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Did you know you can type in phone numbers on Google...

Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2003 6:32 pm
by WidreMann
and get a listing? I tried it with mine and some friends and it's true. Try it for yourself. It's kind of troubling, but it's true.

Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2003 6:59 pm
by David
Yep, brought up on WxChat a few months ago. It's bad.

Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2003 7:38 pm
by coriolis
It worked for my work and my parents. My phone number is unlisted and it didn't find any matches. I would imagine that the search just treats the phone number like another word and it lists a page that contains it.

Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2003 7:41 pm
by WidreMann
It worked for my work and my parents. My phone number is unlisted and it didn't find any matches. I would imagine that the search just treats the phone number like another word and it lists a page that contains it.


Actually, there is some service or another that does this, so it isn't a true website search.

I found out about this on snopes.com, which validates urban legends: http://www.snopes.com/computer/internet/google.htm

Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2003 8:10 pm
by ColdFront77
Our addresses and phone numbers are on Switchboard.com, too.

You can delete your information on Google.

Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2003 8:58 pm
by chadtm80
Yup, it gives you directions ot your front door... Crazy

Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2003 9:29 pm
by wx247
That is true Chad. I typed in my address on Mapquest one day and unfortunately the directions were wrong. :lol:

Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2003 10:32 pm
by weatherlover427
I entered my phone number on the WxChat thread search and it gave me an address on the other side of my city. But this is still messed up.

Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2003 10:36 pm
by breeze
Scary? Well, if they're coming for me, by the time they trip over my
lazy dog and the neighbor's hyperactive puppy, I should have time
to get "Bubba" ready for them.... :grrr: Heh-heeh...otherwise, they
don't apparently know anything more than telemarketers do about
me...

Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2003 10:51 pm
by weatherwunder
Kinda bizarre. Could be useful though.

Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2003 11:48 pm
by Stormsfury
Mine will not appear on any search that I know of, since I'm not an owner of property ... or have anything listed in my name ...

Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2003 8:26 am
by Constructionwx
Infospace has a "reverse" lookup too. Even our new phone books have phone numbers in numerical order, with the corresponding addresses.

My Wife is in the floral business. She uses Mapquest and Google for address searches. It is very helpful, especially when She gets an order from out of town, and the sending flower shop has misspelled the street name. She can pop the phone # in, and it will spit out the right addy.

I have to echo Breeze on this one. Google only contains info that anyone could find out anyway through public records. 8-)

Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2003 8:54 am
by Pburgh
Hey Breeze, I think I live next door to you.lol I have the hyperactive puppy!!!!!!

My number is unlisted so it doesn't come up.

Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2003 1:45 pm
by ColdFront77
I would like to see a phonebook with phone numbers in numerical order.

As you may remember, I am not one to use the telephone; did a couple times a few months ago with a couple people I met online, didn't say much to them and was home alone for most of the conversations.

Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2003 3:53 pm
by azskyman
I typed in my address and got MapQuest. Then I clicked on aerial photo and I could see my house.
Then I zoomed in as far as I could.

I could see the pool in the back yard. Good thing no one in the family was skinny dipping that day!

I do use mapquest often...as it helps me with directions to places around Phoenix I am not familiar with.

Thanks for the shortcut tip!

Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2003 5:08 pm
by chadtm80
All you have to do is type in somebodys phone number in google.. hit search... brings up the persons name and a button that says click here for directions to there house... Kind of disturbing if you ask me

Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2003 5:09 pm
by weatherlover427
If you enter mine it won't give you directions to where I live right now. :D