Facebook is publishing your phone number

sbucciarel

Banned 13 years ago

I never put anything on Facebook or any other social network that I don't want people to see.

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Elle Davies

13 years ago

I saw this too and just assumed it was just a 'scare-mongering' tactic. Is it genuine?

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AceOfShirts 13 years ago

Originally Posted by Elle Davies

I saw this too and just assumed it was just a 'scare-mongering' tactic. Is it genuine?

Yes, it's genuine.

K Smith added more information that I didn't see the first time. I'm still not sure what to make of it.
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- K Smith 13 years ago
  
  Also this was in the sidebar:
  
  Facebook Phonebook displays contacts you have imported from your phone, as well as your Facebook friends.
  
  If you would like to remove your mobile contacts from Facebook, you need to disable the feature on your mobile phone and visit this page.
  
  AND I specifically know my husband and I have somewhat extreme privacy settings regarding our phone number and address, I had my husband check his new 'phonebook' on facebook and I was NOT listed on his phonebook with phone number and he was NOT listed on mine.
  
  If you have any doubt as to what your settings are go to Account>Privacy Preferences and check.
  
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kimhopkins 13 years ago

Originally Posted by Elle Davies

I saw this too and just assumed it was just a 'scare-mongering' tactic. Is it genuine?

I just tried it, and it's actually true (as opposed to most Facebook rumors). I noticed on the same page as all your contact's phone numbers this message:

"Facebook Phonebook displays contacts you have imported from your phone, as well as your Facebook friends.

If you would like to remove your mobile contacts from Facebook, you need to disable the feature on your mobile phone and visit this page".
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K Smith

13 years ago

Well, I went to Account>Edit Friends>Contacts and sure enough everyone had a (mobile) number beside their name.

But I also saw this above the list:

Only you can see your contacts
Your Contacts list is like a phonebook that only you can see. It includes numbers that 1) you may have synced from your phone or 2) your friends have chosen to share with you. To control who sees your contact information, visit your privacy settings.

So whats the deal with this?

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JamesGw

13 years ago

I'm pretty sure you can make your phone number private, but I'm not 100% on that one.

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WillR

13 years ago

If the Indian call centers can find my phone number then I am pretty sure anyone else can. What's the big deal? It's a phone number not your social security number. If you don't want anyone to see it then just remove it from your info.

I received a nice call from Windows support yesterday wanting to help me fix an issue with my computer. They were going to take control of my computer and talk me through the whole process over the phone. The only problem was the guy on the end of the phone was Indian and claiming to be in Australia. The number also showed up as an overseas number AND I had already read about this scam in the newspaper.

My point. Your number is already out there for anyone who wants it.

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funkynassau

13 years ago

WillR I've had those people from overseas who cant speak English call wanting to help me with my PC. I have a Mac! Shows what a scam this is. Like I'd let some random dude have access to any of my computers! I dont think so :-)

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WillR

13 years ago

Originally Posted by funkynassau

WillR I've had those people from overseas who cant speak English call wanting to help me with my PC. I have a Mac! Shows what a scam this is. Like I'd let some random dude have access to any of my computers! I dont think so :-)

The sad thing is, you know they wouldn't still be doing it unless it works. There are definitely people who would fall for it - elderly people I imagine and it's sad that idiots out there are so brazen and willing to take advantage of those sorts of people.

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funkynassau 13 years ago

Yes WillR I know there are people who fall for this stuff. I dont understand how they can be so gullible. If the scammers would use their brains for good things we'd all be a lot better off. Karma will get them one of these days.
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Regional Warrior

13 years ago

Originally Posted by WillR

If the Indian call centers can find my phone number then I am pretty sure anyone else can. What's the big deal? It's a phone number not your social security number. If you don't want anyone to see it then just remove it from your info.

I received a nice call from Windows support yesterday wanting to help me fix an issue with my computer. They were going to take control of my computer and talk me through the whole process over the phone. The only problem was the guy on the end of the phone was Indian and claiming to be in Australia. The number also showed up as an overseas number AND I had already read about this scam in the newspaper.

My point. Your number is already out there for anyone who wants it.

I hear you Will lol we have big red ( party horn) tens to stop all the calls of late maybe I have found the answer to stop all from Indian call centers

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Bosco

13 years ago

Originally Posted by WillR

If the Indian call centers can find my phone number then I am pretty sure anyone else can. What's the big deal? It's a phone number not your social security number. If you don't want anyone to see it then just remove it from your info.

