The trouble is, once Facebook has scraped your phone number, you can't delete it from the social network's database. And other people can use it to look you up on Facebook. The best existing Facebook users can do is to limit who can find them via this phone number to just friends. Here's how.
facebook is asking for phone number
On the mobile app, tap the hamburger icon () and select Settings & Privacy > Settings > Privacy Settings. Scroll down to How People Can Find and Contact You, and look for "Who can look you up using the phone number you provided?"
On the desktop, the process is similar. Select Settings > Privacy. Under How People Can Find and Contact You, look for "Who can look you up using the phone number you provided?" and click Edit on the right. In the drop-down menu, select Friends.
As mentioned above, one way Facebook gathers phone numbers is by scanning people's contact lists to help them connect with friends on Facebook. We've all been there; you create an account on a new service, and in a bid to find people to follow, you provide the service with access to your contacts.
That's nice, but it also means that even if you actively avoid Facebook over privacy concerns, any rando with your phone number in their contacts list could possibly upload it to Facebook when signing up for the service. Facebook also has a setting that lets people continuously upload their contacts in order to surface new people to follow. Do you have that activated on your account? Let's find out.
This isn't the first phone number-related uproar for Facebook. Last fall, Gizmodo reported(Opens in a new window) that mobile numbers submitted to Facebook for the purposes of two-factor authentication (2FA), as well as contact information pulled from friends' address books, are used to target ads.
So, as you can see, it's very difficult to avoid giving Facebook your phone number when everyone from advertisers to high school besties can upload it to the social network with a few taps. But you can try. And in this instance, you can use an Authenticator app for 2FA approval instead of your phone number, an option Facebook rolled out in May.
If you are currently using a phone number for Facebook 2FA and want to switch to an Authenticator, you can do that easily. But to remove your phone number, at least in theory, you'll have to turn 2FA off and add it back with just an authenticator. On desktop, navigate to Settings > Security & Login and click "Edit" next to Use two-factor authentication.
Fraudsters are finding new ways to steal your personal information on social media marketplace sites like Facebook and Craigslist, using a clever trick to target sellers and set up a phone number in their name.
How this scam works: A scammer contacts a seller on Facebook Marketplace, expresses interest in their product and asks the seller to provide a phone number to prove that they are a real person. Using that phone number, the scammer opens a Google Voice account, sends the seller the verification code from Google and asks them for the code to verify that they are legitimate. Once the seller gives them the code, the scammer now owns a new Google Voice number that they can use for other nefarious purposes like phone call scams and doxxing attacks.
How to identify it: If someone contacts you on Facebook Marketplace and asks for personal information like your phone number, you should view them with suspicion, says Daniel Clemens, founder and CEO of Shadow Dragon, a cybersecurity solutions developer. A request to send a verification code from Google Voice should be an even bigger warning sign to cut off contact with someone.
A phone number can be used to reset a forgotten password; to suggest people you may know so that you can connect with them on Facebook; and to keep the Facebook account safe with two-factor authentication and text alerts for potentially unauthorized logins.
3. If your account isn't connected to a phone number, you can select "+ Add a Phone" to enter a number. If you've already entered a phone number, click "+ Add another mobile phone number" to add a new one.
