Question Unknown contact within User Contact Profile

[Infinite358]

I'm hoping to gain some insight regarding something I happened to run across today. For background, I've had over the past year had multiple instances of electronic compromise to various accounts ongoing, so I'm attempting to be a tad more vigilant.

I noticed within my secondary phone that there appears to be three contacts listed under the owner - this is found within the standard owner's "my profile" within the phone app's "contacts", under my name.

The first two are the number of the phone being used, the third is a complete random number that I do not recognize. I'm curious what this might mean, first and most obvious, the unknown number linked to my profile/account, and second, why my phone's number is listed twice. I see that only this first bares the icon for " this phone". I suspect that then means there is another being used with the same number?

I have a screenshot that shows this, but have of course redacted any identifying details, but kept the last couple of numbers. I suspect this means that one of my Google accounts is also being used by someone with this otherwise random phone number...is this correct? Or is there anything more that someone can provide, or confirm?

Thanks in advance!!

 

[B. Diddy]

Welcome to Android Central! Have you asked your carrier about this? Also, what happens if you edit your profile -- can you delete that number?

 

[Infinite358]

Thanks for the quick response and welcome!

I have not yet gone to my carrier, I just ran across this recently. Half the time when I present an issue they just reset my phone, if this is genuinely something, I'd like to document it however.

If it follows the same behavior as the second entry. As soon as I click on it, it calls the number. So I'm assuming no. I guess I could try airplane mode and see ...okay yeah it just attempts to dial out.

Thanks again!

 

[B. Diddy]

Have you tried just calling that number and seeing who picks up? Or if you get someone else to call that number, does your phone ring?

Also, which phone do you have? Is it a dual SIM device?

 

[VidJunky]

Checking my profile and I have two listings of the same number, which is the main number on my phone, and I have my Google Voice number listed.

Could it be a Google Voice, Tango or some other similar service that offers users a second number?

As B. Diddy suggested, I would text or call the number. You could try a reverse search for the number but a lot of times these searches just say Verizon Customer or tell you the city and state, but don't tell you any owner information.

 

[Infinite358]

Yeah guys, the reason for this post really is I've already checked on the number and background, which has a great many serious and concerning red flags.. so no need to call or text, just wishing to determine the reason/meaning. How does this exactly happen, is this due to Google account access etc.. I would do a little more investigative experimental efforts, but at this time would like to preserve the state of the device in its entirety. Thanks!

 

[VidJunky]

I don't recognize the app you're using from the screenshot you've shown, so I asked Google about this and It sounds like Google is as suspicious as you, offering the following advice.

If a Google Contacts profile has a phone number you don't recognize, it's important to investigate and secure your account. First, verify if the number is actually associated with your Google account and not a contact you may have added previously or from a synced device. If it's truly unknown, immediately remove the number, log out of all devices, and enable two-factor authentication. [1, 2, 3]


Here's a more detailed breakdown:
1. Identify the Source:

• Review your Google account settings: Go to your Google Account, navigate to "Personal info," then "Contact info," and finally "Phone number." This will show you all phone numbers associated with your account. [4, 5]
• Check other devices: If you use multiple devices with your Google account, ensure the unknown number isn't from a device you've previously synced. [2, 3]
• Check your synced contacts: If your contacts are synced with other services (like WhatsApp, or other apps) or devices, verify if the number is associated with one of those. [6, 7]

2. Take Action:

• Remove the unknown number: If you confirm the number is not yours, remove it from your Google Account. [4]
• Log out of all devices: To ensure no unauthorized access, log out of your Google account from all devices. [2]
• Enable two-factor authentication: Add an extra layer of security by enabling two-factor authentication using an authenticator app or backup codes. [2, 3]

3. Secure Your Account:

• Change your password: If you suspect a security breach, change your password to a strong, unique one. [3, 3]
• Review account activity: Check your Google Account activity for any suspicious activity. [3, 3, 8]
• Enable advanced protection: For enhanced security, consider enabling Google's Advanced Protection Program. [1, 1]

4. Potential Reasons for Unknown Numbers:

• Accidental additions: You might have accidentally added the number to your contacts or a synced device. [3, 3, 6, 9]
• Synced contacts: If you have synced your contacts with other services, the number might have been added through that synchronization. [6, 6, 7, 7]
• Shared device: Someone else might have used your device and added the number to your contacts. [6, 6, 7, 7]
• Account compromise: In some cases, it could indicate a security breach, so taking immediate action to secure your account is crucial. [1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3]

I imagine if you go in and rephrase the question a few different ways you might get a little more information. My question.