Got an email forwarded to me from my wife yesterday. She knows how much I loath email forwards, particularly alarmist ones that are nothing more than urban legends and chain letters. So she checks them out and doesn’t send them on unless there’s something I really need to see. Very glad she did…
Google has implemented a new feature which enables you to type a telephone number into the search bar and hit enter and you will be given the person’s name and address. If you then hit MapQuest, you will get a map to the person’s house. Everyone should be aware of this! It’s a nationwide reverse telephone book.
First of all, the link isn’t to Mapquest, it’s to Google Maps. But I’ll forgive the author for that one. The fact, is they’re 100% right. It really does work. Punch in a phone number, and it does a quick reverse lookup. And provides a link to a map of the address.
Now to be honest, I’m not horrified. Reverse lookups are nothing new. And there are plenty of free ones available on the internet already. I’ve looked for them, found them and used them. However, Google certainly does make it a whole lot easier to do.
I don’t see Google providing this service as a problem. It does serve as a great reminder though. Students should never be giving out their phone number on the internet. Schools should never have names and phone numbers available together on their website. And parents that are truly concerned about security, should always consider making their phone numbers unlisted. Something to keep in mind.
Try it yourself and see if your phone number brings up your name. If you want to opt out, you can request to have your name removed and from what I understand, it happens within a couple of days.
However, there doesn’t seem to be any link to editing it if they screw up your name!
BTW, I’m blacking out my phone number and address here. Not sure exactly why, but I feel like I should. Just out of curiosity, feel free to try to find out my home phone number and address. If you find it, leave a comment with the path you took to get there!
When my phone rings with an unknown phone number and I’m near a computer, I instantly type it into Google. I’ll often discover what the number is, particularly if it’s a business number. I even find search results to forums with posts from people complaining about telemarketing from the number.
10/25/2007
Steve:
Zabasearch.com shows a number of listings under your name, including a few with phone numbers (and year of birth). Might be you, might be old, might be somebody else entirely.
Heh, my phone number gets a “did not match any documents” result. My permanent record must not have enough Google juice yet.
Heh, my phone number gets a “did not match any documents” result. My permanent record must not have enough Google juice yet.
And apparently Teach42.com thinks my name is Jeff Branzburg when it auto completes the form, so I won’t be earning more Google juice any time soon.
10/25/2007
Hey there, Steve Dumbo! (Can I call you that from now on?) Did a quick Google search of “Steve Dumbo Illinois” and found you right away…I’ll come visit soon. 
Google has had the reverse lookup feature for years. I think I first learned about it from Ken Wiseman at IL-TCE in 2002 or 2003!
10/25/2007
Ok, I tried a lot of different ways and I think the biggest clue you gave was dumbo. Are the last two digits 37? If so, I found some info from your Star Wars days that let me confirm some other info and then that gave me the town. So if I’m right that’s how I did it.
Jim W.
Nope! That’s over a year old now. Pretty interesting how people are going about it
Whoops…Actually, I looked up “stephen dumbo illinois” (not “steve”) and found your info.
10/26/2007
Yeah, that’s been around for years and years. Most cell phone numbers remain unlisted in any directory, so this is a non-issue for almost everyone I know.
10/27/2007
I was also able to find your information pretty easily…it is amazing and yet when I think of my 3rd grade students and the information they put into computers and in chat rooms, it is scary. All I did was type in Google Stephen Dumbo, IL and it brought up your phone number and address. Kind of weird……also, the link in your post where you can have your name removed didn’t come through could you send it to me??
10/27/2007
Sorry, found it on the website….sorry call me helpless this evening.
10/29/2007
Found everything, sending links and info in e-mail to see if I am right. Now I know where to send the x-mas card. lol
I called a librarian in your current hometown. She grabbed the white pages. You’ll be pleased to know that you’re not yet listed there - if you ever will be.
Heh, that was last year’s address and phone number! Been over a year since I moved from there.
Wow, I’m surprised at how much of a challenge this has become!
Got it is seconds - just went to the WhoIs database and pulled up your domain http://who.godaddy.com/whoischeck.aspx?Domain=TEACH42.COM
Nope, that’s the same one many others have found. Maybe I should just flat out say, the address is not in Berwyn! Moved about 15 months ago, and it seems the new address hasn’t worked its way around yet.
For some reason Beth’s and Sheets’ comments were in my moderation queue (maybe the queue is looking out for my best interests), but they’re both right! Looking up Stephen Dumbo Illinois does seem to pull it right up!
Heh, so there’s your best protection against your information being out there on the ‘net, just have the phone company misspell your name!
11/1/2007
I think in a way its kind of cool that you can do a reverse lookup. If a family member has your phone number but has lost your address they can just find it out in a few seconds on Google. But it can also be creepy! If someone asks for your phone number just so they can call you and you give it to them, unknowingly they could easily find out where you live!
11/14/2007
It’s kinda freaky…i know its not that hard to find people these days but just because all that you need is a phone number makes it easy for predators to find people. But it is also very helpful for finding friends and family!!
Remember that free reverse searches are aged listings, so it will work for people who don’t move much. We are offering low cost reverses as compared to other vendors for those that require current information. Come visit us and use coupon code: wc7xatj2bdr0 for a 20% discount.
Hi Steve,
Is your street number 7814?
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