Why you should never give your phone number to a stranger: How PayID told me everything about a man after an ‘unsettling’ encounter at my house
A woman has revealed the 'creepy' reason why you should never give your phone number to a stranger after a bizarre encounter in her apartment.
Louise, from Melbourne, was home late on Saturday evening when her intercom buzzed, but she was not expecting any guests.
Downstairs, at the front door of her building, was a “strange” man who insisted she let him go to her apartment floor.
“I tried to answer the call, but I can't hear him, he can't hear me, so I hang up, thinking he'll realize he has the wrong apartment,” Louise said in an interview. video.
But the man buzzed again, claiming he had something to tell her.
Instead, at her request, he left his number in her mailbox and Louise was able to retrieve all his information within minutes. While it helped her in this scenario, it showed how easy it can be to find out personal information about a stranger.
Louise, from Melbourne, felt uneasy when a man she didn't know rang her apartment doorbell and insisted she let him into her building. She was able to find out who he was after he left his number
“So we're having this back and forth when I ask him to tell me what he has to say over the intercom because it's 9:30 on Saturday night. I don't know who he is and I won't let him come to my apartment,” Louise continued.
'I tell him to leave his number in my mailbox. I'd like to talk to you tomorrow, but I won't let you on my floor.
“A while later he calls me to tell me he left his number in my mailbox and I asked him, 'Why can't you just tell me now?' and he says in a very creepy voice, 'It's complicated' and starts laughing.”
The next day, Louise and a friend collect the number and begin their detective work to find out who the man is.
She put the number in her PayID, which had a company name on it. With a quick Google search, she found the company website and social media pages. She was able to find out who the man was through the photos of the people tagged in the profile
She put the number in her PayID, which had a company name on it. With a quick Google search, she found the company website and social media pages.
“We looked on social media and were able to find the followers and photos of people who were tagged on the profile,” she said.
“From there we were able to actually find the person and who exactly it was. And then I was able to report it to my building.
“And just like that, I know exactly who that person is, I know where they work, I've been able to connect all these things in their lives that no one should really have access to, especially a complete stranger.”
With this in mind, Louise warned singles not to give out their mobile number to people you don't know, especially if they use the same number for PayID.
Speaking to FEMAIL, Louise described the situation as 'bizarre' and finds it strange that anyone would think this kind of 'evasive behaviour' is acceptable.
“It was very nerve-wracking at the time; “I knew I was safe in my apartment, but I wasn't okay with leaving, even the next day,” she said.
'I'm still super aware of my surroundings and the times of day I come and go. I wouldn't have to worry so much about my safety.
“But the world we live in is dangerous; there are far too many men who view women as objects, which makes modern dating very difficult.
'I am fortunate to say that the majority of men in my life value women in their right and consider women their equals. It's devastating to know that this isn't the case for many women.'
Louise encouraged singles to offer their Instagram instead of a personal number.
“You can easily unfollow or block Instagram if it's not going anywhere,” she said.
But the Instagram account cannot contain any personal information, such as your full name, photos with street signs or building numbers, work lanyards, or name badges with a company logo.
“These precautions are a bit like a locked front door: the lock keeps the innocent out, but it doesn't stop the crazy from getting in, so the more steps we can take to protect our identities, the better!” Louise said.
Louise warned singles not to give out their mobile number to people you don't know, especially if you use the number for PayID (stock image)
The video has now been viewed more than 86,000 times on TikTok and many thanked Louise for sharing the advice.
“If he lived upstairs he could get into the building,” one person wrote.
“That's why I use a Google number for dating until at least the third or fourth date,” says another.
'What good advice!' a third added, while someone else wrote: 'Wow, good to know.'