I received a nice call from Windows support yesterday wanting to help me fix an issue with my computer. They were going to take control of my computer and talk me through the whole process over the phone. The only problem was the guy on the end of the phone was Indian and claiming to be in Australia. The number also showed up as an overseas number AND I had already read about this scam in the newspaper.

My point. Your number is already out there for anyone who wants it.

I'm not sure that means that we should not be concerned with putting it out there even more. In fact, your point reinforces the original poster's concern. Why open yourself up to more scam potential and phone spam?

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Tsnyder

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Bosco

I'm not sure that means that we should not be concerned with putting it out there even more. In fact, your point reinforces the original poster's concern. Why open yourself up to more scam potential and phone spam?

Here's a thought...

Your phone number is displayed in your friends' contact
phone book because YOU PUT IT IN YOUR PROFILE!!!!!!!

If you don't want the number to appear on your friends' pages DELETE IT.

The original poster's concern was born of ignorance on how
the Face Book system operates.

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Jonas B

13 years ago

Well actually it's showing it for a few months already

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RyanHend

13 years ago

Facebook is pushing privacy limits and testing how far they can go.

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Johnsonton

13 years ago

Yes, We can edit it, and guys always make sure that you do not share your personal things more on Facebook profile, here I had read one news about Facebook Profile Vs Hacking of bank account, it is ridiculous.

Hacker stole £35k from neighbours by using social media sites - Yahoo!

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garyv

13 years ago

You know who else is pushing privacy limits? Your cell phone. No seriously! It will display all of your friend's phone numbers. Go in and check it out for yourself.

No, but in all seriousness these phone numbers end up on there without people knowing it usually because they're not reading the print when they allow different apps on their phone access to their Facebook account.

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USRankings 13 years ago

A phone number is more important than one might think! Take for instance verifying credit card information for a sale on an eCommerce website. Without the phone number, you can't use the card on any site that actually checks the phone number of the credit card. I do and it saves both my company and the credit card holder's money.

Every bit of information tied to any portion of your private or financial life is exploitable! Keep it private!
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simonbuzz

Banned 13 years ago

I am safe from this...I never add my personal details to any social network..

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funkynassau 13 years ago

Why would anyone put their phone number on facebook in the first place? I saw this story about a week ago and I looked and sure enough many of my contacts' phone numbers were listed! I never put my # on fb or anywhere else online.
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LetsGoViral

13 years ago

Why would you put your phone number on Facebook?

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Janice Sperry

13 years ago

I always enter my phone number online - it is 480-555-5555!

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Kierkegaard

13 years ago

The joke is when your bank rings you and then says give me information to prove you are who you say you are.

I had a genuine call from my bank and the guy asks me to give my date of birth to prove it was me.

I said no because it was stupid.

He said - and this was genuinely the bank - "just give me the year you were born"

I said no because that was even more stupid

So he says - "how about just the last two numbers?"

I said - "how about the first two?"

He says - "OK"

I say - "1-9"

He says - "thank you very much for confirming your details..." and attempts to continue the call!

I know it was genuinely the bank because I rang them up and made a complaint and they followed it up and got back to me.

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rosie34

13 years ago

I am not on Facebook except I recently tried it out for IM. I created an account, and I think they got suspicious because after a while they asked me as I was trying to log in to authenticate my account by providing them with a phone number. They were then going to call me to make sure I am me. (?) Whoever that is. I refused to do that, so they wouldn't let me log in. Shrug. :confused: I hate Facebook and refuse to play their game. There are other ways to make money online, and other ways to communicate. They whole thing with FB has gotten ridiculous, IMO.

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KabanaSoft

13 years ago

Originally Posted by rosie34

I am not on Facebook except I recently tried it out for IM. I created an account, and I think they got suspicious because after a while they asked me as I was trying to log in to authenticate my account by providing them with a phone number. They were then going to call me to make sure I am me. (?) Whoever that is. I refused to do that, so they wouldn't let me log in. Shrug. :confused: I hate Facebook and refuse to play their game. There are other ways to make money online, and other ways to communicate. They whole thing with FB has gotten ridiculous, IMO.

the reason they want your phone number, and its actually valid, is that if you ever get hacked, then you can reset your password with a confirmation code that is sent via text to your phone. You can also get a text anytime someone with a new computer logs into your facebook.

