Need access to old mobile number to do a password reset

Forums › One New Zealand (including Vodafone, WxC, Farmside) › Need access to old mobile number to do a password reset

gareth41

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#262103 5-Jan-2020 21:24

Is there someone at Vodafone who could help me with temporary access to an old mobile number I had disconnected a couple years ago providing it hasn't been re-issued?

Long story short, I changed my number a couple years back and simply changed the sim in my phone, didn't think much of it at the time as I keep all my passwords safe

Now I have recently got a new phone and have lost access to my WeChat account along with years worth of message history and all my contacts.

As it turns out WeChat can use mobile number with a temp code to sign in or a username/password or both methods, I was only using my mobile number with a code unfortunately and WeChat support are of no help what so ever.

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#2385602 5-Jan-2020 21:26

Have you called your old mobile number before posting this? This would tell you straight away if the number has been reallocated

gareth41

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#2385603 5-Jan-2020 21:27

Linux: Have you called your old mobile number before posting this?

Not yet I haven't but was considering doing that tomorrow, its a bit late at night now.

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#2385604 5-Jan-2020 21:31

This should be the first thing you should do

freitasm

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#2385608 5-Jan-2020 21:40

Although this is exactly what a scammer would do if trying to get into someone's bank account. Let's say Bad Actor has user name and password but need a code for bank transfer. Easy to login, start the transaction then call the number and say "this is my old number, need the reset code, can I get you to read for me please" and then submit the transfer. The poor person would get a SMS and read back.

If anyone called me asking to read a code I would hang up straight away. Also I wouldn't be surprised if a telco would not let you do this because is pretty close to a SIM swap attack.

gareth41

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#2385615 5-Jan-2020 22:18

freitasm: Although this is exactly what a scammer would do if trying to get into someone's bank account. Let's say Bad Actor has user name and password but need a code for bank transfer. Easy to login, start the transaction then call the number and say "this is my old number, need the reset code, can I get you to read for me please" and then submit the transfer. The poor person would get a SMS and read back.

If anyone called ne asking to read a code I would hang up straight away. Also I wouldn't be surprised if a telco would not let you do this because is pretty close to a SIM swap attack.

I wont be calling and asking them read back the code for the exact reason you've mentioned - that's if the number has been re-allocated. However, Vodafone will also be able to see on my account that I had this number previously and it was disconnected.

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#2385639 5-Jan-2020 22:47

Just cause you use to have the number does not mean they will provide SMS content and the other issue is if the number is not active and the message can't be delivered then the content is deleted

gareth41

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#2385649 5-Jan-2020 23:32

Linux: Just cause you use to have the number does not mean they will provide SMS content and the other issue is if the number is not active and the message can't be delivered then the content is deleted

I am aware of this, hence why I asked on here about temporarily re-connecting the number, if that's not possible i'll order a new connection and ask for this number (if its available).

I'm going to call the number tomorrow (not before blocking caller ID), and see if its active - if it's not active, i'll go into a Vodafone store and ask for this number on a new connection and sim on a minimum plan, then cancel it later.

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richms

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#2385656 6-Jan-2020 00:47

This is why I hate places that us mobile numbers as a form of authentication. To me they are just transient things that I have because I have a mobile data connection from someone.

Richard rich.ms

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#2385678 6-Jan-2020 03:10

If that number is in a Prepay range you will hit another brick wall

rushtoe

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#2386521 7-Jan-2020 11:28

Hi @gareth41, I can take a look at this.. can't promise that we'll be able to get the number back.

Can you please send me a DM with the number?

Cheers,

Erin

gareth41

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#2387084 7-Jan-2020 22:21

rushtoe:

Hi @gareth41, I can take a look at this.. can't promise that we'll be able to get the number back.

Can you please send me a DM with the number?

Cheers,

Erin

Thanks Erin, I have since managed to get my account back after messing around and trying to login with my old mobile number and some different password combinations I use. Just in case there was an actual password set instead of having to use a temp code as I previously thought. After multiple attempts (also changing the format of the mobile #) I got in.

It doesn't help that WeChat don't tell you what format to enter the mobile number in, eg 021xxxxxx or 21xxxxxx. As it turns out, you select your country and then enter the mobile without the preceding zero. Some other apps I've used, mandate the preceding zero, even displaying +64 also.