I will keep this short and sweet. I purchased an iPhone XR from temu pretty much for the lulz. It’s an authentic iphone (i paid closer to ebay listing prices than temu prices) and it works fine with one caveat: I have never at any point associated my identity with this phone, simply because of its country of origin. I even set it up without an Apple Account on a separate guest WiFi network. My buddy had a spare Helium Mobile eSim i could use just to test text and call functionality. However, after I sent a text to HIS iPhone phone number, this iPhone XS with no clear owner as far as it SHOULD be aware, iMessage asked if i would like to share MY PERSONAL contact information, First Last Phone number. How in the hell could this temu iPhone XS that has never even been associated with my identity know who I am?
Btw, i’m not just some idiot. I have my A+ certs (not much rn :( ), loads of experience with different tech, computers, phones, consoles, networks. I have a loose understanding of security. This is alarming and puzzling to me to say the least. This phone, by all standards, should have ZERO idea who I am.
Apologies if this is the wrong sub for this, but I would like to possibly find an explanation here because i am stumped.
EDIT: Photos for proof
EDIT 2: The 18 People message is a random mass thread the Helium mobile number received. Just for clarification
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What personal details, specifically, did it have? Your post was hard to follow.
First Last Phone number. My real first name, last name, and phone number. Not the phone number I messaged him from, my real phone number.
Okay, that is wild, if true. A blank brand new iPhone definitely should not have your details preloaded in it, obviously. Did the details in the new phone accurately reflect those of your Temu account? Also is the iphone a dual sim?
If you open the Contacts app, does your “My card” entry at the very top of the contact list actually contain any of your personal information?
Hopefully this helps you understand. Censored my real name mostly, but you can clearly see the difference in the fake AZ name I added and my real, legal name in the text thread.
You sound a bit confused. You are using iMessage with your exiting number and claim you didn’t associate any personal information.
This setting is a under settings>messages> share name and photo.
you can use an email to text but he didn’t mention how he texted
You seem to have misunderstood. That’s alright. My buddy had tried Helium Mobile’s free plan but didn’t like it, though he never closed account so he still had access to the eSim. I installed this eSim to test call/text functionality. I texted him via iMessage using this Helium mobile number that has never been associated with my identity.
who did he text back? what came up for him? i want to know how this could happen. Something somewhere recognized you.
You and me both, man. See the photos in main post. I had that exact pop up when I messaged him. And the actual photo is from some mass text that this Helium number received. So certainly nobody that knows me, would know me, would have my main number saved. I’m at a loss man.
idk the ring flock integration has me worried about cloud services.
If your friend put in his contacts to phone you on that number then it knows who you are. If not I have no idea.
Yeah this sounds like iMessage data. I think most people don’t realize that they’re actually using iMessage 99% of the time they’re on an iPhone, not mms.
But why would that even matter. If i am AB and my phone number is 123 and i used my buddies eSim which is number 124 to text his phone number (122) as CD, the phone should assume i am CD texting from 124, sms/imessage/whatever. There is no possible reason the XS should be even remotely aware that I am AB and my TRUE phone number is 123.
Were any apps installed?
Edit: Also, did you have other Apple devices around? They’re in constant communication to make switching phones easy. That might have something to do with it.
No extra apps installed. That is honestly the best explanation I have heard as I definitely had two different iPhones around and, well, what the hell else could’ve happened really? Preciate your comment
it’s the cloud no one understands it
Yeah, and i was aware of that and didn’t really care much up until this happened. God forbid I was in danger and needed to conceal my identity for any reason.
You sent the message to 18 people?
Lmfao. That was just a random mass text thread this Helium number had received. Simply opening it prompts that pop up.
when you click on the group members what are you associated with ?
Just a bunch of random 731 numbers, same area code as the Helium number.
your contact info came up as the helix number ? never mind i thought there was a me profile in the members list
idk if you’ve moved on but i’m still wondering lol assuming it was factory reset , describe how you set up the phone ? where was your personal phone , how close were you to it? I think it recognized a fresh phone and assumed you were transferring to a new phone or setting up a second phone.