Disturbing site found ...

[CountAllVotes]

:hi:

I became aware of this website http://www.zabasearch.com

If you plug your name in, you will likely find yourself, along with perhaps the year you were born (perhaps the month too) along with your address and phone number (even if you are unlisted!). Then it goes on to ask for money for a "background check"!!! :grr:

It seems to me that this site should be brought to the attention of SOMEONE, SOMEWHERE doesn't it? Where might they have collected this information from?

Shouldn't the Dept. of Homeland Security be just a tad bit "concerned" about this type of thing.

What can/needs to be done about this I ask? HELP EXPERTS out there! We ALL need to be concerned! EVERYONE in the USA!

:dem:

[wryter2000]

1. At least

At least they have me as 5 years younger than I actually am.

[tubbacheez]

12. The site is indeed disturbing, as CountAllVotes said

But I don't see it as "wrong" in any ethical, moral, or legal sense.

The disturbing part is simply how much information we give out in the course of our daily lives.

This is the Information Age. Information is power. Always be careful who you give your information to.

[Nikepallas]

2. I didn't find my name Thank goodness --BUT--this site is wrong!n/t

[Nikepallas]

35. The more I have looked into this website the more freaked out I am

My dad Brothers sister Brother in laws -old addys-In laws and hubby are their.

Who is to stop someone to look up a name get a credit report (which has SS #) and ID thief that person?


This is completely wrong

[ashmanonar]

3. weird, i'm not even in that system.

so i'm what, off the grid? wheeeeee!

[Warpy]

4. No phone number and they shaved 3 years off my age

which is typical. I remember reading my report years ago and also my FBI file. Both were hilariously inaccurate.

[tubbacheez]

5. Looks like just another search engine compiler to me.

It's not against any law to search on public records and then publish the info. The info was public to begin with.

I searched on my name and found exactly what my local county records have on file... no more and no less.

Since they aren't targeting any specific person, it'd be difficult to argue a harassment case or an infringement on your right of publicity.

[seafey]

6. they've got my birthdate wrong...

i wonder where this info comes from.

[autorank]

7. I'm unlisted at home & didn't show up there. Business did.

Thanks for this. I'll be sending my MC's a letter or two.

[Jon8503]

8. Send the Link Here: https://rn.ftc.gov/pls/dod/wsolcq$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE

I think they should look into it. Identify Theft is a big issue anymore.

[CountAllVotes]

29. thanks!

I'll do it and tell this old lady about it too ... she was the one that noticed it and brought this site to my attention and she lives alone (a widow) and is totally scared.

[CountAllVotes]

31. link doesn't work :(

:(

[Jon8503]

34. Try this again, sorry about that but this is a good site for identity

theft and this kind of stuff. They will get to it and let you know.

https://rn.ftc.gov/pls/dod/wsolcq$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE=PU01

[CountAllVotes]

9. I am in it

and I am not listed in the phone book. It has the year of my birth as well. It also has my previous address.

I found my husband in there too but they have him at this other address up the street. Someone at that address has been giving out the phone # here for years to people because she used to have this phone #.

I find this frightening! :wtf: is this "background check" all about?

IT IS WRONG YES. EVERYONE, EVEN YOU FREEPERS OUT THERE SHOULD BE VERY CONCERNED.

We gotta get this one gone!

[Goldmund]

10. Seems like JimmyJeff is turning 48 in May

[punpirate]

11. DHS concerned?

Surely, you jest. They're in the business of collecting information on individuals, not protecting that information. Been reading about all the private database firms they've hired to collect info?

Much of this sort of info is available in credit ratings databases.

[AP]

13. Someone look up Jack Miaf for me, please?

And Ben Dover.

It surprises me that anonymous posters on DU would be willing to type their name into a search engine and then come back here and say that the did so.

[lala_rawraw]

14. Yep, I am there

Will pass on to "someone" as you requested. L

[bergamot]

15. Odd.

It didn't have a listing for me. There are listings for several relatives with the same name, and lots of listings (many of them incorrect) for people with the same last name.

Looks like I'm a non-person. Maybe that means I don't have to pay taxes anymore.

[CountAllVotes]

24. yes I found many errors as stated

still the same, this is a viable concern for everyone.

