Text messages delivered to wrong person

Question

Level 1

8 points

Text messages delivered to wrong person

Can anyone help with a contact email for reporting a problem which I beleive to be a serious security issue ?

I have a Samsung Galaxy, a friend has an iPhone 4 - he replied to a text from me and it went to a complete stranger's iMessage account. This happened a number of times until the stranger contacted my friend and expained he wasn't me and could my friend stop texting him.

I tested by getting another friend with an iPhone 4 to text me and it also went to the stranger's account.

I tested using an iPhone 3 and a Blackberry adn those text came through to my phone correctly.

I contacted my provider - Vodaphone - who believe that the stranger had mistakenly entered my mobile number into his mynumber setting on his iPhone 4 and had iMessaging enabled. He was also contacting Vodafone -his provider and I can oly assume they gave him the same information as it has now been corrected and I am receiving my messages once again.

I think this is a huge security breach where any private messages can go to a stranger because they mistype their mynumber and you may never know.

I tried to report this to Apple via the Apple contact phone number and because I don't own an Apple device they could not log it as they only log against device identified numbers!

My questions:

1. Does the above scenarios and suggested reason make sense?

2. Does anyone have an email address I can notifiy this issue to ?

Thanks

iPhone 4

Posted on Dec 21, 2011 8:14 AM

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Answer 1

wjosten

Level 10

95,369 points

Dec 21, 2011 9:14 AM in response to RB1608

RB1608 wrote:

He did say that he was given the number (my number) as his iMessage number

Well, that's the source of the problem. Who told him to use your number? To fix this, he's going to have to go into iMessage on his phone and where it says "Receive At", delete your number.

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Answer 2

KiltedTim

Level 10

225,984 points

Dec 21, 2011 8:16 AM in response to RB1608

Did you previously have an iPhone? What happened to it?

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Answer 3

RB1608 Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 21, 2011 8:32 AM in response to KiltedTim

I still have an iPhone 3 with a completely different number which runs out of contract at the end of Jan 2012. The Samsung is a new contract with a new provider and a new number.

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Answer 4

KiltedTim

Level 10

225,984 points

Dec 21, 2011 8:40 AM in response to RB1608

Are the messages going to the 'stranger' SMS messages or iMessages? If they are SMS, it sounds like you need to contact your carrier. Something is borked on their system.

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Answer 5

RB1608 Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 21, 2011 8:41 AM in response to KiltedTim

They are going to his iMessage.

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Answer 6

KiltedTim

Level 10

225,984 points

Dec 21, 2011 8:53 AM in response to RB1608

The only way that should be able to happen is if he as it activated with an e-mail address that belongs to you, OR A SIM with your phone number was used to activate his phone, OR the senders of the messages have the wrong number or e-mail address for you in their contacts.

There has to be something that ties you to the person who is receiving the messages. Any idea what it might be?

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Answer 7

RB1608 Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 21, 2011 9:08 AM in response to KiltedTim

The messages were replies to texts I sent and therefore must have the correct number. It was tested with another friend who just typed my number in and I checked it before send was hit.

Unfortunately I have no way of finding out who the stranger was as the only contact was through the mis directed messages. He did say that he was given the number (my number) as his iMessage number - I don't understand why he would have needed a number for iMessages but I am not an iPhone 4 user.

Unfortunately this is one of those situation where it is really difficult to evidence (although my friend has the messge repies from the stranger) or trace but I hate the idea of strangers reading messages meant for me and I'm sure Apple would want ot be made aware of this issue.

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Answer 8

RB1608 Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 21, 2011 9:18 AM in response to wjosten

But surely he shouldn't have authority to use my number as it is linked ot my account - does this mean anyone can use any number to iMessge people - surely not

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Answer 9

wjosten

Level 10

95,369 points

Dec 21, 2011 9:23 AM in response to RB1608

iMessage is a different deal, and some quirks have started to surface, like the mess you're experiencing. I can only summize that since your number is already associated with an iOS device, merely entering it on his phone, activated iMessage. You're correct, this should not happen, but obviously it did. One real question that need answering is, who told him to use YOUR number, & why did they do so?

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Answer 10

RB1608 Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 21, 2011 3:54 PM in response to wjosten

Vodafone apparently gave him the number but I am still confused - how can someone just enter my number without any security checks????

My other question is how do I get Apple to take this seriously and investigate???

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Answer 11

RB1608 Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 21, 2011 3:56 PM in response to RB1608

And my number has never been associated with an Ios account - this number is brand new on a new contract with a new provider on a new phone!

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Answer 12

Feb 20, 2012 7:38 AM in response to RB1608

Hi i have just started to experience this very same problem...i have asked the "Stranger"to check his number in de settings menu...and till now he hasnt changed it...how do i get this problem now rectified...its very frustrating..i request apple to take some kind of action in regards to this matter..

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Answer 13

RB1608 Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 20, 2012 12:26 PM in response to chrisrodrigues

Hi

I thought this had been solved for me but it happened again on Saturday with messages being sent to my Samsung on vodafone from a friend's iPhone4 ! I have no idea how many of my messags go astray. If you can get Apple to listen I'll happily join forces but they won't listen to me because my phone isn't an Apple phone.

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Answer 14

May 17, 2012 12:12 PM in response to RB1608

Hi, this same thing has just started happening to me! I have an iPhone and have been trying to text my husbands blackberry (he has had the same number for years) and they are going to a complete stranger who thinks its very funny that I can text my husband! How did you fix it?

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Answer 15

May 17, 2012 12:36 PM in response to RB1608

Ok, so I have turned the iMessage function off all together and that seemed to sort the problem out, but as soon as I turn it back on the problem comes back. I have a work around for now, but that doesnt negate the fact that someone is able to access my husbands messages from me! FYI my husband has a blackberry on vodaphone.

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