Masking Reality: Providing false numbers for privacy or security
Story from, Jamila Yunusa SULEIMAN.
Telephones were first introduced in 1877-1878 with the creation of telephone lines and switchboards leading up to almost 49,000 telephones being utilized shortly thereafter. Since then, phones have become widely available and accepted as one of our primary means of communication today. Mobile phones being the most popularly used phones due to its multiple functions and durability.
A telephone number is a sequence of digits assigned to a subscriber by their service provider and serves as an address for making calls. Despite its purpose, some individuals will deliberately provide incorrect numbers due to personal reasons. People at times mistakenly text or call the wrong number, this could be due to typographical error in saving the number, or a receiving a false contact. In such cases, a call or text might end up at the wrong destination or a case of not being able to get connected at all.
Have you ever been given a false contact number by an acquaintance or stranger? Or have you found yourself intentionally giving out the wrong number for various reasons, such as politely declining a relationship or simply disliking the person asking? READ ALSO: Drama as scammers hack Gov Otu’s phone number
While some individuals may use this tactic to avoid unwanted communication, others may do so for fraudulent purposes. However, these actions have become problematic in society and often leave people feeling disappointed when they are unable to reach their intended contact while some people have been swindled financially.
To determine if someone has given you a false number, try reading it back incorrectly – typically the owner of the actual number will correct your mistake subconsciously except of course if the person has mastered those figures and constantly uses it as a charade. This simple trick can help prevent future disappointments caused by fake numbers. READ ALSO: Despite court ruling, NCC orders immediate disconnection of phone lines without NIN
Though there are people carrying out this act for malicious purposes, we must not fail to understand that not everyone is comfortable exchanging their phone numbers with people they don’t know except if necessary. Such people must be excused and not seen as old fashioned or too uptight.
