Each year, up to 10 percent of people are affected by: identity theft. A common first step is to see that your phone is no longer safe, which is indicated by a significant influx of spam calls and texts. However, keep your phone number safe is not exactly easy as you have to use your phone number for everything from business calls to social events and online purchases.

Instead of using your real number, you may be able to create a fake number with Hushed Private Phone Line. This plan gives you access to a fake number that you can use to make calls, text, and more, and a lifetime plan is on sale for an 83 percent discount.

Protect your phone number and your anonymity.

Before cell phones, phone numbers weren’t so tied to your identity. Now phone numbers are inextricably linked to a large number of accounts, create vulnerabilities that hackers and scammers can exploit.

Hushed gives you a fully functional second phone number which you can use for calls or texts that don’t reveal your real number. Choose from hundreds of area codes and set voicemail to your fake number and protect your privacy.

Arrange a purchase on Craigslist without worrying about getting weird texts weeks later. Sign up for social media without handing over your personal number to a company that can eventually sell it. Communicate with colleagues on your time without giving them unlimited resources to contact you on your free time.

This plan gives you 6,000 SMS and 1,000 calling minutes that are renewed every year. If you run out of minutes or texts before your year is up, you can add more at any time. The only requirement is that you use your fake number at least once every six months to keep it active.

Call and text from a second phone number.

Protect your privacy without limiting your ability to use your phone. Get a lifetime subscription to Hushed Private Phone Line for $24.99 (reg. $150).

Prices subject to change.