How to Remove Your Phone Number From the Internet? Step by Step

Do you know that over 45% of Americans are the victim of online privacy breaches? Nearly 1 in 3 people have experienced online scams, which usually start with your leaked phone number. 

Your phone number is a primary target for scammers used for phishing, spam calls, and identity theft. On how many websites have you left your phone number? And how can you ensure that they are in safe hands?

In this guide, we will explain a step-by-step procedure for restoring your privacy and showing you how to remove your phone number from the Internet.

Let’s dive in!!! 

Why Is Your Phone Number on the Internet?

In today’s tech-driven world, it is not uncommon to have your phone number leaked on the Internet, often without you even knowing.

From signing up on social media sites to data brokers, your number can be leaked and shared throughout the Internet without you realizing it. Here’s how it happens: 

Social Media Platforms

Almost all social media sites ask you to link your phone number for verification or to secure your account for recovery. Although it enhances security, it also makes your phone number easily accessible. This can either be through search engines or your social media profile if it is public. 

Online Directories

Online directory websites like White Pages, Peoplefinder, etc., gather your personal details, including your phone number, and display them on their site. 

They often collect and sell your number to data breakers and third-party sites, making your number easily available on the Internet. 

Apps and Services

When signing up for apps or online services, you often agree to the terms and conditions. While doing so, you may unknowingly allow them to share your phone number with third parties.

These third parties are often advertisers and marketing agencies. They may use their number for marketing purposes, increasing your exposure on the Internet. 

Hacking or Leaks

One of the primary reasons why your number can end up on the Internet is through hacking or leaks. Data breaches in compromised databases happen often. This can lead your number to be exposed in front of hackers or scammers. 

What can your phone number reveal about you?

Personal phone numbers are not only digits to contact you; they are the key to your personal information. From where you live to what are your interests, here’s what your phone number might be revealing about you:

Geographic Location

Your phone number has an area code associated with it, which shows the location where you registered it. Though the area code may not show your current location, it may still indicate your former location. That means it can reveal information regarding your past. 

Hackers can find your new location or your connection based on it. This might be disturbing to people who love to maintain privacy. 

Personal Identity

Your phone number is often linked with your details, including your name, email, address, and even your financial accounts. As many social media handles link your phone number with your account, your profile is open to everyone. 

In this way, your phone number can reveal your complete identity. It makes fraudsters easy for identity theft. Therefore, they can impersonate you to be involved in fraud or malicious activities. 

Personal Interests

A phone number is required to register for many online services or to enable two-factor authorization. These services often link your personal information with your number to create a profile card for their members. 

Personal information can include pictures, purchase history, interests, etc. Therefore, it can be used to target you with tailored advertisements. Though it helps businesses deliver content in your interest, this information can be sold to third parties without consent. 

The Risks of Having Your Phone Number Online

Having your phone number online may seem normal. However, it may expose you to a variety of security risks that can compromise your privacy and security. Here are some key risks of having your number exposed:

Unwanted Calls and Messages

The most immediate risk of having your phone number online is getting spam calls and messages. You may receive annoying marketing messages, fraud claims, and unwanted offers from scammers. 

Receiving such calls and messages may irritate you. Also, sometimes, they may trick you into making unnecessary activities, like unwanted payments. 

If you want to know how to respond to missed calls by text, you can read it here.

Fraudulent Activities

The most common risks of having your phone number online are identity theft and phishing scams. Fraudsters may pose as trusted sources like banks and governmental agencies. 

Then, they may ask you for your confidential data like passwords and credit card details. Or they may even use your number to pass the security checks on your financial accounts. This may lead you to an unnecessary financial loss. 

Privacy Invasion

Having your phone number online basically means leaving your location and privacy online. Hackers and stalkers can track you based on your number and monitor your activities. 

If the person stalking you has bad intentions, this may lead to harassment, unwanted spying, physical stalking, and even theft.

Potential Misuse in Scams or Illegal Activities

Scammers can use your phone number to be involved in unlawful activities like fraud, money laundering, or supporting criminal activities. 

These cybercriminals can use your number to perform fake transactions and even trick others into falling into their scams.

 As phone numbers are taken as identifiers, you may be responsible for all the illegal activities done by the scammers.

