Hey everyone, I’m worried about something I did a while back. Last June, someone from RPW messaged me on Telegram to join as an encoder. They asked for my number and WhatsApp code, and I gave it to them. I thought it was just for WhatsApp, so no big deal, right?
But now I’m not so sure. I recently got a PayPal code on one of my WhatsApp accounts, which made me suspicious. I checked all the WhatsApp accounts linked to the numbers I gave that bot, and there were no strange devices connected. I deleted them all to be safe.
The thing is, my mom’s phone keeps getting texts from Payoneer and hCloud, plus missed calls from weird international numbers. I’m really worried now. Did I mess up by giving my info to that bot? Is there anything I can do to protect our numbers? Any advice would be super helpful!
yikes, that sounds sketchy af. i made the same mistake once n got bombarded with spam. def change ur passwords asap and turn on 2fa for everything. might wanna get new numbers if the spam keeps coming. stay safe out there fam, these scammers r getting craftier everyday 
Unfortunately, inputting personal phone numbers into unfamiliar Telegram bots is generally not safe. These bots can potentially harvest your data for malicious purposes. In your case, the sudden increase in spam calls and texts is concerning.
To mitigate risks, I’d suggest contacting your mobile carrier to discuss security options. They might be able to implement additional spam filtering or even change your numbers if necessary. Also, review your online accounts for any suspicious activity and enable two-factor authentication where possible, preferably using an authenticator app rather than SMS.
Moving forward, be extremely cautious about sharing personal information online, especially with unknown entities. It’s a common tactic for scammers to pose as legitimate organizations to gather sensitive data. Always verify the authenticity of such requests through official channels before providing any information.
I hate to say it, but giving out personal info like phone numbers to unfamiliar bots or people online is always risky. I learned this the hard way a couple years back when I fell for a similar scam. It’s possible your numbers got sold or leaked to spammers or scammers.
At this point, I’d recommend changing any passwords associated with those numbers, especially for important accounts. Enable two-factor authentication where possible, but use an authenticator app instead of SMS. You might also want to contact your phone company to see if they can block international calls/texts.
For your mom’s phone, consider getting a call blocking app to filter out spam. If the issue persists, changing her number might be the safest bet, annoying as that is. Stay vigilant for any suspicious activity on your accounts, and be extra cautious about sharing personal info online in the future. It’s a tough lesson, but an important one for staying safe in the digital age.