What to Do If a Scammer Has Your Phone Number

Finding out that a scammer has your phone number can be nerve-wracking, especially when you don’t know what they might do with it. The good news is that having your number alone generally isn’t enough for them to access your phone or personal accounts.

Still, it’s not something you want to ignore. Scammers can use your number to send convincing messages, impersonate trusted organizations, or try to get more personal information from you.

If you suspect a scammer has your phone number, there are a few simple steps you can take to protect yourself and limit further contact. But what you need to do next depends largely on whether they only have your number or if you’ve shared other personal information.

What Can a Scammer Do With Your Phone Number?

A scammer can use your phone number in several ways, but most involve trying to trick you into sharing more information rather than gaining direct access to your phone. Some of the most common tactics include:

• Scam calls and texts: They may contact you repeatedly with fake delivery notices, account warnings, or offers designed to get a response.
• Phishing attempts: Scammers can send links to convincing-looking websites that ask for passwords, payment details, or other sensitive information.
• Impersonation: They may pretend to represent your bank, mobile provider, or another trusted organization to make their requests seem legitimate.
• Verification code scams: Someone may try to access an account associated with your number and then convince you to share the one-time code sent to your phone.
• Personal information searchers: Scammers may look for your name, address, social media profiles, or other publicly available details connected to your number.
• Caller ID impersonation: In some cases, scammers can make calls that appear to come from your number, even though they don’t actually control your phone.

The biggest risk usually isn’t the phone number itself. It’s what a scammer might persuade you to share or do next, particularly if they already know other personal details about you.

What to Do If a Scammer Has Your Phone Number

If you’ve received a suspicious call or text, the best thing you can do is avoid engaging. Even a quick response can let scammers know your number is active, potentially leading to more unwanted contact.

Here’s where to start:

• Don’t respond or call back: Avoid replying to suspicious messages, clicking unfamiliar links, or sharing any personal information.
• Save any evidence: Take screenshots of messages and keep relevant call logs, voicemails, phone numbers, and transaction details. These may be useful if you need to report the scam.
• Block the number: Once you’ve saved what you need, block the sender to prevent further contact from that number.
• Verify suspicious claims independently: If someone claims to represent your bank, phone service provider, or another organization, contact the company directly using its official website or a trusted phone number.
• Report the contact: Use your phone’s built-in reporting options or your mobile provider’s spam-reporting tools, if available.

Keep in mind that scammers can contact you from different numbers, so blocking one sender may not stop every attempt. If you’ve already shared sensitive information, your next priority should be securing the affected accounts.

How to Protect Your Accounts If You’ve Shared Personal Information

If you’ve given the scammer additional information, your next steps depend on what you shared. Some situations call for a quick password change, while others may require contacting your bank or phone service provider.

If You Shared a Password

Change the password immediately through the account’s official website or app. If you’ve used that same password elsewhere, update those accounts too. Whenever possible, enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for an additional layer of security. An authenticator app or passkey can offer stronger protection than relying on text message codes alone.

If You Shared a Verification Code

Contact the company associated with the code as soon as possible. A scammer may have used it to sign in, reset your password, or make changes to your account. Review recent login activity, update your password, and check that your recovery email address and phone number haven’t been changed.

If You Shared Payment Information

Contact your bank or card issuer using its official phone number. Explain what happened and ask whether they should freeze or replace your card. Review recent transactions for unfamiliar charges and report anything suspicious. If you’ve already sent money, ask your financial institution about possible recovery or dispute options.

If You Shared Sensitive Personal Details

Information such as your Social Security number, date of birth, or home address may put you at greater risk of identity theft, particularly when combined with other exposed information. If you’ve shared sensitive identity details, visit IdentityTheft.gov for guidance on protecting your identity. Depending on what was exposed, you may also want to place a fraud alert or credit freeze with the major credit bureaus.

How to Protect Your Phone Number From Scammers

Your mobile account deserves some attention, too. In some cases, scammers may attempt a SIM swap, tricking a phone service provider into transferring your number to a SIM card or eSIM they control. This can allow them to receive calls and verification texts intended for you.