How to check if your phone number is exposed?

Fraudulent and phishing activities through leaked phone numbers have been a major issue in current days. This is why you should always be alert if your phone number is online.

Here, we will discuss some techniques to check whether your number is exposed on the Internet or not:

• Use websites like Have I Been Pawned to check whether your number or email has been involved in breaches.
• Frequently monitor the news regarding data breaches, especially the services where you have left your phone number. 
• Check for spam or phishing messages. If your number is exposed, you will receive spam messages like winning a lottery or asking for sensitive information. 
• Search your phone number in Google searches and check search results to see whether it appears on malicious websites. 
• Frequently check the messages or email if someone is trying to login to your accounts. 

How to remove your phone number from the Internet?

Your phone number reveals many personal details about you. Therefore, to protect your privacy, it is necessary to remove your number from the Internet. Here is a step-by-step guide on deleting your phone number from the Internet. 

Search for Your Number

Firstly, check for sites that have your number on search engines. These sites can be social media platforms and online directories. 

Erase Phone Number from Search Engines

If the search shows your social media handles or any other sites, you can use Google’s URL removal tool or similar options to remove your number from there.

Opt-Out from Data Brokers

Data brokers like Whitepages and Epsilon collect and sell your phone number. You can check whether they are using your number. If yes, use their opt-out options to request the removal of your number.

Contact Website Owners

If a website displays your number without consent, you can request removal from the site administrator. For contact information, check the “Contact Us” page. 

Delete from Social Media

If you have registered your phone number on social media accounts, remove it from your profiles. Also, configure the privacy settings in such a way as to restrict access to your contact details.

Use Data Removal Services

Professional data removal services, such as DeleteMe or Privacy Bee, are available on the market. These services help protect phone number privacy.

Secure Future Listings

Stay away from providing your phone number publicly online. Rather, you can use a secondary number to protect your phone number privacy.

Regular Monitoring

You should check for your phone number online from time to time and follow the deletion process to maintain online privacy protection.

By following these steps, you can remove contact details online and reduce unnecessary exposure.

However, you can also change your phone number while calling someone new to protect your number from being exposed.

Wrapping Up

In our digitally connected world, a phone number is not only a medium to communicate. It is a precious piece of personal information that can reveal your identity in the malicious world. 

Taking bold steps to remove it from the Internet can protect your privacy and security. 

Remain alert, frequently check your online footprint, and think about using expert data removal services to retain authority over your details. Focusing on online privacy is crucial for a more secure digital existence.

FAQs

How long does it take to remove a number?

The time it takes to remove a number from the Internet depends on various factors, like where it is posted and the removal process.

Let’s discuss how long it takes to remove a number from different platforms:

• Generally, it takes a few minutes to a couple of days to remove numbers from social media platforms. 
• To remove a number from search engines may take a few days to several weeks. 
• The process of removing numbers from websites or blogs varies greatly between websites. It may take a few hours to several weeks.
• It may take weeks to months to remove your number from data broker sites.

Is it safe to use automated tools?

Yes, it is completely safe to use automated tools in the removal process. However, reliability and security depend on the service provider. Using automated tools can save you time. Also, many service providers provide a monitoring facility so that your number doesn’t appear again on the websites.

Can you remove your number permanently?  

Yes, it is possible to permanently remove your number from websites. However, this can be difficult. Your number spreads widely once it is online. You can follow the steps mentioned above to permanently remove your number from the Internet.  

What should you do if your number keeps getting reposted?

It will be very frustrating if your number keeps getting reposted on the Internet. However, you can follow these steps in such cases:

• Identify the source of the repost
• Strengthen the removal process
• Prevent the number from spreading
• Report and complain about the posts
• The last option would be to change your number

How do I make my cell phone number unsearchable?

Making a cell phone unsearchable can take a few steps:

• Remove your number from the Internet
• Adjust privacy settings in social media handles. For example, on Facebook, there is a section titled “Who can see the number you provided?” Set this to Only Me. Remove the number if necessary. 
• Be careful while using online services. Use email instead of numbers while signing up. 

How do I get my phone number removed from a website?

To have your phone number removed from a website, you must contact the site’s owner. You can also use specific tools and regulations that safeguard your privacy.