Obtaining a phone number from an email address?

[WinniWoman]

Has anyone ever heard of this? Last night I was on the phone (my home phone) with Epson TECH support ordering a replacement cartridge for a defective one I had purchased a couple of months ago on Amazon(30 day return policy expired and third party seller no longer selling).

I always give out my work cell phone number because our home number is unlisted. This didn't seem to be good enough for him, even after I explained we had an unlisted number. I was on the phone for a very long time with the rep. (not an 800# either!) and he asked for my email address, which I gave to him. Then, he asked me if my phone number was $&@*!%90.

I was dumbfounded. I asked how he knew that and he said he got it from my email address.

How is that possible? This really bothered me, Also, why he was so insistent on getting my home number? I guess he could see I wasn't calling from my cell, but from a "blocked" number. But even so. Was he suspicious because I was asking for a $15 cartridge?

This is the only thing I could find on-line. I guess nothing is private anymore.

http://www.ehow.com/how_6073163_telephone-number-using-email-address.html

 

[DEScottzz]

If you didn't block your number when you called in, he probably had it on his screen. There are systems that take advantage of the caller ID functionality.

 

[wackymother]

Has anyone ever heard of this? Last night I was on the phone (my home phone) with Epson TECH support ordering a replacement cartridge for a defective one I had purchased a couple of months ago on Amazon(30 day return policy expired and third party seller no longer selling).

I always give out my work cell phone number because our home number is unlisted. This didn't seem to be good enough for him, even after I explained we had an unlisted number. I was on the phone for a very long time with the rep. (not an 800# either!) and he asked for my email address, which I gave to him. Then, he asked me if my phone number was $&@*!%90.

I was dumbfounded. I asked how he knew that and he said he got it from my email address.

How is that possible? This really bothered me, Also, why he was so insistent on getting my home number? I guess he could see I wasn't calling from my cell, but from a "blocked" number. But even so. Was he suspicious because I was asking for a $15 cartridge?

This is the only thing I could find on-line. I guess nothing is private anymore.

http://www.ehow.com/how_6073163_telephone-number-using-email-address.html

A big customer service phone center might have access to a huge database that cross-lists emails and phone numbers. It would not be something that a private individual could do.

 

[vacationhopeful]

I have had unlisted numbers for years ... but 30+ years ago, I must have had 20 numbers at 3 different addresses inside of 18 months. At that time, Bell Telephone service personal actually had a cross-reference book in their panel vans with phone number by location address and by names.

I was a domestic violence victim ... guy was a raging drunk ... who would find a service tech in a bar (work truck parked around back for lunch ) ... the guy would look me up. It included listed and unlisted names & addresses (and cross referenced).

The phone company decided "I" could use a totally fake name ... finally.

So my phone number is unlisted AND with a fake name. That works ... I just transfer my phone service to a new residence ..calling from that number. The bills go to my bill paying service (which is under my real name & a PO Box which have not changed).

The only DOWN side ... I can not go to the Service Center at the Mall for picking up stuff. I have NO government issued ID for my fake name.

 

[presley]

There are a lot of online services, both free and ones that charge that collect all of your information and put it together and share it with whoever wants it. Every once in a while, google your name, phone# or email. If you find yourself listed somewhere, there's usually a process where you can ask them to remove it. You'd be surprised some of the places your information will turn up!

EDIT TO ADD: Just googled my unlisted number again and all my information came up from a California data website. It's not all correct, but it shows my name, income (wrong), home address, my open credit (wrong) and says I am not on the do not call list (wrong). This must be why I get calls to buy solar every day. It says I have to pay a fee to remove myself. This really pisses me off.

 

[WinniWoman]

If you didn't block your number when you called in, he probably had it on his screen. There are systems that take advantage of the caller ID functionality.

Unlisted numbers automatically block. One thing- I never get solicitations. My phone at home stays very quiet.

 

[Phydeaux]

What's a home phone?

 

[isisdave]

My son works in collections. There are databases that will tell him your ex-wife's cousin's dog's veterinarian's mother-in-law's number, e-mail addresses since the internet was a little bang, and probably addresses too, although it occasionally reports one that isn't actually pertinent.

 

[WinniWoman]

What's a home phone?

LOL! We love having the home phones- landlines in fact- hooked to the wall! We have one in the kitchen. One in the study. A cordless in my husbands office and in our bedroom. And- a rotary wall landline in the garage! We have 2 spares in storage just on case one breaks- one is a push button wall phone and one is a push button desk phone

Cell phone is too unreliable in this neck of the woods. In fact my cell is an I-Phone5 given to me by my employer for work usage. Hubby has a $10 per month flip phone through Pure Talk for emergencies and he leaves it in his car.