Archive · 7 Nov 2025
Man Gets Recycled Number, Accesses Previous Owner's Personal Data
Imagine you get a new phone number, but it used to belong to someone else.
This happened to a person who got a new SIM card.
Suddenly, people were calling him, and even banks thought he owed money!
He found out the number used to belong to someone named Kiran.
Because of how phone numbers are reused, the new owner could easily log into Kiran's food apps, cab service, and even his Facebook account just by getting a special code sent to the phone.
This means all of Kiran's private information was exposed.
People are worried because our phone numbers are linked to everything, like our bank accounts and government IDs.
They think phone companies should wait much longer before giving out old numbers to new people to keep everyone's information safe.
However, the court has said it's up to the original owner to protect their own information before giving up their number.
A user acquired a recycled mobile number and found easy access to the previous owner's personal data and accounts.
Platforms like Facebook, Zomato, Swiggy, and Uber were accessible using OTPs sent to the new owner.
Concerns raised on social media highlight the serious privacy risks associated with mobile number recycling.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India allows number reassignment after 90 days of inactivity.
The Supreme Court ruled that telecom companies can reallocate deactivated numbers, placing the onus of privacy protection on the original subscriber.
- Who
- A Reddit user who received a recycled mobile number previously belonging to 'Kiran'
- What
- Gained access to the previous owner's personal details, financial accounts, and social media profiles through OTPs and existing registrations on various platforms.
- When
- Recently (Reddit post date not specified, Supreme Court ruling was October 30, 2023)
- Where
- India (Airtel SIM, TRAI regulations, Supreme Court)
- Why
- Telecom companies recycle inactive mobile numbers, leading to potential privacy and security breaches for previous subscribers.
User/Public Concern
Supreme Court/Telecom Operators
Privacy Risk of Number Recycling
User/Public Concern
Recycling numbers after a short period (90 days) poses a serious privacy and security risk, as new owners can access old owners' personal data, financial accounts, and social media.
Supreme Court/Telecom Operators
It is the responsibility of the previous subscriber to take adequate steps to ensure their privacy is maintained before deactivating their number.
Adequate Deactivation Period
User/Public Concern
The deactivation period should be extended to at least a year, with a cooling-off period of 4-5 years before reissuing numbers to protect citizens' privacy.
Supreme Court/Telecom Operators
Telecom companies are allowed by TRAI to reassign numbers after 90 days of inactivity, a practice the Supreme Court has not blocked.
- Mobile Number Recycling Period
- 90 days of inactivity
- Operator Practicing Recycling
- Airtel (mentioned in the Reddit post)
- Apps/Services Accessed
- Facebook, Zomato, Swiggy, Uber, Banks, Government websites, Aadhaar, Income Tax, UPI
- Supreme Court Ruling Date
- October 30, 2023
- User Suggestion for Deactivation Period
- At least one year, with a 4-5 year cooling-off period