The true purposes of phone collection
Formally, companies request phone numbers for bot protection and account recovery via SMS. In reality, ad platforms link a user's activities across different sites using a single number to build a detailed digital profile. After the very first database leak, that number lands in the hands of shady lenders and scam call centers.
Ways to protect your primary contact
- get a separate secondary SIM card exclusively for bank notifications and government portals
- use temporary virtual number services for one-time registrations on forums and in stores
- hide number display in your privacy settings across messengers and social networks
- review data processing consents and uncheck boxes regarding sharing info with partners