Ballard & Son Construction is known for installing basement escape windows or egress windows. The family business has been around for more than a decade.

“I received an email stating that my account was used to purchase the material and it was odd because I never purchased any of it,” said Barry Ballard.

Ballard went right away to customer service at Lowe’s, where he shops almost every day.

“And apparently somebody was able to use my card, I believe because they saw my phone number and used my phone number to purchase everything through my Lowe’s business account,” Ballard said.

His phone number was linked to his account.

“I didn’t really put two and two together that if I put my phone number on it for convenience, that somebody else would be able to use it out of convenience also,” he said with a laugh.

Like many businesses, the phone number is plastered everywhere– on trucks, trailers, the website, and shirts.

“When I was at customer service, another employee ended up saying that the order was picked up yesterday, an identical order or close to it. And my card was used twice.”

That came to about $5,000.

“They were able to stop the second one because it wasn’t picked up yet,” said Ballard.

Lowe’s credited his account the same day.

“I would say just be very careful of what information you have out there and how you link all your accounts,” he said. “You could maybe use your wife’s cellphone number for all your accounts because you should know that. I mean, that’s the only phone number I kind of know by heart!”

Ballard is already using a different number for his account.