Cellular operators selling subscribers’ data for marketing: report

I'm not surprised. I started getting a lot of sales calls only after signing a contract and that is after 10 years of owning a number.
 
the moment I gave my cell number to Autopage when helping a family member cancel with them, I started getting all sorts of spam SMS. They clearly sell/(have stolen) all the numbers they can get.
 
They all do. Mobile operators does it, banks do it, retail companies does it - this is a big business - a billion Rand industry that is being run under the table. These companies will never admit it, but it is being done. I saw these lists being leaked, lists with millions of bank customers' contact information, millions of cellphone company client information. Unfortunately we have to sit up with this. Cellphone companies are selling lists of new phone numbers to debtor tracing companies. There are many more examples I personally know of.
 
spiff said:
how many times can you sell a data base before everyone knows everyone??
Click to expand...

True, but this is not only one single database that is being sold. Banks sell their clients' personal identifiable information, so does cellphone providers, retail companies, insurance companies, hell, even Home Affairs do this.
 
It is now also being done by recruitment agencies in South Africa
Apply for a job somewhere... and a week later, expect cold calling from telemarketers and suchlike.
 
Hi All

Having been on the inside of this process what I can tell you is the following:
1) All cellular companies hand over data freely with their call centre clients ( under strict agreement based on security ).
2) All insurance companies do the same.
3) Over time call centres very quickly cycle through 5.7mil of the economically active clients and do de-dupe against do not call lists if they have them. No call centre wants to waste money on a pointless call, however there are many of these lists and often the story goes like this. You have given me 40,000 leads to call Mr Cellular company however after de-dupe we only have 18,000 which we have not called in the last 6 months, how would you like us to proceed? 9 times out of 10 the client says just call the entire base and we will pay you extra.
4) Databases are never deleted just sold over and over
5) You can obtain a list of ID numbers and there are companies who will attach calling details so even if someone does not sell your lead it can be generated via automatic ID generation tools. The tools know how to generate an possible ID which is then washed at a cost with data house and suddenly you have a new lead.
6) When you update records this lead becomes a refreshed lead and hence it will move to the top of the pile and thus you will be called more often.
 
Dr Who said:
Hi All

Having been on the inside of this process what I can tell you is the following:
1) All cellular companies hand over data freely with their call centre clients ( under strict agreement based on security ).
2) All insurance companies do the same.
3) Over time call centres very quickly cycle through 5.7mil of the economically active clients and do de-dupe against do not call lists if they have them. No call centre wants to waste money on a pointless call, however there are many of these lists and often the story goes like this. You have given me 40,000 leads to call Mr Cellular company however after de-dupe we only have 18,000 which we have not called in the last 6 months, how would you like us to proceed? 9 times out of 10 the client says just call the entire base and we will pay you extra.
4) Databases are never deleted just sold over and over
5) You can obtain a list of ID numbers and there are companies who will attach calling details so even if someone does not sell your lead it can be generated via automatic ID generation tools. The tools know how to generate an possible ID which is then washed at a cost with data house and suddenly you have a new lead.
6) When you update records this lead becomes a refreshed lead and hence it will move to the top of the pile and thus you will be called more often.
Click to expand...

:sick:
 
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