Phone Number Leak: What You Need to Know to Stay Safe

LAST UPDATED: JAN 22, 2025

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

In this guide, you will learn:

• What Is A Phone Number Leak?
• What Happens When Your Phone Number Has Been Leaked?
• How to Know If Your Phone Number Has Been Leaked
• Steps To Take If Your Phone Number Gets Leaked
• Tips On Keeping Your Phone Number Secure To Prevent Leaks
• How To Avoid Phone Number Leaks with Trend Micro
• How to Unlock the secrets of online privacy!

What Is a Phone Number Leak?

A phone number leak occurs when private or personal phone numbers are inadvertently made public due to data breaches, weak databases, or other security flaws.

What Happens When Your Phone Number Has Been Leaked?

• You may receive unwanted phone calls and texts, such as telemarketing, spam, and phishing texts.
• It can be exploited to obtain more information that can be used to steal your identity.
• Someone can use it to harass or intimidate you.

How To Check If My Phone Number Is Leaked

Go to ID Protection Data Leak Checker and find out if your phone number appeared in any data leaks.

Steps To Take If Your Phone Number Gets Leaked

1. Report the leak to the relevant authorities, especially your phone service provider.
2. Use a call and SMS blocking app like Trend Micro ScamCheck to avoid unwanted phone calls and texts messages, and look up scammer phone numbers and scammer websites.
3. Notify your friends, family, and coworkers about the incident so they won’t fall for any scam attempts.

Tips On Keeping Your Phone Number Secure and Preventing Leaks

• Use a temporary phone number or a second phone number for one-time services.
• Avoid sharing your phone number and other sensitive information, with people or organizations you do not trust.
• Carefully read every Terms of Service and Privacy Policy to understand how your personal information will be used and protected.
• Use multifactor authentication and a Password Manager on all your accounts.
• Keep the operating system and cybersecurity app of your devices updated.
• Regularly monitor your phone activity, such as call logs and SMS, to look for suspicious or shady behavior.