3 Creepy things stalkers can do with your phone number

It's easy to feel secure when you're using your phone, but your privacy can be violated by cyber snoops with the right resources. Strangers can learn a lot about you by simply asking for your number and it's a fine line to walk when you want to give your phone number to someone you're interested in but don't trust yet.

If your normal reaction to giving out your number is, "Why not?" you might want to consider this information from MyAKA. They're a privacy service that allows you to have two numbers on one phone: one that is real and one that is fake. They have a few key reasons as to why you should protect yourself with a fake number that allows you to test the waters with a new dude.

Here's what a stalker can do with your phone number:

After you give someone your number, they can easily find information such as your employment history, your address and the names of your relatives on the web. Several online directories use what's called a "reverse phone lookup" to gather personal information about the person who holds that phone number. For a small fee of about $50 and under, your stalker can have unlimited access to private details about your life.

Customer service and medical companies often verify identity by asking for your name, birth date and phone number. You might think this information would be difficult to find, but do a quick Google search of yourself and sweep your social media posts. Chances are, you've let some personal details slip over time. Creepers can use that information to call your bank or your doctor to tap financial information and medical records.

Let's admit it?— we've all given our numbers to annoying guys just so they will go away. (Or at least been tempted to do so!) After all, we can always block their numbers later, right? It's actually an unsafe assumption. You might mistake obsession as irritating persistence. The Center for Problem-Oriented Policing reported that one in 12 women will be stalked at some point in their lives, and 25 to 30 percent of these cases have ended in violence. You never know if a seemingly nice guy at a bar will end up being a complete and persistent psycho.

Luckily, you don't have to change your number or buy a different phone to prevent a creeper from ruining your privacy. A safe and easy option is to have two numbers in one phone with MyAKA, a privacy protection service. The company creates a new number with your area code that isn't attached to your personal information. When you give the new digits to someone, they can call and text you the same as always. However, they'll never see your personal number if or until you let them in on the secret!

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