Online Directory Compiling Cell Phone Numbers -- Maybe Even Yours
The next time you order a pizza for delivery, be careful. If you give your cell phone number to the person on the other end of the line, you may actually be giving up any expectation you have that the number will remain private.
A Bellevue, Wash.-based company, Intelius, has been compiling a hefty database of private cell phone numbers in some innovative ways, including mining some phone lists from companies you might not expect to be in the information-selling business.
This is about more than keeping your cell phone number out of the hands of strangers. Calling plans charge the subscriber for minutes used instead of the second party calling in. That means unwanted calls from, say, a telemarketer are more than just an annoyance -- they also cost you money.
Intelius has been skirting privacy laws based on what many may consider a legal loophole. Telephone companies are prohibited from compiling lists of cell phone numbers, but so far there's nothing (yet) that says a third-party can't do so. Thus, Intelius scours the Internet looking for numbers or buys lists from various companies. To conduct a number search you have to plunk down $14.95.
If you give your cell phone number to the pizza delivery guy, you're essentially opting in to that business's call list. And then that business simply turns around and sells the list to Intelius. (Mind you, we have nothing against pizza delivery in general -- and, in specific, we are grateful for the deliciously cheesy service they provide.)
Should you be worried, then, that your cell phone number is now broadcast across the Web for all to see? Not really. According to reports, many of the numbers that turn up in searches are incorrect. The company does claim to have about 90 million out of the approximately 195 million cell phone numbers active in the United States.
Phone companies like Verizon are stating they will push back against Intelius' efforts and some state legislatures are starting to wake up to consumers' concerns.
We'll stay on top of the issue for you. In the meantime, enjoy that pizza.
From MSNBC.com and Consumerist.com.
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Reader Comments (Page 4 of 5)
Mitch @ Feb 2nd 2008 12:10AM
You can escape telemarketers by registering your number with the national do not call registry. As far as having a "secret" number - I have yet to understand why anyone feels is his right to call others but they have no right to call them. There are many ways to "cut callers off" without having a "secret" number. Join the human race people!!! Cell phones are for communications.
m2dcha @ Feb 2nd 2008 12:38AM
don't call me. i'm away on vacation with my drinking water. . . .
besides i'm voting for ralph wiggums for prez.
Kathy @ Feb 2nd 2008 12:38AM
Anyone can put in a telephone number they may be receiving on Google, as who's calling? The number may show up, or Intelius may forward you to a look up site that may want you to pay for this information. Nothing is private, anyone can obtain your personal identity and information for a one time low fee. Do employers know whom they hire, that they're not using fraudulent acts to obtain clients or other employee's information on file and using it for their own person gain?
I did receive a call of which I did write down the number, using *69 to obtain the number & *57 to have it traced. It apparently was a bogus number and a scam.
roger @ Feb 2nd 2008 12:39AM
don't call me. i'm away on vacation with my drinking water
Babs @ Feb 2nd 2008 12:42AM
Watch out folks, about two weeks ago I began received junk text messages on my cell phone! I don't subscribe to any text message packages so I'm getting charged for each and everyone. Not sure how I got on that junk mail list, but my mission this weekend is to get off of it!
Kathy @ Feb 2nd 2008 12:44AM
Needless to say, to no avail, I am on the "DO NOT CALL," list and on-line; to block nuisance advertisements, but since, I have been getting more adverstisements and fraudulent perps attempting to obtain my personal Id, and/or funds. When I do receive what I believe to be a scam or fraud on-line, I do forward this information to the following addresses: ny1@ic.fbi.gov and abuse@address.com
Cheryl @ Feb 2nd 2008 12:48AM
Considering that you pay for all incoming phone calls as well as outgoing ones... The idea of them publishing a cell phone number seems wrong, very wrong... Besides I don't want to be needing to answer a bloody cell phone in the middle of traffic, it's not safe. I do my very best to only use it when I am not driving...and if I am driving I use my OnStar phone...and even that is very limited useage. I bought 100 minutes last year in June and I still have more than 70 minutes left... see what I mean. I will be really ticked off big time if this company thinks it has the right to sell my cell phone numbers. Where is Jay Nixon when I need him... Hey Jay, if you win the govenors race, will you please get a law passed for MO drivers and cell users to stop this nonsense?
jen @ Feb 2nd 2008 12:58AM
i remember when i bought something from time life video for my friends son. i had to give my phone number or i couldnt buy the videos. i gave them my cell and they called all hours of the night trying to sell me crap. 1 and 3am. i never ordered anything from time life video ever again
Bunmi @ Feb 2nd 2008 1:01AM
I used to order stuff from infomercials on TV. I have a billing address and a different shipping address. Something I ordered, I don't know what, got my cell phone number into the hands of a telemarketer. I had never gotten a call on my c-phone from a telemarketer before, so I was caught offguard. We had a short conversation and, just to be sure he had the correct person, he rattled off my address, which turned out to be my shipping address. When I tried to inform him of his error, he accused me of lying. He actually called me a liar on MY PHONE...a call that I was paying for. I WAS PAYING FOR HIM TO INSULT ME!? Well, I cussed him out and hung up on him. For three solid weeks after that, he called me at least eight times a day. One day the calls came five minutes apart. Of course, seeing that it was him, I never answered any of his "Blocked ID" calls. The calls never came in on the weekends...during business hours only. I know it was the result of a TV order because of the information he had.
