How are they getting my cellphone number?

I can’t help you, but I find it interesting because I never get phone calls or texts from political organizations.

@smudges Well, i do donate to some but I never give out my cell number.

You may have given it out without realizing who was getting it years ago. I have been getting ads/notices/requests for money from Democratic organizations dating back to the No on 8 campaign here in California.

It opens one’s eyes to the fact that phone lists are shared by every little campaign.

@zenvelo Yes, some of the requests are from candidates in podunk regions. I looked up my donor central account but it does not list my cell phone number.

@janbb I wonder if there are people who are employed purely to cross-reference information. So that even if you don’t give them your number, you’ve given it to some company, and maybe that company sells info online, or simply publishes it online even if they don’t sell it. Also, there’s those companies who give out all kinds of info on you if someone is willing to pay them a relatively modest fee – for example, “instant checkmate”. I’ve even used them and it’s amazing/scary how much info they can give you.

^^ Yes, clearly something like that.

You’d be surprised by who is selling your private info anymore. DMV sells ALL your pertinent info to the highest bidder. Social Security is doing the same. Many years back I had the opportunity to see my credit report. At that point in time I was much stricter with whom I shared my cell to the point that my Mother didn’t have it because I was afraid she’d share it & when I did finally give it to a friend, it was with the understanding that they were NOT to share it with anyone. When I looked at my credit report, there was my cell number promptly displayed above my home phone number.

When I first moved back to GA, I worked as a telemarketer for a little bit to give me some income until I could find a full time job. It may have changed; but back then, they would choose an area code & first 3 digits of a phone exchange then we’d call EVERY possible combination in that exchange. Didn’t matter if your number was unlisted or just turned on that day, you were getting a call. I feel fairly confident that they know the block of numbers each cell company owns & they may do the same with them. There’s NO such thing as privacy anymore. That’s why I do NOT answer calls on my phone from numbers that I don’t recognize. My friends know to leave a message if they are calling from a different number than normal if they really need to speak with me because they can call 100 times & I’m going to ignore it!!!

Other than a trusted source selling your info or a block calling method, I have NO other ideas.

Oops, one other idea…do you realize that anytime you call a toll free number, that they can see the number you’re calling from even if you’re using number blocking

^^^^ YUP ! ^^^^

@smudges “I wonder if there are people who are employed purely to cross-reference information.”

Yes there are. They’re called data brokers.

^^ Just <sigh>. So many things I wish were different.

Any time you start to type your phone number stop and find out what you are giving the receiver permission to do with your number. You don’t know it, but you give permission for all kinds of things by using websites…........you don’t even have to agree to it. Also, the voter roll is public information in my state….....perhaps it is in yours as well.

@SnipSnip Yes, but as I said, I never give out my cell phone number in those circumstances. I still have a landline which I use for doctor’s offices, etc.

Do you use it to receive verification codes? Some businesses will no longer let you have an account without a cellular phone number. Eventually they all will require it and that will be legal. Even ebay would not let me change my password until I gave them a cellular number. I refused. They would not send the code to my email. ebay is very easy to live without.

When you get those political calls, ask where they got your number. People are surprised to find out that the DMV also sells personal contact information. @janbb

@SnipSnip You’re right in that I do give it out to get verification codes when need be.

@janbb Have you ever googled your name and cell number to see if it comes up? Or just googled your cell number to see if it comes up as attached to your name?

Well, it wouldn’t be a good idea to Google my name and cell phone number because then it would be out there but I can try my name.

I just googled mine with my number and it’s out there because I was a representative of an agency that represented employees, so it’s out there but I also found my name with my previous address and who lives there now, and someone else with my name in Miami (these entriies didn’t have my cell number but it all came up anyway). It’s all out there, I’m sure your age is out there too, as mine is.

I just Googled my name and of course there is information out there but it looked like I’d have to pay to get more in depth. I did get my address and property ownership info, also citations to a bunch of book reviews and mainly stuff about my famous brother.

It’s clear the info is out there and that orgs have access to it. Just curious as to where. Lately, most of the texts are from candidates so I suspect a donor site is giving out the info.

I’m wondering also, when/if you give your number to stores for their store account things, I forgot what they’re called, when they text you coupons and you can provide your number and they will give you percentages off. CVS does that, Michael’s Crafts and other stores do, Goodwill does. I wouldn’t be surprised if they sell your number.

@jca2 They absolutely do.

@gorillapaws Right, so if @janbb uses those services, that’s another way her number is getting out there.

@jca2 But as I’ve said, I don’t. I give my email address sometimes but not my cellphone number. Anyway, it’s moot now. Just was wondering.

They’re joing data sets. so the grocery store tag may only have your email, but if your Facebook has your phone and that same email, then they combine your Facebook data with all of your shopping data.

I use a Google Phone number for activities that might have doubtful security.

ooooooh…who’s your famous brother, @janbb?? Dish us all the dirt! 8)

@smudges Naw. He’s a big frog in a very, very small pond.

Ohhh…a large-mouthed frog! Have you heard that joke? too funny