Is it really too late? What ever happened to the phone books that used to be online and now you have to pay to access them. This WAS legitimate I always thought.

However, year of birth, etc. it a bit much and still, :wtf: is the deal with giving these people $ for a background check?

I have no intention of doing that believe me!

:grr:

:kick:

[mcscajun]

16. Too Late To Panic.

This is only one of hundreds upon hundreds of sites using Public Records to compile searchable databases where our personal information can be made available for free or for sale. Just do a Google on "Background Check" and see how many hits you get. I got 24,400,000 just now.

Try looking at www.anywho.com -- with only a phone number and "Reverse Lookup", I can get your first and last name, your address, your spouse's name if it's on the phone listing, and there's a link to a map showing me exactly how to find your house.

There are public databases to search by Social Security Number, too.

If you've ever had any interaction with any government agency, there's a public record or records with your data in it. And it's been for sale for a long time now.

Last time I got shocked, and only temporarily, is when I started receiving offers to refinance my house, detailing how much I paid for it and how much of a loan amount I'd taken out. All available through public records.

Some states are even selling Driver's License info.

It stinks, but it's Pandora's Box. Privacy has become illusory.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

17. They don't have me in there.

Yippee! I'm invisible. :)

[Speck Tater]

18. Loads of errors.

17 people listed with my name, including middle initial. Three of the listings are me, but are old addresses for me that are 7 to 10 years out of date. No phone numbers listed.

On edit: Dsicovered two of the addresses listed under my name are old addresses for my son who lives on the opposite side of the continent from me. I'm in OR he's in VA, yet my name and birthday is listed under two of his old VA addresses. Very bad information. No wonder I keep getting pre-approved credit card offers for both of my ex-wives even though I haven't been married for 9 years!

[salin]

33. yep

one of mine - only a phone number (many years old)

but one with my late father - listed with my birth year- now that would be a trick...

[bergamot]

19. There are a LOT of George W. Bush's in this country

Poor sods.

[villager]

20. damn, I'm in there

albeit, a previous address and phone number...

[ohio_liberal]

21. That's not cool

I'm 15 years older than I should be. :(

[Speck Tater]

25. Obviously a different person with your name.

My small town has two other people with my same name. One is a DJ on the local radio and another is always late for work because his boss looks up his name in the phone book and calls ME whenever he's late!

[ohio_liberal]

36. No that's definitely me

Same name, same address

[Bluzmann57]

22. Very strange website

I entered my real name and there was my current address and one former address. There was also one which does not exist, and I know because according to what it says, it is on west 15th street, about a half a block from where I live at now. I walked down there and the address doesn't exist. Hmmm....

[mtnester]

37. Better call up a copy of your credit report

this is how my hubby and I first discovered how bad our identity theft was

[LSdemocrat]

23. I'm not listed, but my parents are

[MsTryska]

26. creepy.

not only did i find me, but i found my entire family's past and previous addresses, plus some places i think my Folks cosigned for my sister.



i definitely don't like the fact that my private info isn't private, but one bright spot - using the google feature i found an article my brother wrote for his Flight Squadron's newsletter. it was quite good!

[mcscajun]

27. Well, my two ex-husbands are in there.

So at least I know where they are.

:evilgrin:

[katinmn]

28. Who's taking the satellite photos???

creepy.

[tammywammy]

30. Well, it has an address I lived at 3 years ago

But no birthday and not my current info.

This is worrisome though.

[Blue_In_AK]

32. I found my husband...

...with the right area code, but the wrong phone number; his daughter at this address, although she lives in Texas; and my former name from two years ago, but nothing current.

My X is shown with the wrong birthday, THIS address (OH NO!!) as well as two subsequent addresses, neither of which is current.

I think they could use a little work on their accuracy, but I'm not going to tell them.

[Dr Ron]

38. Didn't have my unlisted number

The site has my office including published number and a private line (which isn't really all that secret) and has both home and office addresses, but not my unlisted home number.

It would be interesting to see how much they have on a background check, but I wouldn't either spend money on that site or give them my credit card number.

[Left Is Write]

39. I have discovered there a bunch of people out there

with my name, in the four forms I looked up.

Only one of them listed was me, and that was with a form of my name I don't generally use.

I found my husband, at both our current and our former addresses, and I found my father, with every address he's had since I've known him.