Now what they do with your phone number by publishing it to the rest of your friends is shady and not respectful of your privacy.

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KabanaSoft

13 years ago

FYI facebook syncs all your friend's phone numbers with your mobile phone as well if you have a facebook app installed (and your # with your friends)...this is how is automatically gets pictures for your contacts in your mobile phone...and you can actually get anyone who has their number listed on facebook that your friend's with right on your phone...

that's today's technology for you...they don't even ask you for permission to do this either...so basically if you have your phone number listed on FB anyone who has a facebook mobile app automatically gets your number in their contacts

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funkynassau 13 years ago

KabanaSoft, I got a smartphone in May and installed facebook and damn! There were all these photos and phone #s of everyone of my fb friends! I had no idea this could or would happen. I did manage to delete it, I dont want all those people on my phone. If I lose my phone, the guy who finds it would have all that info. No thanks.
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- kindsvater 13 years ago
  
  If you included your phone number under Contact Information on your Info page, it is there for your friends to see anyway.
  
  Presumably, you want them to give you a call.
  
  If not, just remove it or change your privacy settings.
  
  Otherwise this is like saying, OMG - Facebook is publishing your name.
  
  .
  
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  Scott Henderson 13 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by kindsvater
  
  OMG - Facebook is publishing your name.
  
  .
  
  And there is a picture of me too,,, holy crap
  
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- unnatural 13 years ago
  
  My girlfriend just got a new Android and it imported all of her Facebook contacts which she wasn't very happy about - considering 90% of them she never talks too.
  
  Facebook has had nothing but problems with their privacy policy (and default settings). Most average users don't think to go through their privacy settings right off the bat - they have to be told to do so or find out the hard way.
  
  I think they are slowly getting better, but it might be too late - a lot of people are fed up, but hey - they can afford to lose a few million people (for now anyways).
  
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Tsnyder

13 years ago

Yes... Facebook has your info. Do you know why?

BECAUSE YOU GAVE IT TO THEM!

Yes... Facebook displays it in your account Do you know why?

BECAUSE YOU GAVE THEM PERMISSION TO DO SO!

<shakes head... wonders how threads like this get started
on a forum full of alleged internet geniuses... moves on>

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kindsvater 13 years ago

Even worse ... the Warrior Forum is publishing links to my websites so everyone can steal my niches.

Right under my name for every post I make.

Can you believe it?

Can't seem to shake it. It's like a bad dream. Every time I post the forum keeps publishing my info.

How could this happen?

Who do I see about the WF TOS and this gross invasion of my rights?

Oh wait, never mind.

.
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Targeted Traffic

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Tsnyder

Yes... Facebook has your info. Do you know why?

BECAUSE YOU GAVE IT TO THEM!

Yes... Facebook displays it in your account Do you know why?

BECAUSE YOU GAVE THEM PERMISSION TO DO SO!

<shakes head... wonders how threads like this get started
on a forum full of alleged internet geniuses... moves on>

LOL! My thoughts exactly!
In the first place who put those details in there?? YOU
tsk tsk...sometimes...common sense is a sense not very common to common people...:rolleyes:

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KabanaSoft

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Tsnyder

Yes... Facebook has your info. Do you know why?

BECAUSE YOU GAVE IT TO THEM!

Yes... Facebook displays it in your account Do you know why?

BECAUSE YOU GAVE THEM PERMISSION TO DO SO!

<shakes head... wonders how threads like this get started
on a forum full of alleged internet geniuses... moves on>

I'll disagree, respectfully.

The issue at point here is not whether i give them the information, its what they do with my information after i give it to them.

Facebook has a valid reason to ask for your phone number, and its for account security. If your account gets hacked, you can reset the password via a text message to your phone. They will also text you if someone logs into your account from an unknown computer. And i think these are good security measures.

But when they ask you for your phone number, they say its for added security...and they don't tell you that your mobile phone number is going to get added into all your friends mobile phone contacts.

I never explicitly gave facebook permission to do this, they just did it anyways, and here lies the problem with facebook's lack of respect of privacy with your personal information, and their default privacy settings.

So yes, while i give them my number, i didn't tell them to publish it to the world, but they just do it regardless...and that was not the intended purpose of giving them my phone number (which was supposed to be for added security). If they would have said hey, do you want to publish your mobile phone number in the all your friends mobile phone contact's, then of course the majority of people will say no. But using account security as an excuse to do this is a breach of personal privacy for all those who fall into this trap.

