Those living in the United States know all about the online White Pages and other websites that feature the ability to do a reverse look-up for telephone numbers. However, other countries have their own versions. In Australia, more and more residents are utilizing a service known as Reverse Australia. As popular as this service is, there are some things users should be aware of to prevent any negative experiences.
What Is It?
Simply put, “Reverse” is a free service that allows anyone to look-up a person’s phone number. This applies to any landline or mobile phone number for residents living in Australia. According to the company’s official website, it is as simple as going to the website and typing in the phone number with area code. After hitting the “enter” button, the site will provide results from its extensive public database, such as the name of the person that owns the number, a Google map of the area and the address associated with it.
Are Users Protected?
To prevent abuse of the service, “Reverse” requires users to login with their Facebook account. The reason for this is stated on the site’s “About Us” page: “To protect everyone from anonymous usage of our system, we use your Facebook account to limit abuse to our system and to help law enforcement in the event of any illegal activity.”
The Microsoft Telemarketing Scam From India
While the “Reverse” company does its best to keep people from abusing the system, individuals have slipped through the cracks. One of the most recent mishaps dealt with a Microsoft telemarketing scam, which is believed to have originated in India. The scammers used the “Reverse” system to obtain names and phone numbers of Australian residents. They then posed as Microsoft tech support employees. After calling and convincing their targets that there was something wrong with their computers, some customers were scammed out of $400 or more to “fix” a problem that did not exist.
To alert customers of the scam, “Reverse” posted details on its official blog, allowing customers to share their experiences and what to be on the lookout for. The “Reverse” blog continues to offer an outlet for its users to “sound off” as well as provide other important information related to the website, its services and any tech problems that may occur.
Tips for User Safety
While the “Reverse” service is a handy system to use, be aware that if you are a resident in Australia, chances are other people will have the ability to look-up your number and information as well. Because of this, be wary of anyone that contacts you out of the blue about any issues dealing with your computer. Never give your credit card, bank account or any other sensitive financial information over the phone. Refuse any of their requests and hang up. Call the actual company, report the incident and have them check their records to see if such issues exist.
In conclusion, Reverse services can be helpful when looking for a person or business. However, with such technology, the opportunity to be contacted by solicitors or telemarketers is greater. When receiving a call from a phone number you do not recognize, the best thing to do is let it go to voice mail. You can check the message, and if you still don't recognize the person calling, you can always use this Reverse technology and find out who was calling.
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Nohel Corral - Nohel Corral is an educator that spends a lot of his time freelance writing on many topics of interest. He fills his days with researching ...
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