Other peoples text conversations popping up on my Ipad in Imessage

[mgtmdm]

All of a sudden today my Ipad lights up and I see I have a message, I look and I see that a conversation has been going on most of the day. I ask them who they are and I don't so much as know either of them. One side of the "conversation" looks as if it is me answering. What the heck is going on?

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[f4780y]

How is you iMessage setup configured on the iPad? Are you using a group / corporate account?

Go to Settings > Messages > Receive At, and see what Apple ID and additional email addresses you are receiving messages at. Sounds like you might have something incorrectly configured in there... Can you spot anything which is unusual?

[mgtmdm]

Nothing unusual at all. One ID and it is my correct email address.
I find it quite fascinating that I have been privy to an entire conversation and the participants had no clue I was watching. I did ask them who they were, a couple of teenagers, neither of which having a clue how we might have gotten linked. I don't know them, they don't know me. The only thing we have in common is the same area code.
As I have a house full of super texters, I couldn't resist showing them all how easily their conversations could be, shall we say, not quite as private as they might expect.
I am not overly concerned, I dont use Imessage myself and I really need to reset it back to factory anyway. I am just very very curious.

[thewitt]

As this device owned by someone else at one time?

[mgtmdm]

Nope, it was shipped to me brand new from the factory.

[dhewson777]

Did you have your iMessage settings in an earlier iOS device? If so, where is that device now?

[mgtmdm]

It was my very first Ipad. No previous I anything. Now that you ask that though, I wonder if maybe one of the kids plugged an Ipod or Isomething, belonging to one of their friends most likely, into my computer to charge it? Could something transfer to my device that way?

[dhewson777]

It was my very first Ipad. No previous I anything. Now that you ask that though, I wonder if maybe one of the kids plugged an Ipod or Isomething, belonging to one of their friends most likely, into my computer to charge it? Could something transfer to my device that way?

Only if they stepped through some pop ups from iTunes asking them to wipe the device and set it up from scratch. Even then, they would need to know your AppleId password.

[twerppoet]

Might be a hiccup on Apple's iMessage servers. You can try re-setting your iPad's registration this way.

Go to the Messages settings and sign out of your account. Wait a while, then sign back in. This should remove and re-add your device's registration on Apple's iMessage servers.



Be sure to remove and re-add any extra email addresses you've got set up to receive as well. If iMessage is on, there will always be at least one email address. Do delete the last one, you have to add another; but I wouldn't bother doing this with your primary Apple ID email address. The sign in/out part should take care of it.



If it happens again, I'd give Apple a call; if for no other reason so that they know there's a possible bug/problem with their servers. Or they may be able to see what's happening and correct it.

[seneca18]

This is an issue that has happened before when iMessage was new. I have not heard of it lately however, I would follow the advice above but if it continues call or visit an Apple store. Actually, if you are on the latest 5.1.1 you may still give Apple a shout even if you fix it your self. They would probably like to know about it. Good luck.