The Gang of Five

Beyond the Mysterious Beyond => Hobbies and Recreation => Computer and Electronics => Topic started by: pokeplayer984 on April 06, 2010, 12:08:22 PM

Title: Okay, this is really scary
Post by: pokeplayer984 on April 06, 2010, 12:08:22 PM
Spokeo.  An on-line Phonebook.  Sounds nice, huh?

However, I have found this little thing to be quite the invasion of privacy.  Look up your name, your family, your friends.  You'll find not just the address and phone number, but also someone's interests, their family members, occupation and even their credit score.  Yes, it has your credit score, and someone would only have to pay $2.95 to find out all the information.

Seriously, just try it.  This is scary.

http://www.spokeo.com (http://www.spokeo.com)

I can only imagine how dangerous the net is going to get because of this little thing.
Title: Okay, this is really scary
Post by: jedi472 on April 06, 2010, 12:21:15 PM
Man, I hope no one's actually naive enough to use that!  :o

Wait, what? It shows your stuff even if you're NOT signed up?
Title: Okay, this is really scary
Post by: aabicus (LettuceBacon&Tomato) on April 06, 2010, 12:25:25 PM
Found a link on Wikipedia where apparently you can remove a listing: http://www.spokeo.com/privacy (http://www.spokeo.com/privacy) you have to provide your email address, though.
Title: Okay, this is really scary
Post by: Mumbling on April 06, 2010, 02:45:19 PM
Whoa man.. I don't live in the USA and I don't think I'll be able to find anyone (seriously, I have no idea in which state people live :P:), but it's pretty creepy o.O
Title: Okay, this is really scary
Post by: Belmont2500 on April 06, 2010, 03:41:47 PM
This is just beyond creepy.
Title: Okay, this is really scary
Post by: landbeforetimelover on April 06, 2010, 04:09:58 PM
This stuff has been around for quite some time.  Though it usually costs about $15 to find someone like that.  I used a service like this to get the names and addresses of a couple of my mom's old friends that she lost contact with.  It is pretty scary though.  That's why you NEVER give your first and last name.
Title: Okay, this is really scary
Post by: Kor on April 06, 2010, 05:50:34 PM
A bit scary indeed.  I was able to find an old friend of mine I've lost contact with and myself also, though some facts about me are wrong.
Title: Okay, this is really scary
Post by: aabicus (LettuceBacon&Tomato) on April 06, 2010, 09:10:15 PM
They don't have me. I'm not particularly surprised, but if they did I could request that I be removed from their database and they would. At least, they say they would.
Title: Okay, this is really scary
Post by: pokeplayer984 on April 07, 2010, 01:13:00 AM
I don't use facebook and that is probably the reason they don't have me, yet it's not surprising that they have my mom and dad.

*sarcasm*Anyone wish to set up $1 million for me so I can sue them properly?  *serious*You touch my parents, you're dead! :P:

Seriously, I think places like Facebook is how they get the information in the first place, and I go to none of them. :)
Title: Okay, this is really scary
Post by: landbeforetimelover on April 07, 2010, 01:19:03 AM
I'm not even in their database.  My mom is, but the information is about 15 years out of date. :p This is the shittiest information service site I've ever seen. :rolleyes: Seriously.
Title: Okay, this is really scary
Post by: aabicus (LettuceBacon&Tomato) on April 07, 2010, 01:49:45 AM
Quote from: pokeplayer984,Apr 7 2010 on  12:13 AM
Seriously, I think places like Facebook is how they get the information in the first place, and I go to none of them. :)
Naw, I've got a Facebook, and it's big enough that if one Googles my full name my Facebook page is the top link. They still missed me.

It does have my parents, who apparently live with my long-dead grandparents in the same house  :rolleyes That is some seriously dated info.

EDIT: Hm, apparently I'm not the top link anymore. Oh well. I used to be.
Title: Okay, this is really scary
Post by: Noname on April 08, 2010, 04:02:14 AM
I try to limit the amount of information I post online. This even explains my somewhat unusual screen name here on the GoF. That said, I have learned better ways to be more careful, so now I wish my name were a bit different. At least I changed it on MSN and FF.net.
Title: Okay, this is really scary
Post by: Petrie. on April 10, 2010, 05:31:58 AM
Information is out of date, despite the fact I was in the database.  Its not news to me...you can do this online with other searches.  I guess if there's any good news, I've crawled under a rock since I moved out of my parent's home and they haven't found me. :rolleyes
Title: Okay, this is really scary
Post by: Littlefoot Fan on April 10, 2010, 12:21:07 PM
I've never been scared one bit about things like this. I never have problems giving my full and last name, my address, city, all that crap. Doesn't bother me. If you want to come all this way to rape me/kill me, go ahead and try. If by some miracle you manage to find my house, I would love to ask you why on earth you would come all this way just to do something crazy like that :p
Title: Okay, this is really scary
Post by: Alex on April 11, 2010, 12:23:38 PM
All of that comes from public records. You can get it for free if you want.