TELECOM Digest OnLine - Sorted: Re: Telemarketing?

Re: Telemarketing?

DevilsPGD (ihatespam@crazyhat.net)
Tue, 22 Feb 2005 15:36:06 -0700

In message <telecom24.78.7@telecom-digest.org> Choreboy
<choreboyREMOVE@localnet.com> wrote:

> Dave Garland wrote:

>> It was a dark and stormy night when Choreboy
>> <choreboyREMOVE@localnet.com> wrote:

>>> Did scammers get my aunt's date of birth? Would that be useful?

>> It would be useful if you were committing identity theft. Not to say
>> that is what is happening, but it is a bit odd.

>> It would be interesting to learn who that toll-free number lists to.
>> If you shared the number, perhaps someone more knowledgable than I
>> would look it up and learn more about its owner.

> The number was 800 852 5321.

> I often encounter websites that ask my date of birth without good
> reason. I alter it because I've heard it can be useful to criminals
> (even if the organization is reputable, such as a newspaper). That's
> why it concerns me that unidentified people asked my aunt's date of
> birth in peculiar circumstances.

1) In the US, Federal law requires them to determine age to determine
whether collection information is legal, as well as "adult" content.

Admittedly a birthday isn't "required" but it's easier.

2) It's often seen as a harmless piece of information which can be used
to partially verify a user down the road. Like all things it has been
way over-used so it's less useful now.

3) Marketing: Knowing someone's age is very useful when determining
marketing demographics.

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