersecurity threats and best practices. Increased awareness ensures that you and your team will be better prepared to defend against emerging cyberattacks.

Bottom Line

Cybersecurity is as much about individual awareness as it is about technical solutions. If you don’t take steps to protect your company information, it will be easy for hackers to steal it. Stay vigilant.

For a professional cybersecurity approach, please reach out to StratusPointIT.