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Posted 6/4/2007 1:57 PM (GMT 0)
Hello everyone.  I know this has nothing to do with A/P, however I wanted to share with all of you.  A friend sent this to me and I think many of you will find this interesting especially if you have children!

 

I am posting this because I am thinking of everyone's safety!

 

I hope I do not offend anyone, I certainly do not mean to!

 

Take care,

Mary

 

 

 

Google has implemented a new feature which enables you to type a telephone number into the
search bar and hit enter and you will be given the person's name and address. If you then hit
MapQuest, you will get a map to the person's house. Everyone should be aware of this! It's a
nationwide reverse telephone book.

If a child gives out his/her phone number, someone can now look it up to find out where he/she
lives. The safety issues are obvious, and alarming.

Note that you can have your phone number removed or blocked. I tried my number and it came up
along with the mapquest and directions straight to our house. I did fill out the removal form for
myself, and encourage all of you to do the same. Quite scary.

Please look up your own number.

In order to test whether your phone number is mapped, go to: google ( http://www.google.com/ )
Type your phone number in the search bar (i.e. 555-555-1212) and hit enter. If you want to BLOCK
Google from divulging your private information, simply click on your telephone number and then
click on the Removal Form. Removal takes 48-hours.

Check your own number and although this may not apply to you if you have an unlisted number or
cell phone as primary contact, but you may know someone who needs to know this.

Please share this information with friends and family.

Posted 6/4/2007 2:24 PM (GMT 0)
Reverse directories have been available on the internet for years. I made a lot of use of them in my work. It's not really private information...the same thing is in the phone book and the directories have been selling them in database form for at least a decade before the internet became popular. The best way to handle this privacy issue is to pay the phone company to have your number unlisted. Your method will only work for Google, but there are many other on-line phone directories, most of which you have to pay for but they're a lot more sophisticated.
Posted 6/4/2007 5:14 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,
Good information, I tried it and we are unlisted so ours did not come up but my daughter's did with the map....................
This is really opening up the reverse phone book to the wrong people...........your right, it gives people directions to your home.
Thanks for posting.
Posted 6/4/2007 5:40 PM (GMT 0)
I agree that this is not a good thing, but it is also not new as "debaser" mentioned. I, too, have used reverse directories often in locating either addresses or numbers of people I had the information for previously but had lost. In my work, also, it was helpful. The comment about the daughter's address coming up is a bit unsettling, though, as we are all "available" if someone tries hard enough. Diligence is your best defense against so much of this. Be aware, be select in giving out any information, know that others can have a lot of information about you, be diligent about your own safety, and continue to guard documents etc. that reveal even more. I used to be so scared all the time about this, and now just understand I have to practice good, strong, common sense and, again, be diligent.
It was good to share that information about Google for those people who are unaware reverse directories are available. Thank you for that.
Posted 6/4/2007 6:00 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the info
I had no idea of it and dont know if Ontario Canada is in on this but likely
I have unlisted number and I am very diligent as to what and where Cait goes on Puter.....
This Mama watches closely and knows all ( i hope lol)about the puter and Cait .....I mean
Lyn
Posted 6/4/2007 11:23 PM (GMT 0)
Your very welcome!  :-)

 

Fortunately I am not listed.  I copy and pasted the information I posted.  It was my friend's phone number that came up.  It is scary.  Surviveandthrive said it best, deligence is the best defense.

 

Have a good night.

Mary

Posted 6/5/2007 8:06 PM (GMT 0)
While I agree that it can be used dangerously, I was thankful for it because when my daughter got into an accident the guy that hit her gave out a wrong phone number. It turned out to be an old number of his that was not yet purged from the system and I found the lousy jerk and got him to pay.
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