How do people know that a text comes from a texting app?

[qaqanaqaq]

I’m completely ignorant on how providers and agencies can tell that a text comes from an app vs a SIM card.

The best idea I’ve thought of is doing a reverse lookup on the YellowPages website, look at the number provider, and compare it to a known list of companies. That seems error prone, and I don’t know how one compiles the known list of companies.

Does anyone know how this works?

 

[sweetiepieexo]

I’m completely ignorant on how providers and agencies can tell that a text comes from an app vs a SIM card.

The best idea I’ve thought of is doing a reverse lookup on the YellowPages website, look at the number provider, and compare it to a known list of companies. That seems error prone, and I don’t know how one compiles the known list of companies.

Does anyone know how this works?

if we told you it wouldn't be a secret now, would it lol.

There is a service that providers use to tell whether or not someone is texting from a legitimate phone number or an app / voip number. We do this for our safety.

 

[xix]

There is another thread that covers this topic which was discussed this year.

Use the search eng. to find it.

 

[LaceyxJade]

Real shot in the dark here but it could be because you’re texting from an app maybe?

 

[xix]

Read between post 8 - 13

https://terb.cc/xenforo/threads/textnow-app.785477/#post-7527774

Try Tinder instead.

https://terb.cc/xenforo/threads/tinder-experiences.795523/

 

[curr3n_c1000]

There are websites that tell you the service provider for free.

 

[qaqanaqaq]

There is another thread that covers this topic which was discussed this year.

Use the search eng. to find it.

I did. Thanks for providing the link further down.

 

[qaqanaqaq]

if we told you it wouldn't be a secret now, would it lol.

There is a service that providers use to tell whether or not someone is texting from a legitimate phone number or an app / voip number. We do this for our safety.

Can you share what the service is? Doing it for safety is clear to me, I just want to understand what the services are and how to use them. If you don’t feel comfortable sharing in the forum, could I ask you to DM me? Thanks in advance.

 

[sweetiepieexo]

Can you share what the service is? Doing it for safety is clear to me, I just want to understand what the services are and how to use them. If you don’t feel comfortable sharing in the forum, could I ask you to DM me? Thanks in advance.

It is just a service us providers use to tell whether or not you are using an app. Most of the time it only shows the carrier (e.g., bell, Fido, Rogers, Virgin, etc.) It doesn't display any personal information.

I won't post the app itself or disclose what it is on a public forum. The reason being is that it is meant for service providers. Not clients. It helps keeps us safe.

 

[Tashki]

if we told you it wouldn't be a secret now, would it lol.

Not sure how it’s considered a secret because it’s a publicly downloadable app.

 

[sweetiepieexo]

Not sure how it’s considered a secret because it’s a publicly downloadable app.

Ok, maybe not exactly a secret BUT it is shared among sex workers to keep us safe.

Clients would have no major use for it as you guys already have forums such as these to find out about scammers, etc.

I was also being funny in my post when i said " if we told you it wouldn't be a secret now would it ? lol " . I didn't expect it to be taken so seriously.

 

[hrnyscrp1971]

if we told you it wouldn't be a secret now, would it lol.

There is a service that providers use to tell whether or not someone is texting from a legitimate phone number or an app / voip number. We do this for our safety.

What’s the name of the service and how much

 

[Jenesis]

Can you share what the service is? Doing it for safety is clear to me, I just want to understand what the services are and how to use them. If you don’t feel comfortable sharing in the forum, could I ask you to DM me? Thanks in advance.

This screams “tell me how you know so I can figure out how to by-pass it and still book you.”

This is exactly why we don’t share this info.

 

[Deviant]

I was also being funny in my post when i said " if we told you it wouldn't be a secret now would it ? lol " . I didn't expect it to be taken so seriously.

Most of us understood and laughed.

 

[sweetiepieexo]

This screams “tell me how you know so I can figure out how to by-pass it and still book you.”

This is exactly why we don’t share this info.

Thats exactly why im not sharing it

 

[sweetiepieexo]

l

What’s the name of the service and how much

lol sorry. Some things aren't meant for client eyes.

 

[HEYHEY]

Another useless procedure that gives people a false sense of security.
If someone wants to be anonymous you simply go to 7/11 and pick up a prepaid sim card.

Impossible to track down unlike any app you use, but whatever gives you the illusion of safety

 

[qaqanaqaq]

This screams “tell me how you know so I can figure out how to by-pass it and still book you.”

This is exactly why we don’t share this info.

Admittedly, it does, but that is definitely not my intention.

 

[KittyCaterina]

Another useless procedure that gives people a false sense of security.
If someone wants to be anonymous you simply go to 7/11 and pick up a prepaid sim card.

Impossible to track down unlike any app you use, but whatever gives you the illusion of safety

Well, we try our best to be safe.
Checking if it's a text app is better than not checking at all.
It may not be 100% but it does help.
I catch text apps often and decline unless they provide a real number.
I even ask first to see if they will be truthful and I regularly catch them in a lie.
Automatic blacklist.

Who are you to say our procedures are useless?
It is sad that some are constantly trying to find new ways to bypass our safety protocols.
So yeah, great tip for the guys regarding prepaid SIM cards.
It will only backfire when more and more providers eventually start requiring deposits and ID.
I mean, you said yourself that requiring a real number provides a false sense of security, so that means we need to up our screening right?

 

[IM469]

Another useless procedure that gives people a false sense of security.
If someone wants to be anonymous you simply go to 7/11 and pick up a prepaid sim card.

Impossible to track down unlike any app you use, but whatever gives you the illusion of safety

Actually, your pre-paid SIM card does not hide your device number ( IMEI ) from the carrier. That is why burner phones (SIM + phone) have been popular.
Burner phones may protect you from your SO but not government agencies. Burner phone texts/activity have been successfully used in murder convictions (Dellen Millard used burner phone to contact his victim to purchase his truck, Jennifer Pan was given a burner phone by her killer to kill her parents). Most people use the burner phone as an anonymous phone not realizing that as long as the phone is in use, it can be tracked and the more likely you can be be identified as it's user.

On the other hand if you are using software apps (eg TextNow, Burner, etc) with VPN (NordVPN, etc) on your cell data connection - it is much more secure. Not that I'm planning a felony.