I just put this on my blog and thought I'd put it here too cause the thought of it freaked me out for the safety of women especially:

I was just reminded of the age we live in tonight when I made a trip over to our local grocery store tonight for some much needed eggs for waffles in the morning.

I was in Ralph's tonight and a young woman was in line ahead of me. She didn't have her Ralph's Club card so the checker asked for her phone number. The young woman willingly told the checker her number, plenty loud enough for anyone around her to hear it. This really bothers me because of something someone showed me once. Jump over to Google and type in your phone number and see what comes up. Did your address show up? If not yours, try friends and family.

What gets me is that some creep could just listen a little closely and memorize a womans phone number and all of a sudden show up at her house. I know this could be a little over board, but please be aware of your personal information and how it's used. Just be safe my friends. Be safe.



So be safe OSP girls.

Mark,

Thank you so much for this. I do this all the time, and never once have I stopped to think about the implications. My mom works at a grocery store, and I will be talking with her about this tomorrow.

Thanks again!

Mandi

come on people, this IS the information age. everything and anything is accessible. its scary isnt it? mark is sooo right, BE CAREFUL.

but what are we supposed to do? we have to have our contact info on our sites.....


i know on your cell phone you can set it so it does not send its number, i think that is a good idea.

but, if someone really wants to find you, they will and can. its inevitable these days.

I get what you are saying, Tami, but I think you've missed a little piece of what Mark was getting at. I don't think he's talking about always being in fear that someone will get your # from your website, etc. I think he's talking about other times when we thoughtlessly announce our phone number in public (such as at the grocery store, often late at night...for me) when someone could potentially get your phone # and therefore address and come after you. It seems (to me) a little more likely if someone is looking for a victim, that they would be an opportunist rather than a stalker who would find you via your business website. Perhaps I'm wrong. Either way, I am thankful that Mark pointed this out, as it is something that I had never thought of.

Exactly right Amanda. I'm not talking about this as a business owner. I am though referencing this for our personal info. If I hear someone at the store announce their phone number associated with their card, it's typically their home number. When I came home and typed in my home phone number, my home address popped up and just for kicks, the google map came along with it, and oh yeah for more fun just hit the live view or whatever it's called and if you zoom in far enough you can look in my stinking backyard! I have some major issues with the information age. That google earth and maps thing, when applied to the scenario I'm referring to, could be really scary.

Here because I want so bad for people to be careful, let's push this. Let's play bad guy for a second, it doesn't take much effort. Bad guy hears phone number. Looks totally normal, even has a friendly conversation with checker or victim. Yucky thoughts start forming as he writes down or just plain memorizes the phone number till he gets to his car. He doesn't have to follow her home which could be risky for the bad guy. Instead he can google her, check out an aerial picture of her house and plan all his entry points to a degree. Dang, I can't imagine. This makes me so nervous for my children too. It's all about personal safety and not giving anyone a foot up on us, especially when this type of thing could be avoided.

So next time you're asked your number, type it in the machine or write it down and show the checker.

Dude, I can't remember the guys name so I apologize, but there's a guy on here that's a cop or detective and does photography too. I wish he'd post here cause maybe he's got some other good ideas on this.

Just be careful friends.

no, i got that, but i was also trying to point out that our information is EVERYWHERE and if someone wants to find it, they will.

someone called me up the other day and said they were calling on behalf of BLAH BLAH credit card company and could i please verify the last 4 digits of my credit card.

huh?

i told them, if they are calling on behalf of MY CC company, shouldnt they have the number?

they kept trying to get info out of me and i wouldnt give it to them. i asked them to start giving me information or i was going to report them to the police.

because of the data protection act over here, its actually easier to get information. people claiming to be a rep from a credit card or bank will call and ask the person to verify some information before they continue on with the call..... usually that person gives out the information because of the way they have worded the call.

oh man there is a trailer on the t.v. rightnow for the other bolleyn girl... ew eric bana is hot hot hot....

ok back to the subject... wasnt there some sort of scandal about a government department having some of their information, a certain report, available on the internet?

you are so right! awesome post mark, thanks!

