HELPFUL HINT
FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL, 2004
...
........................If Your Concerned about Identity Theft

THE PROBLEM:

Google has implemented a new feature which allows you to type someone's  telephone number into their search bar, click enter and you will be shown a map to their house.  This can be of great concern for many people.  Please check your own number. Read below for more details.

For example, if a child, single person, or anyone, gives out his/her phone number, someone can actually now look it up to find out where he/she lives.  The safety issues are obvious, and alarming. This is not a hoax; MapQuest will put a star on your house on your street. In order to test whether your phone number is mapped, go to:  www.google.com . Type your phone number in the search bar with dashes (i.e., 555-555-1212) (dashes & not spaces very important) and hit enter. This will divulge your name and address.  You will see a link option to the right for MapQuest (click on it), which will use the address to provide a map to your home or place of business.

THE FIX:

If you wish to BLOCK Google from divulging your private information, simply click on the telephone icon next to your phone number and follow instructions. It takes about 48-hours. If you are unlisted in the phone book, you most likely will not be in their file, but it is a good idea to check. Please let your friends and family know - If You Are Concerned About Identity Theft...