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Cell number text scam? - 12/7/2010 8:21:36 AM

Dannicus

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I noticed some people are responding lately asking or giving a cell number right away. I'm curious does anyone know if there are scams related to cell phones? isn't it possible that some numbers I text can charge my phone a fee?

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RE: Cell number text scam? - 12/7/2010 8:23:43 AM

mnottertail

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Well, if they got yours they can sell it, and you can go get those pay as you go phones anywhere. The idea is get you where they can whisper sweet nothings in your ear.

Sugar, Sugar, Zero, Zero, Zero, Sugar.............

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RE: Cell number text scam? - 12/7/2010 8:36:16 AM

Dannicus

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Hi thanks for replying but I don't understand, how do they sell my cell number? Doesn't it have to be used with the phone?

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RE: Cell number text scam? - 12/7/2010 8:40:59 AM

Tanijaana

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Actually, your cellphone can be hijacked if the scammer has your number.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-10222921-83.html

So, yeah, be careful who you give your number to. I'd sign up for a free number with Google Voice. No charge, the caller makes a phone call to the number provided to you by Google,. and the call gets forwarded to your cellphone. I've used it a couple times with great results.

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RE: Cell number text scam? - 12/7/2010 10:12:50 AM

flcouple2009

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If you need a cell number to use for meeting people buy a cheap prepaid throw away.

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RE: Cell number text scam? - 12/7/2010 10:48:40 AM

allnewtome

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Funnily enough I've just received a message on fl with a mobile number in it.

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RE: Cell number text scam? - 12/7/2010 10:51:03 AM

Dannicus

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yea i think some are scams. Like others posted maybe best to use a prepaid or that google number thing.

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RE: Cell number text scam? - 12/7/2010 7:03:17 PM

soul2share

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I got a call that had 002 as the number on the caller ID. Obviously, I didn't answer it, and no VM was left.

By selling your number, it's just like the telemarketer thing......you give your cell number to a utility company, cable company or any public company, they in turn sell their phone lists to other companies, and voila.....your cell number is out there. It's also probably posted on your credit report if you've ever used it to apply for credit, and companies can do a basic search on your credit history to offer you credit......therefore, it's then on their lists, and they sell their lists....it's a vicious circle. I've discovered this the hard way because I'm applying for jobs everywhere, and when the places have done the credit checks, my cell number was attached to the request, so now, my private number is out there.....I'll wait til I get a job and then change the damn thing.

As far as scams, well, they are everywhere.....the best rule of thumb....if you don't recognize the number, don't answer it. I use a pay as you go phone since the last thing I want is another contract!

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RE: Cell number text scam? - 12/7/2010 7:20:16 PM

graceadieu

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By "right away" do you mean their first email, or after a few? If it's right off the bat, I'd be suspicious, but if you've talked a little they might just want to voice chat. Nothing wrong with that! We try to chat on the phone with someone within a few weeks of online contact.

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RE: Cell number text scam? - 12/7/2010 8:03:27 PM

Termyn8or

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FR

What is this ? Texting you to get your number ? I don't quite understand here. Who would be stu....... never mind.

And you don't need the number to use the phone. The process is called jailbreaking it and it's a bit more involved than just reprogramming it to another number. But the point is that number belongs to someone and nobody gets it as long as it does. So we are talking just selling it on lists ?

Where have we heard that before ? It's not all scammers. I burnt up one of my favorite email addresses using it to get rebates. Not out of the blue, on things I purchased. Just like on some numbers when you call you use *67 to block the CID. Other numbers that is not necessary. Believe it or not I was referring to an email there. Same thing.

One thing I noticed is that someone may call you and then ask for your phone number. Gimme a break. Sure it's an automatic dialer, which is EXACTLY why you wouldn't want to give your number to someone who called you. Hey ! that's ironic.

Hell just my full name and address together lets a marketer address direct mail to me, not Dear Resident or Our neighbor at .... Much less likely to land in the kitchen spam filter. Just like websites that try to get email addys, if you clicked on a website you may have been interested in it's content. Now they get to play targeted marketing.

Applied to phones, ANY toll free number you call gets your number despite blocking. You can do it but that goes into phreaking and shit like that. In general though, they get it if for no other reason than that they paid for the call. Whatever that number was doing at the time and date you called it is a possible interest of your's. Again, targeted marketing. It is the holy grail now with the squeeze on just about everybody. Why would you try to sell a radio to a deaf person ? Why market skis to parapalegics ? (hmm, if you could make that happen though......) Basically, why waste the resources ?

There are ways to quiet it down. Disposable phones, guerillamail. Even emails created free all over the place you can get rid of. But then many like to have that one last number, or super private email, that like only three people in the world have.

You're not likely to get away from advertising anytime soon. You can't even drive down the street - literally.

T

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