If this is an epidemic then I have to wonder if smart phones are leaking something through a side channel. In 20 years I have received maybe 2 UCE SMS messages

If this is an epidemic then I have to wonder if smart phones are leaking something through a side channel. In 20 years I have received maybe 2 UCE SMS messages on my disposable flip phone and I couldnt even read them because they were binary data. Could it be that smart phone apps are leaking peoples numbers to a shady vendor? Asking because I am about to venture into the area of my first smart phone and will be attempting to load LineageOS on it, maybe.