Security Concern - text messages

[Anonymous]

I was recently away for work with a colleage for one night.  While we were away text messages sent to me also appeared on my colleague's phone.  They showed as having what I know to be my husband's number.  These texts also appeared on his own phone as new messages.

I find this really worrying - my husband was sending me texts which were duplicated to my colleagues phone.  He does not know my colleague or have her phone number, nor have I used his phone previously.

My colleague complained to her mobile phone company (Talk Talk) and was told it was impossible for this to happen.  Obviously it isn't!

I find it extremely concerning that this could happen for the privacy of texts generally.  I would be really grateful if anyone could explain how this could have happened!  My phone is Tesco, my husband's is O2 and my colleague's phone network is Talk Talk.  We were away near Birmingham, we live in the North East of England if that helps at all.

[Anonymous]

Thank's everyone - it just happened for  brief period of time (7.30pm - 1 or 2 am) when we were in Telford, once I realised what was happening, I asked my husband to stop texting me as I was very uncomfortable with his texts being shared.  It didn't happen the next day when I was sat with my colleague on train.  The messages sent were SMS / photo messages to the phone, not through anything like What's App.  My colleague didn't recieve any duplicate messages whilst on the train, or since to my knowledge.

[Anonymous]

During the time in Telford, my colleague and I were in close proximity the whole time sitting next to each other, walking to the hotel an sharing a hotel room - if that is relevant / helpful.  However we were in close proximity the whole time home - sitting on the train on the way back and the texts weren't going to both phones then.

[MI5]

Thanks for the additional info but still a mystery to me, sorry.

[Anonymous]

That's even more worrying!  That no-one has heard of it happening before on an android phone.  I did Google but it was only iphones where this seemed to happen.  Makes me see texting in a much more cautious light!  

[MI5]

To be honest, I'd have never believed it possible until now.

[jonsie]

There has to be an explanation but it's beyond me!

[Anonymous]

If anyone does figure it out, please let me know!  I will check my phone for any dodgy apps or spy type things but it seems unlikely.

Talk Talk's response to my colleague was that my husband had obviously gotten her number off my phone without my knowledge and they advised her it was a police matter.  This is technically possible I suppose but highly unlikely, he doesn't know her and the texts were written to me.  They also came back to his own phone as new texts.

[jonsie]

That definitely sounds like a network issue. 

[MI5]

I could understand them coming back as new texts if the network was glitching, but it makes no sense to randomly deliver them to your friends phone too.

[Cleoriff]

I would certainly be giving Samsun a ring.....wont hurt and they are the only people left to ask...