# My personal info is available if you know my cell # **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 11, 2008, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-personal-info-is-available-if-you-know-my-cell/476726 "2008-12-11T16:25:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Fantome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Fantome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fantome)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-personal-info-is-available-if-you-know-my-cell/476726/1 "2008-12-11T16:25:37Z")
I just paid a service $15 to get someone’s full name using just their cell phone number. Apparently I can get a lot more info by paying more. Is there any way I can opt out or something and stop these services from giving out my personal info? ---
**Author:** ![BrandonR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@BrandonR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandonR)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-personal-info-is-available-if-you-know-my-cell/476726/2 "2008-12-11T16:29:23Z")
Those places typically make you pay for otherwise publicly-accessible data. They just mine it and organize it. You can do some things, like if you search for your name on Google and if your address shows up you can ask them to remove it (I’m talking about Google’s own white pages thing, not the search results). But in general, the information is usually already public OR you could have given your information out to a potentially nefarious company in the past and granted them permission to sell it, at which point you really have no recourse that I’m aware of. ---
**Author:** ![WormTheRed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/bbe5ce/32.png) [@WormTheRed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WormTheRed)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-personal-info-is-available-if-you-know-my-cell/476726/3 "2008-12-11T16:29:58Z")
What personal info? I can get the name and address of most everyone in Iceland and Sweden for free online. ---
**Author:** ![Fantome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Fantome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fantome)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-personal-info-is-available-if-you-know-my-cell/476726/4 "2008-12-11T16:34:14Z")
> [@WormTheRed](#): > > What personal info? Someone has my cell number and I don’t want her getting my full name, address, etc. I’d pay anything if I can stop that from happening. ---
**Author:** ![WormTheRed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/bbe5ce/32.png) [@WormTheRed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WormTheRed)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-personal-info-is-available-if-you-know-my-cell/476726/5 "2008-12-11T16:48:53Z")
Don’t know how it works in the States, so I’m afraid I can’t help you there. Just wanted to know what info it was. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-personal-info-is-available-if-you-know-my-cell/476726/6 "2008-12-11T18:07:27Z")
> [@Fantome](#): > > Someone has my cell number and I don’t want her getting my full name, address, etc. I’d pay anything if I can stop that from happening. If you’d really pay **anything** , I’d suggest the first thing you do is contact a private detective who specializes in security. You should also consider canceling your cell phone service and getting a new plan with a new number. Your company might even be willing to just give you a new number with your existing plan, but you’d probably be safer with a new provider. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-personal-info-is-available-if-you-know-my-cell/476726/7 "2008-12-11T18:12:13Z")
> [@Fantome](#): > > Someone has my cell number and I don’t want her getting my full name, address, etc. I’d pay anything if I can stop that from happening. Too late. The woman you tried to blackmail has already filed a police report. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Fantome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Fantome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fantome)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-personal-info-is-available-if-you-know-my-cell/476726/8 "2008-12-11T19:43:01Z")
> [@OldGuy](#): > > If you’d really pay **anything** , I’d suggest the first thing you do is contact a private detective who specializes in security. Good idea. Such a nervous wreck, I didn’t think of that. Thanks. > [@sailor](#): > > Too late. The woman you tried to blackmail has already filed a police report. 😉 No, I’m afraid she’s going to ruin my life. My own stupid fault, though. ---
**Author:** ![ChrisBooth12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@ChrisBooth12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChrisBooth12)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-personal-info-is-available-if-you-know-my-cell/476726/9 "2008-12-11T20:10:23Z")
Um…I get a big book of names address and phone numbers delivered to my front door step. What are you worried about? ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-personal-info-is-available-if-you-know-my-cell/476726/10 "2008-12-11T20:28:51Z")
> [@ChrisBooth12](#): > > Um..I get a big book of names address and phone numbers delivered to my front door step. What are you worried about? He’s worried not about a phone book but a reverse phone book. Which I don’t believe yet include cell phone numbers. ---
**Author:** ![Santo\_Rugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-personal-info-is-available-if-you-know-my-cell/476726/11 "2008-12-11T20:39:05Z")
> [@OldGuy](#): > > He’s worried not about a phone book but a reverse phone book. Which I don’t believe yet include cell phone numbers. I don’t believe they include cell numbers yet, either, but every white pages I’ve had in the past ten years or so has a section that allows you to look up both names by number and names by address. ---
