QUESTION ABOUT THE DARK WEB

Tinkrbl44 · ‎08-23-2010

My AAA has the protect your identity feature, which I've never seen used for me, but I'm glad it's there.

Well .... today I got two emails from AAA. The message is ...

"ProtectMyID detected a match to your Phone Number on the dark web."

I'm guessing if someone was determined they could get my cell number any number of ways. What potential risk do I consider for my number coming up? What can anyone do with just a number?

I plan to follow up on this, but other than that, what thoughts come to mind?

I've never seen dark web discussed here before, so I'm interested in your feedback and experiences.

TIA!

Kachina624 · ‎03-10-2010

@Tinkrbl44. I wouldn't worry about a phone number. The most you could get is more spam. They're readily available from many sources.

New Mexico☀️Land Of Enchantment

Tori3569 · ‎06-27-2010

I'm actually surprised AAA would even send an email like that. Technically, every phone number is out there, with or without names depending on which company sold info or got hacked. Nothing I'd worry about.

SandySparkles · ‎06-13-2010

I got an alert from my credit card company monitoring service that some of my information is on there. I contacted the 3 major credit bureaus out of an abundance of caution. Sadly, many people do not realize their information is on there.😐

~~~All we need is LOVE💖

Mz iMac · ‎07-26-2014

@Tinkrbl44 If your phone number is on the dark web, scammers can connect your name, mailing address & other personal info from scammers that have it. It is then all pieced together & sold all over the dark web. Your info can be used for everything scammers are currently doing.

I strongly suggest you do your own DARK WEB research. A good place to start if you are not an AARP member is track down their Fraud APRIL newspaper cover story - FRAUD 2024. A whole section is dicated to the DARK WEB.

FWIW: Not everything on the DW is illegal and/or scammed affiliated.

"Never argue with a fool. Onlookers may not be able to tell the difference."

Zhills · ‎11-15-2011

AAA monitors the Dark Web???

Sounds like SCAM to me!

THEY CallMe Mr Wilkes · ‎06-29-2016

I don't think that it's that great a concern.

I have no doubt that everyone has a phone number and email address out there on The Darkest of Dark Webs. You are all out there.

One of my card issuers informed me of an email on The Dark Dark Dark Web. You all have these things out there, even if you think you don't and it's not possible. Oh, it's possible and highly likely.

Just monitor your most sensitive accounts and information as you normally would do.

Everyone is out there. Yes, even you.

monicakm · ‎03-16-2010

@Tinkrbl44

Not a safe place to be!! I checked out the "dark web" when I was much more adventurous. Kinda felt slimy when I crawled out Listen, the right people with the right know-how can do a lot with a phone number. Don't answer any unknown calls and if you have to, do NOT give out ANY kind of personal info no matter how benign you think it might be. They are experts at getting you to tell them your personal info. Invest in good malware/spyware and virus software and keep it up to date. These guys work around the clock and it can be so much worse than you can imagine It's the Internet's h*ll. Nothing good (except the guys that work endlessly to catch these evil people) happens there. I used to watch a guy and his team who caught the pervs and thieves on the Dark Web. It was a whole sting operation.