Since then, I NEVER answer "Blocked ID", "Unknown ID", "Unknown Caller", "(000)000-0000", or any other weird combinations or numbers NOT on my phone list. Any friends or relatives calling me from a strange phone, will just have to leave a message and I'll get back to them.
Henry @ Feb 2nd 2008 1:02AM
I keep getting text message on my cellphone, which asks me to hit
Henry @ Feb 2nd 2008 1:09AM
I keep getting text messages from this number: 676801244367. I get charged everytime I get a message. Last month I recved 105 of them. My cellphone provider said there is nothing I can do unless I block all my test messages. I called the number and I keep getting the response that it doesn't exist. Any ideas?
undrgrndgirl @ Feb 2nd 2008 1:15AM
thanks jim!
undrgrndgirl @ Feb 2nd 2008 1:16AM
lone wulf...i'm sure its cheaper to pay for the dnc list than to pay fines for violating it.
lita @ Feb 2nd 2008 1:32AM
sandra weisz (02/01/08 10:12 AM) says that "we are forced against our will to have c-phones," and then launches into some tirade regarding "illegals."
There is something wrong with this woman. I know scores of people who have cell phones and not one of them was "forced against their will" to have them.
Although she is a crackpot, she is right about one thing: Cell phone numbers should be available only to the people that they wish to have them. Period.
CJ @ Feb 2nd 2008 1:42AM
I DONT THINK ANYONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SELL ANY INFOMATION. NO ONE EVERY THINKS ABOUT THOSE OF US THAT ARE FORCED TO START OUR LIVES OVER DUE TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. WE MOVE SO NO ONE CAN FIND US, GET CELL PHONES SO THEY CANT GET OUR NUMBER AND TRACK US DOWN TO DO MORE HARM. AND NOW FOR JUST 14.95 THEY CAN GET NUMBER, ADDRESS AND EVEN A MAP TO WHERE WE ARE. WHEN DO WE GET TO STOP LIVING IN FEAR?
Lynn @ Feb 2nd 2008 1:48AM
I don't have a cell phone problem. Yes I did put my cell on do not call list.
Question?
Why do any of you who are complaining about unwanted calls.. answer your cell or home phone.. at all.. if you do not recognize the caller number coming in ? Phone ID .. works great.
People you do not wish to talk too.. won't leave a message.. or the call coming in will be "Private". I don't pick up. I have no problem !
DUH!
Don't have to answer a phone just because it rings..people!
Lynn @ Feb 2nd 2008 1:55AM
" I keep getting text messages from this number: 676801244367. I get charged everytime I get a message. Last month I recved 105 of them. My cellphone provider said there is nothing I can do unless I block all my test messages. I called the number and I keep getting the response that it doesn't exist. Any ideas?"
***** yeah ask your cell phone provider what the law is about this, and ask how to get intouch w/ FCC.. report it! Also, call your local police dept.. and file a complaint. Its harassment and it isn't allowed by law. Then for the heck of it, let everyone know that you will not have text messaging for a month. And stop texting. After a month, you can probably do it again and it will have all stopped.
jim @ Feb 2nd 2008 2:20AM
Henry says:
I keep getting text messages from this number: 676801244367. I get charged everytime I get a message. Last month I recved 105 of them. My cellphone provider said there is nothing I can do unless I block all my test messages. I called the number and I keep getting the response that it doesn't exist. Any ideas?
02/02/08 1:09 AM
That looks like an international number. Your provider should have a way to block them. You may have had an agent who was new and not aware. That is BS that they can't block them out. They just want to keep charging you. Do you get charged just becuase they are sent? You shouldn't be charged unless you open the message. If you opened all them, they are probably going to make you pay that. If you're in a contract, your kind of screwed. If not threaten to leave and they may wipe them out. When in doubt, shout.
mike @ Feb 2nd 2008 2:48AM
i tell them send a check my qualcom cost 5 bucks a minute then call back and they never do
LeeAnn @ Feb 2nd 2008 3:54AM
VERY SIMPLE SOLUTION...........................
TO PREVENT TELEMARKETERS, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS REGISTER WITH THE "DO NOT CALL REGISTRY". WHEN IT FIRST BEGAN, THEY ONLY ALLOWED LAND PHONES AND NOW THEY DO ALLOW CELL NUMBERS.
www.donotcall.gov