**Author:** ![Fantome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Fantome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fantome)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-personal-info-is-available-if-you-know-my-cell/476726/12 "2008-12-11T21:32:53Z")
Like I said, “I just paid a service $15 to get someone’s full name using just their cell phone number.” My information is available also just by inputting my cell number and paying the fee. I contacted a private detective. I was told once the info is out there, it can always be retrieved. Not much I can do. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-personal-info-is-available-if-you-know-my-cell/476726/13 "2008-12-11T21:46:29Z")
> [@Fantome](#): > > No, I’m afraid she’s going to ruin my life. My own stupid fault, though. That’s quite a power to have over someone. Care to share a bit of the backstory? ---
**Author:** ![Fantome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Fantome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fantome)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-personal-info-is-available-if-you-know-my-cell/476726/14 "2008-12-11T22:01:54Z")
I cheated on my wife (not legally, but we’ve been together for nine years). Other girl says she’s pregnant. She has my cell # and email address. I know, if she is pregnant she’s going to find out who I am and where I live. But if she’s not, I’d at least like her to not be able to find out info on me so easily. I’ve never been so scared. I regretted what I did and never felt so guilty and I stopped contacting her, but apparently it was too late. She says she’s pregnant and my gut tells me she’s not lying (but I’m hoping my gut is wrong and she wants to hurt me for no longer contacting her). A female friend is telling me she’s trying to suck me in ala Fatal Attraction, but I don’t know. I just want this to go away and I don’t know what to do. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-personal-info-is-available-if-you-know-my-cell/476726/15 "2008-12-11T22:23:09Z")
You know, it’s quite possible that she’s not savvy enough to go ahead and find this information by hitting one of these agencies up for the information. You could, however, CHANGE your location. It’s getting your partner to come along that is likely to be tricky. My best wishes go out to you, your women, and any kids involved. Remember SDMB’s Rule #1! Suggested reading, although it’s too late for you to use all of its help: > **[How to Be Invisible: The Essential Guide to Protecting Your Personal Privacy,...](https://www.amazon.com/How-Be-Invisible-Essential-Protecting/dp/0312319061)** > > How to Be Invisible: The Essential Guide to Protecting Your Personal Privacy, Your Assets, and Your Life (Revised Edition) \[Luna, J. J.\] on Amazon.com. \*FREE\* shipping on qualifying offers. How to Be Invisible: The Essential Guide to Protecting Your... ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-personal-info-is-available-if-you-know-my-cell/476726/16 "2008-12-11T22:24:57Z")
Unless she’s keeping the baby I don’t know why she’d bother ruining your life. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-personal-info-is-available-if-you-know-my-cell/476726/17 "2008-12-11T22:29:10Z")
Great. The closeness of your username to Fantine just broke my irony meter. Thanks a lot. The PD is right, once the information is out there, it would cost much more than 18 years of child support to fine all the databases it’s in and selectively pay each owner to delete your records. This, of course, doesn’t guarantee anything… ---
**Author:** ![Fantome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Fantome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fantome)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-personal-info-is-available-if-you-know-my-cell/476726/18 "2008-12-11T22:30:41Z")
She’s pretty smart, so I’m assuming she could figure out how to get my info. I don’t know, maybe she just wants to get back at me for dropping out of sight. I’m so scared. I keep hoping I’m going to wake up or a miracle will happen. I can’t take this pressure anymore. She claims she doesn’t want anything from me or to be in the baby’s life, but I guess she could always change her mind. My friend says not to contact her if she leaves me alone. I’m having crazy thoughts and I don’t know what to do. I’m just not strong enough to handle this anymore. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-personal-info-is-available-if-you-know-my-cell/476726/19 "2008-12-11T22:35:41Z")
There is no private info any more. When your xrays are being read in India much more is being wired across the world. You can just hope the get deluged and don’t single you out. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-personal-info-is-available-if-you-know-my-cell/476726/20 "2008-12-11T22:52:49Z")
> [@Fantome](#): > > She’s pretty smart, so I’m assuming she could figure out how to get my info. I don’t know, maybe she just wants to get back at me for dropping out of sight. I’m so scared. I keep hoping I’m going to wake up or a miracle will happen. I can’t take this pressure anymore. She claims she doesn’t want anything from me or to be in the baby’s life, but I guess she could always change her mind. My friend says not to contact her if she leaves me alone. I’m having crazy thoughts and I don’t know what to do. I’m just not strong enough to handle this anymore. Based on the underlined above, I’m suggesting a consultation with a trained clinical social worker, psychologist or psychiatrist. If you can’t get your head together, you’re going to wind up making crappy decisions and right now it’s quite likely you need to make some good ones. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-personal-info-is-available-if-you-know-my-cell/476726.md?page=2)