Received creepy texts? Aussie private investigator on the simple trick for uncovering identity behind any mobile number: ‘OMG it works’

Published: 19:30 EST, 29 January 2025 | Updated: 20:58 EST, 29 January 2025

If you’ve ever been bombarded with unwanted texts from a stranger or felt suspicious of a potential date, a private investigator has revealed a simple way to uncover the real identity behind a mobile number.

Cassie Crofts, who splits her job between NSW and Queensland, works with clients who hire her to investigate spouses suspected of infidelity.

And the PI, who runs a licensed service called Venus Investigations, uses a simple method to uncover the identity behind a mobile number.

‘Need to know the name behind a phone number? Here’s how to do it for free,’ she said in a video.

Cassie said one of the easiest ways is through PayID, an online banking feature that allows you to send and receive payments using a mobile number, email address or ABN.

‘A lot of Aussies have mobile numbers linked to a bank through a PayID,’ she said.

‘All you need to do is go to your banking app, (pretend) you’re going to make a payment, put in their mobile number under Pay ID, and hey presto – most of the time, the number will pop up with their name.’

However, the PI pointed out the method ‘isn’t totally foolproof’ – but it’s the quickest way to get the information you need.

If you’ve ever been bombarded with unwanted texts from a stranger or felt suspicious of a potential date, private investigator Cassie Crofts has revealed a simple PayID trick for uncovering the real identity behind a mobile number

‘A lot of times, people might have entered incorrect details, their phone number’s changed, or they’re just a real secret squirrel,’ she explained.

‘But if someone is harassing you through a phone number you don’t recognise, it’s a bloody good place to start.’

Her video has been viewed more than 90,000 times – with many describing the name search as ‘genius’, ‘brilliant’ and a ‘great idea’.

‘So simple but so smart,’ one said.

‘I’ve been doing this for years,’ another confessed, laughing.

‘OMG I just did this and it works,’ one shared.

‘This is my best used trick. It’s amazing how many times it works,’ another added.

Many praised Cassie for sharing the little-known method, with one saying: ‘You’re probably saving lives.’

Cassie said one of the easiest and fastest ways to find out who’s linked to a number is through PayID, an online banking feature that allows you to send and receive payments using a mobile number, email address or ABN (stock image)

‘Great so now someone has my number and my surname… Thanks for keeping girls safe,’ one said.

The method can be used to snoop on the details of people who contact you through a dating app.

‘I did that a few weeks ago with a random guy who messaged me and refused to tell me his name. Next minute, I had his PayID name, Facebook profile, LinkedIn, and company address,’ one shared.

‘Needless to say, he was shocked when I sent him a personalised “Happy New Years” message, wishing him a prosperous year at “Company X”.’

There are other methods beside PayID, with some suggesting WhatsApp and Snapchat.

‘I add numbers as a contact and see if they have a Snapchat account linked to it – it has like a 60 per cent hit rate though,’ one shared.

Why you should never give your phone number out to strangers

A woman revealed the ‘creepy’ reason why you should never give out your phone number to a stranger following a bizarre encounter at her apartment.

Louise, from Melbourne, was home late on a Saturday evening in late 2023 when her intercom buzzed – but she wasn’t expecting guests.

There was a ‘strange’ man waiting downstairs at the front door to her building insisting she let him up to her apartment floor.

‘I tried to take the call but I can’t hear him, he can’t hear me, so I just hang up thinking he’ll realise he’s got the wrong apartment,’ Louise said.

But the man buzzed again and claimed he had something to tell her.

‘So we have this back and forth when I’m asking him to tell me whatever he needs to say over the intercom because it’s 9.30pm on a Saturday night. I don’t know who he is and I’m not letting him up to my apartment,’ she said.

‘I tell him to leave his number in my mailbox, “I’m happy to have a conversation with you tomorrow but I’m not letting you up to my floor”.

‘A little while later he buzzes me to tell me he’s left his number in my mailbox and I asked him, ‘Why can’t you just tell me now?’ and he says in a very creepy voice, ‘It’s complicated’ and starts laughing.’

Eventually, the man left his number in her letterbox. The next day, Louise and her friend grabbed the number from her mailbox and were able to find out all his information within minutes.

She put his number into her PayID which showed a business name. With a quick Google search, she found the business website and social media pages.

‘We looked up the social media and were able to find the followers and pictures of people who were tagged on the profile,’ she said.

‘From there we were actually able to find the person and exactly who it was. And then I was able to report it to my building.

‘And just like that, I know exactly who that person is, I know where they work, I’ve been able to connect all these things in their life that no one should really have access to, especially a complete stranger.’

While it helped her in this scenario, it also showed just how vulnerable most people are to having their identity discovered by those with bad intentions.

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