And if you guys think this is bad, google "facebook facial recognition", that will freak you out even more.

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Tsnyder

13 years ago

Originally Posted by KabanaSoft

I'll disagree, respectfully.

The issue at point here is not whether i give them the information, its what they do with my information after i give it to them.

Two points:

First... they don't do anything with it that you
don't give them express permission to do.

Second: The information in question in this thread... the
phone numbers... they don't do anything with except display
it to you and people you've given them permission to display
it to... i.e. your friends.

Moot point.

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Bill Farnham

13 years ago

While we're on the subject, here's an article relating to FB and what some bozo tried to pull off...

Technolog - Man steals $57K from neighbors using their Facebook info

~Bill

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GarrieWilson

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Bill Farnham

While we're on the subject, here's an article relating to FB and what some bozo tried to pull off...

Technolog - Man steals $57K from neighbors using their Facebook info

~Bill

Yeah someone posted it already.

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IMWinner

13 years ago

When people post something on Facebook, it is then that they gave up on the privacy of their life. I mean, what you post in Facebook will automatically be viewed by other people if you allow that to be.
I definitely agree with Tsyner's point, all of the information that Facebook published came from you, and it is published because you allow it to be published. You can't just blame Facebook to that, try to ask the question to yourself, why blame something when you yourself gave it to them.
A friend of mine once told me, when you gave your information to Facebook, it is like giving them your private life. Your private life now becomes public, since more and more people can access your account. And to those "specially gifted individual", they can try to acquire your information.
We need to be careful on what we give, since what we give can be used probably against us.

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provenmarketingorg

13 years ago

Its a very worrying trend globally, when privacy is being eroded rapidly and aggressively

What disturbs me about this the most is the bloody toll of history over the last 100 years and longer, and how our information maybe used against us

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lizziehumphreys

13 years ago

Yes, that is true. I've no idea how to remove it though!

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Tsnyder 13 years ago

Originally Posted by lizziehumphreys

Yes, that is true. I've no idea how to remove it though!

Uh... read the page where the numbers are displayed.
There are instructions on how to remove the display.
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GarrieWilson

13 years ago

So is the phonebook...

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Jelle Kaldenbach

13 years ago

This is what facebook has to say about this:

Copied from: Facebook Fanpage

Rumors claiming that your phone contacts are visible to everyone on Facebook are false. Our Contacts list, formerly called Phonebook, has existed for a long time. The phone numbers listed there were either added by your friends themselves and made visible to you, or you have previously synced your phone contacts with Facebook. Just like on your phone, only you can see these numbers.

So... Hope that helps!

~Jelle

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danieldroga

13 years ago

Yeah I have tried that and saw that phone numbers of my friends there but you can actually avoid that by setting your privacy account.

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Robert Colle

13 years ago

I don't see what the whole fuse is about, I never out anything up on a social website which is not public knowledge. And I think the only people who can see those information are those you share them with. And they are supposed to be your friends. And if they really are, then my guess is they have your phone number anyway.

So what id the big deal?

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garyv

13 years ago

Facebook Moves To Debunk Phone Number Rumor :: TweetlyNews

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savvybizbuilder

13 years ago

That is why I removed my contact no. as soon as I discovered it.

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carloru

13 years ago

I think it is just logical that you don't put up any information you do not want publicly displayed. Facebook just can't seem to get out of such controversies, and when you consider the fact that 400 million users is a collection of genuine businessmen, rapists, fun-seekers, convicted felons, terrorists, etc, then it is only pertinent that private information should be kept private.

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Tsnyder

13 years ago

Originally Posted by carloru

I think it is just logical that you don't put up any information you do not want publicly displayed. Facebook just can't seem to get out of such controversies, and when you consider the fact that 400 million users is a collection of genuine businessmen, rapists, fun-seekers, convicted felons, terrorists, etc, then it is only pertinent that private information should be kept private.

What would be pertinent is anything that actually pertains
to the subject of this thread... i.e. phone numbers imported
from your smart phone via the Face Book app you voluntarily
installed.

The numbers aren't publicly displayed. 400 million genuine
businessmen, rapists, fun-seekers, convicted felons, terrorists, etc,
do not have access to the information.

Does anyone actually read a thread any more before posting a response?

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Facebook is publishing your phone number

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