What is a burner phone?
Definition
A burner phone is a cheap, prepaid cell phone with no carrier contract, bought to be used for a short time and then thrown away or replaced, so the user can keep their real number and identity private.
- Category
- Privacy
- Also called
- burner, disposable phone, prepaid burner
- Last updated
Merriam-Webster defines a burner phone as a prepaid cell phone, typically used for a short time and then discarded. The word "burner" gets its use from the idea that you use it, then burn it. The term spread through crime dramas, but plenty of ordinary people use one for ordinary reasons.
How a burner phone works
You buy a basic handset or a prepaid SIM, pay as you go, and use that number for a specific purpose. When you're done, you stop using it. Because there's no long contract, there's usually less personal information tied to the account, though in many places carriers or sellers may ask for ID or registration, and the rules vary by country.
The word now stretches past phones. Merriam-Webster notes that "burner" can describe other disposable or throwaway accounts, such as a temporary email address.
Why people use them
Cambridge Dictionary notes that people use them to keep personal information private, for example when selling something to a stranger or meeting someone from online dating, so they don't have to share their real number.
A typical case: you list a sofa for sale and a buyer wants to text. A throwaway number lets you do that without giving a stranger the number that's tied to your bank, your email and your contacts.
Limits of a burner phone
It isn't invisible. Phones still connect to cell towers, and a burner you carry next to your normal phone shows the same location. If you log in to your usual accounts on it, or call your usual contacts, you link the two identities together. It's a privacy tool, not a guarantee of anonymity.
Burner phone vs. burner number
A burner phone is a separate physical device. A burner number is a second number, often a virtual one on an app, that forwards to your normal phone. Both aim to protect your main number.
How to protect yourself
- 1
Keep your main number out of strangers' hands
For one-off dealings like marketplace sales or online dating, use a separate number rather than the one tied to your banking and accounts.
- 2
Keep the burner separate
Don't sign in to your usual accounts or call your usual contacts from a burner. Doing so links it back to you.
- 3
Be wary of unknown numbers contacting you
Scammers use burner numbers too, so a call from an unfamiliar number isn't proof of anything. Verify before sharing information.
- 4
Check where your real number is already listed
Many phone numbers are on people-search sites already. Serus finds where your phone number is listed and removes it, which helps whichever number you use.
See where your personal data is exposed
Serus finds it on data brokers and people-search sites and removes it.
Frequently asked
Is it legal to use a burner phone?
In most places, yes, owning a prepaid phone is legal. Using any phone to commit a crime is not. Some countries require ID to buy a SIM, so check the rules where you live.
Can a burner phone be traced?
Yes. The phone still connects to the mobile network, and carriers and police can use records from it. Being a burner doesn't make it anonymous.
What's the difference between a burner phone and a prepaid phone?
Prepaid describes how you pay. Burner describes how you use it: for a short time, then discard. A burner is usually prepaid, but most prepaid phones are used for years.
Are there apps that give you a burner number?
Yes. Several apps provide a second, virtual number that rings your normal phone. Read each app's privacy policy first.
Sources
Something wrong or out of date? Tell us and we'll re-check it.