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3 Essential Steps to Take Before Changing Your Phone Number In Sierra Leone

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Sallu Kamuskay
By Sallu Kamuskay 5 Min Read
5 Min Read

The truth is, I have been a victim too. Changing your phone number may seem like a simple task, but it comes with significant risks if not handled properly. Over the years, in Sierra Leone and beyond, I have encountered numerous clients and friends who have lost access to their email accounts, social media profiles, and even financial accounts. This often happens because they discard their old SIM cards without updating their online platforms to reflect their new numbers. Below are three crucial steps to take before changing your phone number.

Sadly, it’s not just people who change their SIM cards that fall victim to this; even those who relocate from one country to another often forget to update their phone numbers when moving, which can cause problems if they lose their phones or change devices and need to access their Gmail or social media accounts.

1. Check if Your Phone Number is Used for Gmail Account Verification

Many people use their phone numbers as part of the two-factor authentication (2FA) process for their Gmail accounts. This feature provides an extra layer of security by sending a verification code to your number whenever you try to log in or reset your password.

Failing to update your Gmail account with your new number can have disastrous consequences. If you lose access to your email account, you might also lose access to other services linked to that email, such as cloud storage, subscriptions, and professional correspondence. Worse, someone else who gets your old number may receive verification codes for your account, putting your data and privacy at risk.

Solution: Before changing your number, log in to your Gmail account and update the phone number under the “Security” section. Ensure you verify the new number before discarding the old SIM.

2. Update Your Phone Number on Social Media Platforms

Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp often use phone numbers as a backup security option. If you forget your password, they send a recovery code to the registered number. Unfortunately, if you no longer have access to that number, recovering your account can become a nightmare.

I’ve seen individuals lose years of memories, professional pages, and business contacts because they changed their numbers without updating their accounts. In some cases, accounts are hacked, and the owners are unable to regain control because their recovery number is outdated.

Solution: Go to the settings section of each of your social media accounts and update your phone number. Platforms like Facebook also allow you to add multiple numbers as backups. Once the update is complete, test the recovery process to ensure everything works.

3. Ensure Your Phone Number is Updated on Your Bank Account

In today’s digital age, banks rely heavily on mobile numbers for authentication and security. Notifications about transactions, OTPs (One-Time Passwords) for online banking, and account recovery options are often tied to your phone number.

If your bank account is linked to a number you no longer use, you risk missing critical updates about your finances. Even worse, an unauthorized individual who acquires your old number could potentially intercept OTPs and compromise your account.

 

You are welcome

 

About the Author

Sallu Kamuskay is a Sierra Leonean Freelance Journalist, Communication Strategist, Fixer, Blogger, Youth Organiser, Event Manager, Spokesperson, Public Relations Expert and founder of Salone Messenger. Sallu Kamuskay’s work has been regularly referenced and published by national and international media and public policy institutions including Equal Times, MDPI, AYV News, Concord Times, Independent Observer, The Calabash Newspaper, The Organizer.net, Global Times, SwitSalone, Sierra Loaded, Al-Jazeera, Isssuu, The Sierra Leone Telegraph, National Institute of Health, Research Gate among others.

 

Sallu’s movement has connections with Media Experts, Media Organizations, Companies, Web Developers and Professionals across the world. Sallu Kamuskay’s movement primarily involves in negotiating deals and managing social media for Professionals, Influencers, Politicians, Media Houses, Organizations and Companies. He focuses on protecting, promoting, and defending them in the face of cyber-bullying.

 

 