Fortunately, there are several precautions you can take, including:

• Set up an account PIN: Ask your mobile provider to add or strengthen the PIN required to make account changes.
• Enable number transfer protection: Some providers offer additional safeguards against unauthorized transfers. Check which options are available on your account.
• Review your account activity: Look for unfamiliar devices, added lines, or changes you didn’t authorize.
• Keep your phone updated: Install operating system and app updates to address known security vulnerabilities.
• Secure your device: Use a strong screen lock and biometric authentication, if available, to prevent unauthorized access.

Watch for unexpected password-reset notifications, account-change alerts, or a sudden loss of mobile service. These don’t automatically mean your number has been compromised, but they’re worth looking into.

If your phone suddenly loses service without explanation, contact your mobile provider from another device and ask whether your number has been transferred or your account has been changed.

Where to Report a Phone Number Scam

If you’ve received scam calls or texts, you can report them to federal agencies that track fraudulent activity and unwanted communication. Two of the main reporting options in the U.S. are the FTC and FCC.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

The FTC collects reports of scams, including fraudulent messages, impersonation attempts, and financial fraud. You can submit a report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. These reports help the agency identify scam patterns and support broader efforts to combat fraud.

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

The FCC handles complaints involving unwanted calls, suspicious texts, and caller ID impersonation. You can file a complaint through its Consumer Complaint Center. Although filing a complaint won’t necessarily stop someone from contacting you, it provides enough information that can help the FCC identify and address unwanted communications.

Should You Change Your Phone Number If a Scammer Has It?

Not necessarily. If a scammer only has your phone number, changing it is usually more trouble than it’s worth. Blocking suspicious contacts, securing your accounts, and watching for unusual activity may be enough.

However, there are situations where getting a new number makes sense.

When Changing Your Number May Be Worth It

If you’re getting constant scam calls or texts, dealing with repeated harassment, or find your number posted publicly alongside other personal information, changing it may help you regain control over who can contact you. It’s also worth considering if someone is repeatedly using your number to impersonate you or target people you know.

What to Know Before Changing Your Number

Changing your phone number affects more than just your contacts. Banks, email accounts, and other services may rely on it for account recovery or verification, so you’ll need to update those settings. You’ll also want to notify important contacts and review any accounts still connected to your old number.

If it’s safe and practical, keeping the old number active temporarily can give you time to make those changes. Just remember that a new number isn’t a guarantee against future scams. It can reduce unwanted contact associated with your old number, but protecting your personal information and accounts is still important.

How a Second Number Can Help Protect Your Privacy

You can’t always control who gets your phone number, especially when you’re signing up for services, shopping online, or communicating with people who you don’t know well. But you can be more selective about when you share your primary number.

Keep Your Personal Number for Trusted Contacts

Consider reserving your primary number for family, friends, and important accounts. A separate number can be useful for online marketplaces, dating apps, deliveries, and other situations where you may only need to communicate for a short time.

This also limits how widely your personal number is shared, especially with people or services you may not interact with again.

Manage Unwanted Contact More Easily

If a second number starts receiving excessive spam or suspicious messages, you can manage that activity separately from your primary number. Depending on the service, you may also have options to block contacts, filter unwanted calls, or replace the second number.

Of course, using another number doesn’t prevent scammers from contacting you or guarantee your information will stay private. It’s simply another way to keep your primary contact information out of situations where you don’t need to share it.

Keep Your Personal Number More Private With Burner

You can’t always prevent scam calls and texts, but you can be more selective about who gets your personal number. Burner makes that easier by giving you a second phone number for calls and texts, without changing your primary number or adding another mobile line.

With Burner, you can keep conversations separate, block unwanted contacts, and use features like spam-call filtering and customizable voicemail. You can also replace a Burner number when you no longer need it, giving you more flexibility over which contact information you share.

While a second number won’t undo an existing scam or secure a compromised account, it can help you avoid exposing your primary number unnecessarily in the future.

Get Burner to get a second number and take more control over your privacy.