Getting a clean mobile number

[Praemon]

I'm looking to restart my digital footprint since I get so many spam calls, SMS and emails on my current mobile number and email addresses it's a fruitless exercise trying to combat it. The idea is to get a new mobile number and email address (with random aliases for Spam control) to only use for select people/entities, while still keeping my current number for everything else. I can then at least block phone calls on the old number and heavily filter SMS/Email.

My question is though: how do I get a mobile number that is guaranteed to not already be on some spam/database list? It seems these days numbers are recycled so often that the chances of getting a proper clean number seem small, and it's no point doing this if I start with the exact same issues. Any advice or recommendations on achieving this, or is it just the luck of the draw?

 

[BBSA]

I think Airmobile, maybe @Afrigirl can confirm?

 

[Praemon]

I think Airmobile, maybe @Afrigirl can confirm?

That's not a bad option. I have an Afrihost eSim mobile account and never received any spam calls or SMS. The only issue is that it doesn't seem to support international roaming which will be an issue when I go overseas.

Edit: Seems like the physical sims allow international roaming, so will need to investigate further.

 

[Bernoldus Niemand]

Any MVNO like Megsapp / Air Mobile / Uconnect etc. etc. For email iCloud comes with hide my email for just R15 p/m or there's anonaddy / simplelogin.

 

[Afrigirl]

I'm looking to restart my digital footprint since I get so many spam calls, SMS and emails on my current mobile number and email addresses it's a fruitless exercise trying to combat it. The idea is to get a new mobile number and email address (with random aliases for Spam control) to only use for select people/entities, while still keeping my current number for everything else. I can then at least block phone calls on the old number and heavily filter SMS/Email.

My question is though: how do I get a mobile number that is guaranteed to not already be on some spam/database list? It seems these days numbers are recycled so often that the chances of getting a proper clean number seem small, and it's no point doing this if I start with the exact same issues. Any advice or recommendations on achieving this, or is it just the luck of the draw?

Morning.

Our AirMobile Prepaid, you will get a new number.

AirMobile | Afrihost

Simple, affordable prepaid mobile data and airtime.

www.afrihost.com

 

[Afrigirl]

That's not a bad option. I have an Afrihost eSim mobile account and never received any spam calls or SMS. The only issue is that it doesn't seem to support international roaming which will be an issue when I go overseas.

Edit: Seems like the physical sims allow international roaming, so will need to investigate further.

Hi.

Unfortunately, roaming is not yet enabled for MVNO sim cards (AirMobile).

 

[bullzeye.za]

I'm looking to restart my digital footprint since I get so many spam calls, SMS and emails on my current mobile number and email addresses it's a fruitless exercise trying to combat it. The idea is to get a new mobile number and email address (with random aliases for Spam control) to only use for select people/entities, while still keeping my current number for everything else. I can then at least block phone calls on the old number and heavily filter SMS/Email.

My question is though: how do I get a mobile number that is guaranteed to not already be on some spam/database list? It seems these days numbers are recycled so often that the chances of getting a proper clean number seem small, and it's no point doing this if I start with the exact same issues. Any advice or recommendations on achieving this, or is it just the luck of the draw?

If you have a (recent) Samsung phone, you can enable "call assist" which alerts the caller that they are talking to a bot, and transcribes the call for you. Once I started using it for unknown numbers, those unknown calls stopped coming in as much

 

[Afrigirl]

If you have a (recent) Samsung phone, you can enable "call assist" which alerts the caller that they are talking to a bot, and transcribes the call for you. Once I started using it for unknown numbers, those unknown calls stopped coming in as much

Thanks.
I should try this on my Vodacom number.

 

[Rickster]

Answer the phone and tell them they are in violation of the POPI act and any further calls will open them up to a litigation case.

 

[Praemon]

Hi.

Unfortunately, roaming is not yet enabled for MVNO sim cards (AirMobile).

So currently there's no solution if you were to go overseas and you needed to receive a banking SMS? Is there any ETA on when this will be available, as I'd imagine it's fairly important for anyone considering using AirMobile as their primary provider.

 

[Cage Rattler]

I prefer to use email for OTP .. am overseas regularly and have never needed SMS for anything yet.