Ghost text messages

[LaoiseD]

I am currently abroad, out of Europe. I switched off roaming and have purchased an Esim so that all data and online calls are made using this prepaid sim. However I’ve just had an alert from O2. It seems that I have sent about 10 text messages while roaming and have been charged £5. This is not possible. Checking my text messages, I have sent only 3 text messages since being abroad, and not to the number being reported on my bill. Any ideas how this could have happened and how I can stop it? I’m here for another 2 weeks!

[Cleoriff]

@LaoiseD 

You need to call O2. It's a free call if on contract.

All numbers arehere

https://www.o2.co.uk/contactus 

From abroad

+44 7860 980 202

Free†

[MI5]

@LaoiseD 

If using an iPhone or other device with visual voicemail, the phone will send silent texts to register on the server in UK.

iMessage will also do this. 

You can turn off voicemail and iMessage to stop it happening.

The number shown on your bill is the international SMS gateway number and not the number the texts are sent to.