Never say your number out loud—this story shows why

By Maan

Yesterday at 7:39 PM
Replies 1

Offtopic / Everything else

Never say your number out loud—this story shows why

By Maan
Yesterday at 7:39 PM

A moment of carelessness led to danger. Image source: TikTok/

Never say your number out loud—this story shows why — A moment of carelessness led to danger. Image source: TikTok/

Content warning: This article involves stalking and harassment.

A simple trip to the store turned into a chilling experience for one Adelaide woman.

What started as a routine checkout left her questioning her safety in public spaces.

Elle Barker, 25, was shopping with her boyfriend Dylan at a Dan Murphy's when she casually read out her membership details at the checkout.

Just hours later, she noticed a bizarre message on her phone from an unknown number that read: 'Did you think that you are immune.'

'When I saw the message, my stomach dropped. It really disturbed me because there was no context, but it felt like a directed message. It wasn't just a 'hi' from an unknown number - it sounded threatening. Even if it had been a mistake, it immediately made me uneasy.'

Elle Barker

She blocked the number but couldn’t shake the sense that something was wrong, so she did some online sleuthing.

Elle discovered the stranger's first initial and family name via PayID—but she didn’t recognise it.

Curious and uneasy, her friends decided to call the number to find out how he had obtained her personal details.

The man who answered confessed he had been standing behind Elle in line and memorised her phone number as she read it aloud to the employee.

'He said he wanted to prove how easy it is to get people's details,' Elle recalled.

'When I heard that, my skin crawled. His voice on the phone made me feel sick - he sounded extremely intoxicated and completely out of it.'

'The whole thing was an immediate wake-up call for me. I had been paying zero attention to my surroundings all afternoon.'

Elle admitted she had always worried about the risk of saying her details out loud in public but never imagined it would lead to anything.

'We do it so often - at the doctor's office, the chemist, in shops when they look up your membership,' she explained.

'I always feared someone would overhear but thought I was being dramatic because I would never do that to someone else.'

The incident left her thinking about the frightening 'what ifs'.

'This could have happened to someone more vulnerable - a woman shopping alone, walking out to her car in an underground car park,' she said.

'He could have followed me home and I would have had no idea. You just don't know what people are capable of.'

Elle said the experience had made her far more conscious of personal safety.

'In hindsight, I wasn't even aware of who was standing behind me in line,' she said.

'I was completely oblivious. If I hadn't been with Dylan, I might have walked out into that car park alone and been followed without realising. It's terrifying to think about.'

Now she wants others to be cautious about how and where they share personal information.

'There are safer alternatives,' Elle said.

'Membership cards can be digital, you can use card apps, or even have your number written down on your phone to show at the counter. We need to stop reading out our details aloud in public - it's just too risky.'

Dan Murphy's responded: 'At Dan Murphy's, we understand the importance of handling the personal information of all of our customers with care.'

'For the most secure experience, we recommend customers download the Dan Murphy's app, save their membership card to their digital wallet, and scan their digital membership card for every purchase.'

Elle's story has struck a chord online, with many pointing out just how easily personal information can be overheard and misused.

Personal Safety Tips for Shoppers

Avoid saying personal details out loud in crowded places—use digital membership cards, phone apps, or show your number written down.

Stay alert in queues and car parks. Take a quick look around to see who's nearby, especially if shopping alone.

Keep personal details private online. If you get an unknown message or call, don’t engage—block the number immediately.

Have a plan in car parks. Walk with purpose, keep your keys in hand, and if you feel unsafe, ask staff to walk you to your car.

Trust your instincts. If something feels 'off', it usually is—leave the area and call for help if needed.

What This Means For You

Elle Barker received a disturbing text after a stranger memorised her phone number at a store, highlighting just how easily personal information can be overheard in public.

The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of sharing your details aloud, even during routine activities like shopping. Elle has urged others to use digital alternatives, such as card apps or digital membership cards, to keep their information safe. Experts also recommend staying alert, being aware of your surroundings, and trusting your instincts to protect yourself. For readers, this story is a cautionary tale—reminding everyone to be mindful of how and where personal details are shared, and to take simple steps to safeguard their privacy in everyday life.

If this story has made you think twice about sharing personal details in public, it’s worth considering how your information could also be at risk online.

Sometimes the smallest settings on your devices can leave your personal data exposed without you even knowing it.

Here’s a helpful guide that shows which common settings to adjust to better protect your information.

Have you ever considered how easily your personal information could be overheard in public?

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