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Sallu Kamuskay is a Sierra Leonean communication strategist, fixer, blogger, youth organiser, event manager, spokesperson, and public relations expert. His work has been regularly referenced and published by national and international media and public policy institutions. Sallu Kamuskay was a child during the brutal war in Sierra Leone. Growing up in the midst of conflict, Sallu witnessed unimaginable abuse of children and gross violations of human rights. The horrors he witnessed during the Civil War had a terrible impact on him at a very tender age. But despite the shock of the war, Sallu never lost hope. He started on a journey of recovery, studying, and working for a better future. At age 15, Sallu entered into the world of activism and advocacy. Sallu Kamuskay was the Vice President of the Young Leaders Organisation, a member of the National Youth Council. The Young Leaders is one of the oldest youth-led organisations in West Africa. The organisation was formed by a group of young leaders, and launched by the then Head of State/President of Sierra Leone. Sallu was part of the group of young leaders who participated in and contributed to the establishment of the National Youth Council. The Commonwealth supported the training for trainers programme with line ministries and youth stakeholders in which key, representatives of youth council, student union and civil society/private sector youth platforms were engaged and empowered in the effective engagement and inclusion of youth. Sallu is co-founder and Executive Director of the Salone Messenger, a global multimedia and public relations firm based In Sierra Leone. Sallu has worked on various developmental and policy issues such as Poverty, Climate Change, Human rights, Child Rights, Education, Health, Gender Equality, Civic Engagement, Government policies, Information Communication Technology for Development and the Sustainable Development Goals, and has also been contributing to various global events and advocacy campaigns. Sallu Kamuskay is the co-founder and Executive Director of the Salone Messenger, a global Multimedia and Public Relations Firm based in Sierra Leone with the latest news and information, on top stories, business, politics, entertainment, and more. Sallu is working with a leading technology company in Africa, Techfrica, that has recently developed and launched a social media, messaging Supfrica with over 150,000 downloads on the Google play store in less than 4 days. He is the Adviser and Media coordinator for the App to give people the platform to connect and communicate to help shape their future with a very fast internet that allows users that live in deprived and hard-to-reach areas with poor internet facility to be able to communicate as it allows and stronger on 2 and 3 G network reception. Sallu has over 9 years of experience in youth engagement, inclusion, and coordination both at local and global levels, giving voice to young people and engaging young people to build a better world. He has served as coordinator for the Wave Alliance which brought together youth-led organisations who attended an international training in South Africa organized by the International Organization – Waves for Change. Sallu is working with the MLT, Waves For Change, and the Government to develop safe spaces for young people, with a view to contributing to the overall development goals of young people including health, as well as to community rebuilding. Sallu is currently the Programme Director for the Wave Alliance, which is a coalition of youth-led and community-based organisations that have successfully introduced evidence-based Surf Therapy programs to young people in communities, with a focus on mental health, peace building and sustainable development. Sallu is currently the focal point and face of Africa’s Faces Social media platform which is a global Social media platform that brings together people from across the world to share their moments, connect, share videos, and interact with friends giving more preference to excluded continents like Africa. Sallu Kamuskay has devoted his time to working for or contributing to a number of national and international organizations and companies, including the Techfrica Technology Company, United Nations, ECOWAS, European Union, Commonwealth Africa Initiatives. This work has led him to travel to a number of countries to contribute to global youth platforms. Sallu is the lead Coordinator for Peace Tour programme, an initiative supported by the European Union, Africa Union, ECOWAS focusing on uniting and empowering young people and local communities. Over the years, Sallu Kamuskay has been using his Techno phone to be able to tell stories, the phone he used to tell the story of Gbessay during Ebola who was admitted at one of the Ebola treatment centers after rumors that she had Ebola when the actual sickness was ulcer, she was almost abandoned at the treatment canter with no medication provided to her. She could have died. Sallu told the story via social media and was able to secure funding from the United Sierra Leone to buy her medication and advocated for her. She was later discharged and taken home, He did the same to a patient that died and was abandoned in the street, Sallu Kamuskay used his phone and shared the message across, the corps was later taken and buried. It could have been more disaster without his voice. The story of late America Stress 3-year-old daughter. The hero’s daughter was abandon after his father's death. He shared her sad story and was able to get a sister who has taken the child as her own and is currently providing her with educational support. The article of America Stress can be read on the link below http://ayvnewspaper.com/index.php/k2-categories/item/7350-america-stress-a-hero-to-recognize. Sallu Kamuskay feels the stories of Gbessay, America stress and that of many others need to be told. The media house we have cannot better tell these stories, they are better reporters than telling human interest stories. He created the Salone Messenger platform and brought together passionate storytellers to be able to tell these compelling stories.