Facebook Forced To Let You Vote On Privacy Changes
What Will Google Announce Next Week?
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.
Related Links:
- Scary Search Engine Lets You Search By Face
- Google Plans to Digitize Your Medical Records
- Flickr-Proof Yourself
40 Years Later 'Napalm Girl' Tells Her Story
Disney World Scammers Scored Four Years of Free Vacations
Lost Dr. Seuss Cartoons Show Another Side Of The Author
Stranger's Kiss Keeps 16-Year-Old From Committing Suicide
Rookie Cop Reportedly Berated, Called 'A Rat' For Arresting Off-Duty Officer
Zhang Ziyi Slams Prostitution Allegations
Walmart Ending Membership in Conservative Group
Apple CEO Tim Cook interview at D10: the liveblog
Disturbing Video Allegedly Shows Montreal Torso Suspect Murdering Victim
How I Went Bankrupt at 23
Can a New Guy Save Best Buy?
Chain Food Showdown: The Best & Worst Buffalo Wings
Woman Claims Kangaroo Stalked Her for 2 Days, Then Attacked
Facebook, Week Two: Fortunes Made and Fortunes Lost (Mostly Lost)
Student Ate Roommate's Brain And Heart, Cops Say
A Journey To The Hottest Place On Earth: Dallol Ethiopia
PHOTOS: Charlize Theron's Short And Shoulder-Baring Style
Heidi Klum's Sexiest (And Scariest) Outfits
Maine Police Believe Ayla Reynolds Is Dead
LOOK: Photos Of Military Moms Breastfeeding In Uniform Cause Controversy
George Zimmerman's Bond Revoked
National Spelling Bee Winner Is I-M-P-R-E-S-S-I-V-E
Witherspoon Bigamy Case Heats Up
Is Kate Walsh Leaving 'Private Practice' Next Season?
Calif. Man Becomes Internet Sensation In China For Random Act Of Kindness
Space Agency Predicts Date Of World-Ending Galactic Smash-Up
See Kim Without Her Wig On 'Don't Be Tardy For The Wedding'
Kansas Police Search For 12-Year-Old Girl Who Disappeared With Canadian She Met Online
Is This The Most Timeless Hairstyle, Ever?
New Discovery Sheds Light On Amelia Earhart Mystery
Jim Moret: 'Still The Most Beautiful Girl I've Ever Seen'
The Coolest Movie Posters You've Never Seen
Comments
88
Subscribe to commentsmikeFeb 2nd 2008 2:48AM
i tell them send a check my qualcom cost 5 bucks a minute then call back and they never do
jimFeb 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.
JEANMar 17th 2008 10:32PM
What gets me upset about the whole thing, besides the lack of privacy, is that cell phone users all are on different payment plan which means that if you're using a limited plan like a go phone for instance, you pay for each call and each minute used. When you get these telemarketing calls or my personal favorites, campaigning recordings, it all goes against your airtime minutes that the consumer pays for.
In addition, the same goes for solicitations sent via text message. Once again, depending on a person's personal phone plan, the consumer pays indefinitely this time around because there's no way to block text messages from these marketing devils!!!!
LeeAnnFeb 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
KevinFeb 2nd 2008 4:11AM
Yes you can escape the telemarketer. Do Not Answer Your Phone. It is that simple. Who dosen't have caller ID? Use that tool to decide if you want to take a call.
We are such an "In-Touch" society we feel compeled to answer the phone every time it rings. How difficult is it to click ignore??????????
DrewzoneFeb 2nd 2008 4:17AM
Thanks for the don't call registry. Went there done it feels good.
JoshFeb 2nd 2008 5:10AM
hey dummys thats why you block the calls when they call you, damn people are ignorant lol
cottoncandyFeb 2nd 2008 7:53AM
I don't know if anyone else is having this problem. Now telemakerters are text messaging my cell phone number. And I have to pay for that because I don't usually text message. Is there anyway we can have a do not text message line on our cell phones. Yes the telemarketeres are getting very inventive. I have both my home phone and cell phone on the do not call list but now with them texting I am at a lost of what to do. Any suggestions.