I understand all you are saying , but here is the scary part for those of us who work out of our home. Yes, we have our contact info onour site - a phone number and an email address but no physical address.

When I read this I put our phone number into google and several listings came up, some with our street address!

Freaky. Information age is bad and good. I don't want someone showing up on my doorstep uninvited or when we aren't here to break in.

Your first post seemd to misunderstand the point Mark was making about being careful with PERSONAL information.

Freaky how much info is out on the web...

Back when we had a "land line" Google would show just show "Brown, Boring, OR" -- our street address never came up.

Now I use cellphones and IP telephones so the house isn't listed in any directory.

I think this was mentioned on the Internet awhile back and Google said there was some option to let you remove your listing if you wanted to... Not sure if that still exists.

Want to really freak yourself out? If you live in Florida, here is the link to the Sexual Offenders database. We check this at least once every six months just to be aware of where these cats are living. It basically does a Google map of your neighborhood, and shows you anyone around you that has a record.

http://offender.fdle.state.fl.us/offender/Search.jsp

I'm sure your state has one too. Scary, scary world.
~ Charles

For this very reason, we have always used a P.O. Box on ANYTHING relating to our business (which we run out of our home) or my business number. Fortunately, my number in Google brings up all kinds of stuff about photography, but gives no indication of our physical location. I personally guard our home address with my life. I'm not fearful, but I see no reason to endanger myself or my young children needlessly.

ok, i have typed in mine, the wifes and several friends phone numbers and got nothing.

Good post Mark. Like another poster stated above I use my Cell number for my business so that I don't worry about posting it on my web site.
I very much have a criminal mind when it comes to stuff like that (and no I am not a criminal I just have fun thinking like one ) And you are right there are scum bags out there that would listen for a pretty ladies phone number and do exactly what you suggested with some possible variations.

I have actually in the past when asked for phone numbers at stores and such just given them other companies fax numbers that I happen to know (these weren't deals where you had accounts or anything like that there I think they were just for demographic purposes or something)

I only have my email address on my website for security reasons. My business card has my phone number on it.
But only my clients have my physical address.

People could find my information if they really wanted it. Including social security number. Sad.

Good reminder to be careful. I've been in department stores where clerks will ask a customer, "Do you still live at xxx blank street?" It really bothers me that store management allows this. Whenever I'm asked for a phone number by a retailer, I just tell them I prefer not to share it, or I just throw out a random number. My wife does the same thing. It's really none of their business unless you've established an account with them, but it should still remain private information. Also, be aware of anyone looking over your shoulder while you're writing a check.

Ok, being a bargain hunter I shop at at TJ Maxx and the other day this checker was trying to get this Asian woman that spoke little English to fill out a credit card form. Things weren't going well so she just started asking the woman the questions and filling it out for her, which, is that legal? Anyway, you know that lame thing that people do when they're talking to someone that doesn't speak good English and they think that talking louder will help it get through to them? Well she starts asking her questions really loudly and each question about 3 times each but with different word variations so the lady will understand. Ok, I'm seriously about 30 feet from the two women and I could hear the checker clearly ask, "How much is your yearly income?" She asks this question probably 4 times, 4 different ways and finally gets that they bring in about $5000 per month. How do I know this? Because she confirmed it at the top of her lungs along with her address and phone number! I was just shocked beyond belief at the insanity of this whole scene. Come on people!

Maybe I'm jus hyper sensitive to this right now. I don't know. But what I do know is whoever works in the Men's department of our local TJ Maxx must have read the new double issue of Men's Health Magazine with the style section in it cause on the walls in the areas where they kind of highlight a certain look, all the walls looked like that magazine. Guess that was kinda random.

This reminds me of an old friend who was originally from New York City. A number of years ago she relocated to Tampa and I had my first chance to she her in Tampa at this years Imaging USA. She made dinner reservations and when we arrived at the restaurant she said her name was Carol. It made me laugh for a moment since I had not heard her use that name in such a long time, but her practice was whenever she made reservations she never used her real name she always used Carol.

I know some people may not feel comfortable giving out bogus information, but if your memory is good enough make up a number and use it for this type of contact. Trust me they will never call you and if they do you probably don't want to hear what they have to say.

Ryan