Reverse directory

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TC101

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Wannabe Geek

Topic # 4943 12-Sep-2005 16:27

Does anyone know of a reverse directory for NZ phone or cells operating in New Zealand

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Reply # 19977 12-Sep-2005 16:30

A what?

TC101

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Reply # 19979 12-Sep-2005 16:34

A reverse directory, you enter the number and it brings up the name of the person who it is registered to.

Seems a lot cheaper way to sort any random numbers appearing on the phone bill.

johnr

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Reply # 19980 12-Sep-2005 16:38

Good idea but no why not just ring the number back and ask who it is

freitasm

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Reply # 19981 12-Sep-2005 16:47

Not a good idea to ring back - that's what scammers were doing in Japan a couple of years ago - they had computers dialing numbers, let ring twice and hang up. People are so curious to know who called that they simply hit the Callback option - and then hit with a phone bill for calling a special number (like 0900 or similar).

Nope, the idea of a service to lookup numbers is good. But also could be used by companies to call people and ask by name, making it easier for telemarketers to annoy people...

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TC101

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Reply # 19982 12-Sep-2005 16:51

Had never thought about scammers using it against people, hell I guess since I am not one I do not think like one.

tonyhughes

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Reply # 19992 12-Sep-2005 20:46

freitasm: Not a good idea to ring back - that's what scammers were doing in Japan a couple of years ago - they had computers dialing numbers, let ring twice and hang up. People are so curious to know who called that they simply hit the Callback option - and then hit with a phone bill for calling a special number (like 0900 or similar).

I think he was looking for a way to check the names of people whose number appear on his phone bill that he has called - not the ones appearing in his missed calls list.

I almost never call back a number i dont know if they dont leave a voicemail... not for telespam reasons, but because I dont have the time.

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freitasm

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Reply # 19993 12-Sep-2005 20:49

Yes, but I was commenting on johnr's suggestion to call back - first it will add more $$$ to the bill, and second if the call back is from the phone it may open to attacks such as this.

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alasta

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Reply # 19994 12-Sep-2005 21:12

If my memory serves me correctly, the concept of a reverse directory has been suggested many times in the past, but is currently prohibited under the Privacy Act (or possibly the Telecommunications Act). In short, it ain't going to happen.

tonyhughes

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Reply # 19995 12-Sep-2005 21:52

I am glad about that!

The privacy act is good for something!!

sbiddle

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Reply # 19996 13-Sep-2005 01:58

Such a directory did exist in the past however, I recall seeing a copy in the late 80's or early 90's.

davidhusselmann

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Wannabe Geek

Reply # 20934 3-Oct-2005 12:26

I was thinking of cutting the back off the white pages and putting it through a multi page scanner, then OCRing the entire thing and building a reverse lookup database... You'd have to do this every couple of years, which sucks, but you'd have yourself a reverse lookup directory!

tonyhughes

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Reply # 20948 3-Oct-2005 18:57

davidhusselmann: I was thinking of cutting the back off the white pages and putting it through a multi page scanner, then OCRing the entire thing and building a reverse lookup database... You'd have to do this every couple of years, which sucks, but you'd have yourself a reverse lookup directory!

You would also be breaking the law.

"(C) Copyright in the White Pages (R) belongs to Telecom Directories Limited. You must obtain written permission from the General Manager before reproducing this directory in any way in whole or in part. This directory may not be stored in a retrieval system of any sort without the written consent of Telecom Directories Ltd"

sbiddle

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Reply # 20971 4-Oct-2005 06:44

There was an incident in NZ not long after the White Pages where put online where somebody created a script with the goal of duplicating all of the data online in their own database. I can recall very little about what actually happened but I believe Telecom did take somebody to court over this, maybe somebody else can recall the details?

TC101

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Reply # 20976 4-Oct-2005 09:38

Seems strange that NZ is so over the top a lot of other places have the reverse directories in place not only for land lines but for cell phones as well.

Why can't you track back any calls that come to your phone number?? Additionally overseas there a services that as soon as you recieve a call you can dial a number and it will give you the number of the phone that tried to call you.

tonyhughes

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Reply # 20978 4-Oct-2005 10:28

I dont buy into something just because other countries do.

We have managed pretty good without such a thing, and I would probably block my ID permanently (forever) if there was an easy to access reverse directory.

Imagine one hooked up in conjunction with the electoral roll and whatever other public lists are out there.

If you want to know who a number belongs to out of curiosity, ring them - if they want you to know, they will tell you.

If its a legal matter, Telecom (and other carriers) will divulge info under a court order.

What more could you ask for?

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