General Phone Security Question

nailgunner · Post by **nailgunner** » Thu Mar 28, 2013 6:23 pm

I had a recent "issue" come up that I would love some input on.

I have had a GoogleVoice number for a few years. It has been used almost exclusively for texting with my children. In any event it was set up in State "A".

I had a relative with some severe health problems who needed some help so for a while I have been in State "B". This person has a Comcast phone and internet, which I have been using. I have the GV app set up on the Chrome browser and have continued to use it for texting only. I have not used it for actual phone services at all.

Unfortunately, the relative passed away a few months ago and I have been helping wrap up the Estate issues. Today I received a call from one of her creditors looking for "the person responsible for handling the affairs of the Estate" ON MY GOOGLEVOICE NUMBER.

Note that other than using the same internet connection, there is no relation between her and my GV number. Are they tapping into the internet connection or my kids phone records (who were also related to the deceased)? Is there a way through the ISP address to make a connection between her Comcast Phone and my GV # on the browser?

Any opinions as to WTF is going on would be appreciated. I tend not to be the paranoid type, but this has me a bit spooked.

sabresfan · Post by **sabresfan** » Thu Mar 28, 2013 8:56 pm

I would not see any connection between an ISP connection and your GV number that a creditor could become aware of. The only thing I could think of is Chrome's auto fill accidentally put your number in somewhere when filling out some form online. Pure speculation on my part though.

cell14 · Post by **cell14** » Thu Mar 28, 2013 10:32 pm

I agree with Sabresfan on this.
But if you want to have more input from experts you may want to post this on DSLreports' VOIP forum.

nailgunner · Post by **nailgunner** » Thu Mar 28, 2013 10:56 pm

cell14 wrote:I agree with Sabresfan on this.
But if you want to have more input from experts you may want to post this on DSLreports' VOIP forum.

Did that right after I posted it here in their Security forum section. So far, nothing.

I tend to never use the auto-fill for forms but certainly have not used it for this GV number in over a year, and definitely not on this computer. Although the number could certainly be in there waiting to pop out. In that event, that would lead to the conclusion that there is a leak in GV and/or Chrome which I guess is not surprising. But that still wouldn't explain how they were able to connect it to the deceased relative, if not through the ISP.

As a side note, the only contact from the debt collector has been a letter, a call to the deceased relatives Comcast phone, and a call to my GV phone. All 3 happened today btw. No calls to my kids phones that I texted to. So at this point it doesn't look like a fishing expedition by the debt collector who got "lucky" and stumbled across the number. I'm baffled.

cell14 · Post by **cell14** » Fri Mar 29, 2013 9:16 pm

One thing I would try in this case to ask that guy a direct question and listen what he says and how he reacts.

nailgunner · Post by **nailgunner** » Sat Mar 30, 2013 2:54 pm

cell14 wrote:One thing I would try in this case to ask that guy a direct question and listen what he says and how he reacts.

I was planning on calling them back next week. I was waiting to see if they would call again which so far they haven't, on either number. It appears to be a decent sized company, so I'm assuming unless I can get to talk to someone past the first level, they won't have much of a clue on where they got the number. But I don't intend to go away easy.

cell14 · Post by **cell14** » Sat Mar 30, 2013 10:16 pm

You can (vaguely) promise them some money if they cooperate...

mberlant · Post by **mberlant** » Mon Apr 01, 2013 12:41 am

Google makes it very plain in every agreement for every service they offer -- Google promises to read everything you send or receive using their services and to make that information to whomever they please. I don't imagine it would take very much effort at all for a collection agency to use third party cookies to track the comings and goings of anyone who used your relative's Comcast service.

Certainly, everything anyone does on any Chrome browser, unprotected Google search or Google Voice client using your relative's Comcast service is likely shared fully amongst those "free" services. How do think they are "free"?

nailgunner · Post by **nailgunner** » Mon Apr 01, 2013 4:09 am

mberlant wrote:Google makes it very plain in every agreement for every service they offer -- Google promises to read everything you send or receive using their services and to make that information to whomever they please. I don't imagine it would take very much effort at all for a collection agency to use third party cookies to track the comings and goings of anyone who used your relative's Comcast service.

Certainly, everything anyone does on any Chrome browser, unprotected Google search or Google Voice client using your relative's Comcast service is likely shared fully amongst those "free" services. How do think they are "free"?

There is obviously a leak somewhere. And I know Google is the boogie-man of the internet. I just find it a little hard to believe that a GV number I have had for at least 2 years has only received this one "unnatural" call, if Google is making my GV number that readily available. One would think I, and others, would have been receiving tele-marketing calls out the wazoo on our GV numbers.

To be honest, I'm more inclined to think that the leak is at the Comcast end. A connection was made with my GV number through Comcast, as opposed to a connection to Comcast and the relatives Comcast phone through my GV number.

mphixson · Post by **mphixson** » Mon Apr 01, 2013 6:37 am

nailgunner wrote: One would think I, and others, would have been receiving tele-marketing calls out the wazoo on our GV numbers..

I get telemarketing calls on google voice at least twice a week.. last one was for a security system..

nailgunner · Post by **nailgunner** » Mon Apr 01, 2013 10:05 am

mphixson wrote:I get telemarketing calls on google voice at least twice a week.. last one was for a security system..

Interesting. Of course you may have used the number for local or on-line business/shopping situations. I personally don't think Google is selling them to tele-marketers for that purpose. I have had 4 or 5 GV numbers in the last few years, 2 of them pretty heavily, and have never received one. But then I have never used them for anything other than texts and anonymous calling situations.

cell14 · Post by **cell14** » Mon Apr 01, 2013 8:37 pm

I registered my GV numbers immediately with both the national and state do not call list and quite frankly, I get much more telemarketing calls on my cell phones than on GV. Similarily, I had no problems with DID's from SIP providers like Localphone or Callcentric.
However, since my last birthday I have been getting funeral service offers on my e-mail accounts. I guess they think I am too old or something.

SteveHC · Post by **SteveHC** » Tue Apr 02, 2013 5:09 pm

cell14 wrote:I registered my GV numbers immediately with both the national and state do not call list and quite frankly, I get much more telemarketing calls on my cell phones than on GV. Similarily, I had no problems with DID's from SIP providers like Localphone or Callcentric.
However, since my last birthday I have been getting funeral service offers on my e-mail accounts. I guess they think I am too old or something.

- LOL. I have to admit I occasionally get scam and marketing calls on my cell phone (in spite of that number being listed on the "do not call" registry) but *never* on my MJ numbers.

Pilot · Post by **Pilot** » Wed Apr 03, 2013 1:34 am

Had my MJ for 5-6 years now, had first and only scam call last week; "extended car warranty" - or something like that.

Blinn Moris · Post by **Blinn Moris** » Fri Oct 25, 2013 3:27 am

In that time, that would cause to the summary that there is a flow in GV and/or Firefox which I think is not amazing. But that still wouldn't describe how they were able to link it to the dead comparative, if not through the ISP.

Please make me suggestions and visit here in:
Communications Services Australia

VanguardLH · Post by **VanguardLH** » Sun Feb 09, 2014 9:55 am

Did you check with your kids and everyone else you have been texting from GV to find out if the creditors contacted them? Security is only as good as the people involved in sharing that information. Perhaps one of your texting partners, especially if a relative since creditors can easily get that information, got a call from the creditor and they gave out your GV number.