Re: "'Scammers stole £40k after EDF gave out my number"

Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:

Chris wrote:
 

I'd be stupendously annoyed at any company giving my phone number to anyone
including myself. Why would I legitimately ever need to be told my own
mobile number?

True enough, but why should knowing anyone's phone number let the
criminals take over the phone account?

I don't know specifics, but from other accounts I've heard it's often a
mixture of luck and guesswork on the side of the thief. Now that they know
a few bits of information about you they can try and reuse that info to get
access to your accounts. Email is the prize, but others can be useful.

I must admit when I hear these stories, same as Newyana2 I tend to think
there's something not being told about how it happens, like obvious
passwords or identical passwords used for everything ...

I agree, although for many cases it won't be fully known.