Security phone number

None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.

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If you only read a few

Politely decline to provide your phone number, email, or zip code to store cashiers.
Stores often sell this data to brokers, and it provides no benefit to you.
- Cashiers are often required to ask and may not want to.
2 people, independently
If harassment persists and other methods fail, get a new phone number.
Changing the number solved the problem for one person; doing so at work was less hassle than the current situation.
one person who lived it
Send fake verification codes to scammers requesting phone numbers to waste their time.
It can frustrate them into stopping their attempts.
one person who lived it
Refuse to answer online quizzes or posts that ask for personal details like pet names or high schools.
These are traps designed to harvest personal information.
one person who lived it
Avoid calling 800 numbers for insurance or Medicare inquiries.
Doing so can result in endless follow-up calls.
one person who lived it

Answer unknown calls using a fake business name and pretend you are a business line to deter scammers and solicitors.
Scammers often ask if it is a business line and hang up if you say yes.
one person who lived it
Avoid using a unique name on social media profiles.
Unique names make it easier for strangers to locate you.
one person who lived it
Explicitly say 'do not call me ever again' to political callers to ensure removal from their lists.
Callers are instructed to only mark contacts as 'do not call back' if those specific words are used.
one person who lived it
Give the store's own phone number as your contact number when asked.
3 people, independently

2 more on this

Avoid entering your phone number on websites that require SMS verification codes to view quotes.
Doing so likely results in unsolicited calls.
one person who lived it
Tell political callers that you have already donated to a specific cause fundraiser to stop further solicitations.
One person reported they never called back after hearing this.
one person who lived it