Though we all know that our phone number is private and important to us, as an individual or a business, there is something seemingly arbitrary about giving it out to someone, especially in the unassuming environment of the Internet.
It’s getting more and more difficult to keep our personal phone number to ourselves, but with a few key steps, you can protect it from the spammers and scammers.
Don’t give out your phone number. This is rule #1.
We’re all on the defense against unwanted calls, but where are they coming from? How did they get your phone number? Somewhere along the line, you gave it to some organization or business, whether consciously or unbeknownst to you.
When you are filling out a web form for anything online, just don’t include your phone number unless it’s for a reputable organization that actually needs it. Even then, be sure to read their privacy policy to make sure they do not share your information.
Sometimes just the act of writing in your phone number constitutes tacit consent for that company to share it with third parties. You have to read the fine print. If it’s just some random signup form, there’s no reason you should ever include your phone number.
Don’t let the cashier fool you.
You know when you’re buying some little item in a retail store, standing up at the counter, and the employee asks you for your phone number as if it’s a normal requirement? Don’t do it. You’ll get some pushback from the cashier, but if they insist that you have to provide it, then just give a fake number.
This is where it all starts—just don’t give out your phone number. Your phone number is like your home address; it’s nobody’s business but yours, and yours to give out only when you choose to.
It is now necessary to actively combat malicious callers.
It’s unfortunate that we live in a world where scammers and malicious marketers are constantly trying to obtain your private phone number and invade your personal life, but that’s what they’re doing.
They are working every day to find new ways to circumvent the laws against harassing calls. This means that, if you are to block their efforts, you have to actively protect your privacy. To protect your phone number, you can:
- Register your phone number on the DNC (Do Not Call) list.
- Report malicious calls to the FCC.
- Don’t give out your phone number.
For more information about blocking unwanted calls, check out this supplemental post:
https://talkroute.com/4-basic-steps-to-stop-unwanted-calls/
Stephanie
Stephanie is the Marketing Director at Talkroute and has been featured in Forbes, Inc, and Entrepreneur as a leading authority on business and telecommunications.
Stephanie is also the chief editor and contributing author for the Talkroute blog helping more than 100k entrepreneurs to start, run, and grow their businesses.