In order to use a third-party authentication app for generating codes, you have to install a third-party authentication app on the device you access Facebook from. \r\n\r\nHead over to your \u201cSecurity and login settings\u201d. Scroll down and click on \u201cEdit\u201d. You will have to re-enter your password. Tap on \u201cUse Authentication App\u201d when Facebook asks you to choose a security method. Then follow the on-screen instructions. "}},"@type":"Question","name":"\ud83c\udf1f How does Facebook use the phone number I selected for two-factor authentication?","acceptedAnswer":"@type":"Answer","text":"As you select a new phone number for two-factor authentication, Facebook will use it to facilitate future login. In case someone tries to log in to your Facebook from an unknown device, a verification code will be sent. ","@type":"Question","name":"\ud83c\udf1f Can I add the same phone number for two-factor authentication as I did for other places on Facebook?","acceptedAnswer":"@type":"Answer","text":"You cannot add the same number to other places as two-factor authentication for security reasons. This includes places like Facebook Marketplace and your profile. ","@type":"Question","name":"\ud83c\udf1f How does Facebook use my email address to send login alerts?","acceptedAnswer":"@type":"Answer","text":"As you add a new email address to receive login alerts, Facebook will notify you whenever someone tries to log into your account using an unknown device. You will get an email alert informing you about the login attempt. \r\n","@type":"Question","name":"\ud83c\udf1f What should I consider before I add a security key to my account?","acceptedAnswer":"@type":"Answer","text":"To add a security key, you must be using the latest version of Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Safari or Edge. You also require a Bluetooth, USB or NFC security key. Ensure your system\u2019s compatibility with the device. "]}var dataLayer_content = "pagePostType":"facebook-marketing","pagePostType2":"single-facebook-marketing","pagePostAuthor":"Jimit Bagadiya";dataLayer.push( dataLayer_content );(function(w,d,s,l,i)w[l]=w[l])(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-KXQMB3'); .rll-youtube-player, [data-lazy-src]display:none !important; window.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function() jQuery(document).ready(function()jQuery('.toggle-menu').click(function() jQuery('.exo-menu').toggleClass('display'); jQuery('.menu-lst').children('div').removeClass('myshow');););jQuery(document).on('click','.menu-lst',function()var currentMenu = jQuery(this).find('.mega-menu');var currentIcon = jQuery(this).find('a.media-down');var hasClassShow = currentMenu.hasClass('myshow');jQuery('.menu-lst').find('.mega-menu').removeClass('myshow');jQuery('.menu-lst').find('a.media-down').removeClass('actvclass');if(!hasClassShow) currentMenu.addClass('myshow'); currentIcon.addClass('actvclass'););); Start Your Free Trial Features Capabilities
As you select a new phone number for two-factor authentication, Facebook will use it to facilitate future login. In case someone tries to log in to your Facebook from an unknown device, a verification code will be sent.
The scammer was trying to hijack Gibble's phone number. When that happens, the verification code goes to Gibble. If she responds with that code, the scammer then goes online, poses as her and sells items to rip off other consumers.
Never provide anyone with your Google Voice verification code. Upon receiving this code, the scammer can use your phone number to create a Google Voice account for themselves linked to your number. If you gave someone your verification code follow these steps from Google to reclaim your number.
With the steady flow of data breaches, your cell phone number is probably out there in the wild and on the dark web. Scammers use cell phones for various scams and fraud. The question is, what can you do about it?
The most significant danger of handing out your mobile device number is that it could fall into the hands of a cybercriminal and steal information from cell phone. With so much information available in public records and sold on the dark web from data breaches, your cell phone number could link you to a lot of other personal or sensitive information like logins, usernames, passwords, and more.
A lot of apps are linked to your cell phone number also. Using two-factor authentication is great and keeps things safer, but if you have compromised phone number, then hackers have the keys to the kingdom. Some SMS systems are insecure and hackable. Therefore, someone would potentially get that special code that is texted to you from an app, and they could log into your account and change the password before you even realize what is going on. It's crucial to use end-to-end encrypted SMS platforms for all your communications.
SIM swapping is another danger where nefarious criminals use SIM cards linked to your phone to steal access to your phone number and carrier account. This type of danger is very real and scary and usually involves social engineering to trick the phone company representative. By having your cell number, a scammer could trick caller ID systems and get into your financial accounts or call financial institutions that use your phone number to identify you.
Yes. Your phone number is out there on the web in various locations. Scammers can use stolen cell phone numbers and use it for two-factor authentication codes and other access to all your texts, apps, and other online accounts, they could have your cell phone number hijacked and do it through SIM swapping. This is how it occurs: 2ff7e9595c
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