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Help Strange Text

A

annaamnisty

Lurker
I don't know where to put this. I've never been on here before. But I'm a little worried about something that just happened, and I don't know where else to go for any sort of advice or help. So...

I got a text from a number that's very similar to mine, with only 1 number difference. The text only contained a 4-digit number: 9957. I don't know what it means or who it was from. Should I be concerned about it?

It could be nothing and I'm just freaking out for no reason, but it was just such a bizarre message to get.
 
A text message containing just some digits like that is commonly for two-factor authentication for some online service. Do you recall setting it up and recently not being able to log into some online account? The numeric pass code might be your authentication code.
 
svim said:
A text message containing just some digits like that is commonly for two-factor authentication for some online service. Do you recall setting it up and recently not being able to log into some online account? The numeric pass code might be your authentication code.
Click to expand...
No, none that I can recall. Tumblr is the only site I currently use that I have that set up for, and it sends from a different number, and the text always states clearly "this is your authentication code" or whatever it usually says, then gives the number. It never just sends the number by itself. The weirdest thing about the message is the fact that the number is almost exactly like mine. The first number of the last four digits is the only one that's different. Mine is 9, theirs is 0.
 
Yeah, that phone number being off by a digit to your own is puzzling. I was initially wondering if it was just some aspect to how some services like Viber, WhatsApp, and Duo rely on the user's phone number as their user I.D. to log in with. Anyway, have you tried just doing a Google search for that phone number? Sometimes if it has any kind of history it might pop up with some relevant info on the number's owner. You also might want to try a reverse caller ID app like this one:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.youmail.callerid&hl=en
 
svim said:
Yeah, that phone number being off by a digit to your own is puzzling. I was initially wondering if it was just some aspect to how some services like Viber, WhatsApp, and Duo rely on the user's phone number as their user I.D. to log in with. Anyway, have you tried just doing a Google search for that phone number? Sometimes if it has any kind of history it might pop up with some relevant info on the number's owner. You also might want to try a reverse caller ID app like this one:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.youmail.callerid&hl=en
Click to expand...
I did look up the number, and so did my best friend just in case. We couldn't find anything on it. The only thing I found was that it appears to be in the same city as me. But since the area code was the same, I pretty much already knew that.
 
svim said:
A text message containing just some digits like that is commonly for two-factor authentication for some online service. Do you recall setting it up and recently not being able to log into some online account? The numeric pass code might be your authentication code.
Click to expand...

I agree with this.

What happened "most likely" is that the person who was asking his "bank" or other service for a Confirmation Number accidentally keyed in your phone number instead of this. it is the "fumble fingers syndrome".

nothing for you to be concerned about at all. it happens, everyday, somewhere.
 
Probably someone entered a wrong phone number(off by a digit) when trying to register and verify their phone for whatever service or site it is. They should soon realize their mistake when the verification text didn't come through to their device. This is something I've actually done myself..... And it's nothing to be concerned about at all.
 
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