Scary - Google will let anyone find you - Scary Privacy Invasion

March 2003 | Unk

[30-06 Springfield]

Go to www.google.com then type in your phone number (separated by hyphens, including area code) and click on Google Search. If your phone number is listed it will show your name and address and give you two map options. Yahoo and MapQuest. See how accurate the map is to your home. VERY SCARY!!!

Any person wishing to discover the physical location of a phone number, be it a home or business address, could use this feature to locate a physical street address, and receive directions on how to get there from anywhere in the country. In the age of the internet communication we all know the dangers of this - for adults and CHILDREN!

Google has made available an option that will allow anyone to REMOVE their telephone number from the database that is linked to the mapping feature.

You will first need to check if your number is listed in this manner by attempting a search-entering your full telephone number separated by dashes (e.g. 555-555-5555). If the number appears in the mapping database, an icon resembling a telephone will appear next to the first or second entry on the results page. Clicking on this icon will take you to a page containing a description of the service, and a link to request your number be removed from the database.

So far unlisted numbers and cell phone numbers, do not show up.

[Ford Fairlane]

It appears that if your number shows up on a "normal" web page (such as my business), you dont get the same results as if it is a residence number with no other reference on the web

[WKB]

But I still can't find my old girfriend.

[plusone]

She's still around. Tommy and the Two tones have released another album recently, though I haven't heard much about it...

[Sonny M]

I don't have an unlisted number, and I used reverse listing, but either way, I didn't come up on the google search.

[cynwoody]

Reverse lookup has been around forever.

Years ago, in Chicago, you could get reverse lookups from 411 if you knew how to ask. They would forward the call to an operator who specialized in that type of lookup.

[cynwoody]

Check this out.

[ladyinred]

I have an unlisted phone number, so mine doesn't show up. That is just scary isn't it?

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

Someone else is listed with my number. Explains why I keep getting calls for the guy. May also explain why I am besieged with telemarketing calls.

Why is someone else listed with my number?

[StarFan]

Scary stuff.

[Caesar Soze]

(sigh) I wish I had enough self-esteem to believe people were stalking me over the internet. Anyone wanna start? I can offer an address, two phone numbers, an email address, AIM and ICQ ids, and several pictures, including one of me as a child....