T-Mobile messed up

[terryjohnson16]

I was reading this since this caught my attention.

T-Mobile Forum (Phone Scoop) (http://www.phonescoop.com/carriers/forum.php?fm=m&ff=5&fi=1415815)


I received a call from a blocked number asking for someone I had never heard of ,when I told this to the caller he asked who I was,I replyed since I don't know him or who he was asking for, it didn't matter who I was and hung up.

Several minutes later I received another call with an out of state number showing ,and it was the same guy,this time he identified himself as a cop[he was] and demanded I tell him my name,I asked why,and he said a "profane call" to Mr.so and so ,had come from this number on such and such date .I told him I knew nothing of it ,nor the "victim" name he mentioned and said I was telling him nothing ,since at that point I had no idea if he was a cop or not.

An hour later he called back and repeated all of my info to me which T-Mobile had provided to him .ILLEGALLY,since he did not have a subpoena,and it was not a life or death situation such as a ransom or bomb threat type situation,but a "profane" call.At that point I pointed out that what he did was illegal and if he wished to file charges go ahead.This was over a week ago and I have heard nothing.

If you value your privacy and your legal rights to due process don't use T mobile,Im so disgusted with them I am breaking my contract,keeping and unlocking my free phone ,and not paying my last bill.Tmobile sucks.

[Nwahs]

Ahhh can you say woops? I'm guessing T-mobile is going to look into this...thats not something that can be happening.

[darkjedi]

I was reading this since this caught my attention.

T-Mobile Forum (Phone Scoop) (http://www.phonescoop.com/carriers/forum.php?fm=m&ff=5&fi=1415815)

Its entirely possible this person knew someone at T-mobile as I can assure you that T-mobile has a legal department that will only provide information to law enforcement and a subpoena isn't just necessary, its impossible to release that information with out. I think there is a part of this story we aren't getting. Front line retail sales reps have a good deal of a customers information, what info did this "cop" give?? Hell there are websites you can look up a phone number, a cell phone if you know where to look and get name and address.

[greenblood]

here is my case (not any carrier related)
I keep receiving annoying Captial One letter, the name they use is the one I use in US Army ONLY
then do you think somebody sold personal info to 3rd party to gain money without our permission?

[darkjedi]

[QUOTE=greenblood;17878]here is my case (not any carrier related)
I keep receiving annoying Captial One letter, the name they use is the one I use in US Army ONLY
then do you think somebody sold personal info to 3rd party to gain money without our permission?[/QUOTE

That is a drastically different scenario than the one this topic is on. The military is an excellent list of people who are credit troubled and I wouldn't have any delusions that Capital One either purchased the list or used some other method to get it. This is really quite different than someone at T-mobile giving away personal information up to and including address, social security number something that a mailing list isn't privy to.

[greenblood]

I don't know anybody remember the security breach happened on T-Mobile?
probably it's one of the victims
though it may be separate, T-Mobile should check this, and I am sure somebody will get arrested

about CapOne, it's WAY TOO ANNOYING, they sent such credit card application from Korea, to
Fort Hood
Kuwait
Fort Drum
Kosovo
and now even my home address!!!

[SJSMR2]

This does concern me a bit. I am curious how this happened. I hope that the person involved did have a close contact at T-mobile.

[darkjedi]

This does concern me a bit. I am curious how this happened. I hope that the person involved did have a close contact at T-mobile.

Its the only likely possibility and while we may never know the only probable information that the person was given was name and address. Yet again I have to bring up the idea though that this information can also be found on the Internet if you look hard enough. Having dealt with police requests on more than one occasion I can assure you guys its NOT that easy to get the information, a subpoena is necessary and required, there is no conversation without it. All requests are forwarded to a specific department that handles these types of inquiries. I'm sure its not as big of a security threat as some might want to believe, at least nothing on the scale of the sidekick incidents a few years back.

[jgebis]

I'm pretty sure it's not illegal for a company to give away customer information. The only way the govt can force them to divulge it is if they have a subpoena, but the company can cooperate if they want to.

[j__1]

That's the official line... but Care, Retail, and corporate employees regularly violate these policies. I'm not saying they do so with evil intent... many times, they're trying to do the 'right' thing. And I think this goes far beyond to TMO.

Darkjedi: do the related privacy laws cover the full spirit of privacy as us normal people would believe? Specifically, while a police officer may not break into your home and acquire your phone book, can he ask someone (e.g., RSR) or purchase access to 'public' databases?

Its entirely possible this person knew someone at T-mobile as I can assure you that T-mobile has a legal department that will only provide information to law enforcement and a subpoena isn't just necessary, its impossible to release that information with out. I think there is a part of this story we aren't getting. Front line retail sales reps have a good deal of a customers information, what info did this "cop" give?? Hell there are websites you can look up a phone number, a cell phone if you know where to look and get name and address.

[darkjedi]

That's the official line... but Care, Retail, and corporate employees regularly violate these policies. I'm not saying they do so with evil intent... many times, they're trying to do the 'right' thing. And I think this goes far beyond to TMO.

Darkjedi: do the related privacy laws cover the full spirit of privacy as us normal people would believe? Specifically, while a police officer may not break into your home and acquire your phone book, can he ask someone (e.g., RSR) or purchase access to 'public' databases?

I agree with you, its very likely that this information was given to the "cop" by someone at an rsr, customer care level. Most likely someone they already had an existing relationship with ie friend, family etc. If thats what you mean by a regular violation of company policy sure, but any rep who hands information to a police officer who just plain walks into a store and asks for it is just ignorant. There should be extensive training to give reps the right information as how best to proceed when asked for private information. I mean we had at least 3 posters hanging in the break room talking about how T-mobile tries to protect customer information and after T-mobile was sued due to a store rep dumping contracts into a dumpster they should take it with absolute seriousness. Its the same principle when dealing with references, the powers that be don't want anyone other than a specific department dealing with references lest they open themselves up to a major lawsuit for slander/libel.

[j__1]

...but any rep who hands information to a police officer who just plain walks into a store and asks for it is just ignorant. Agreed on all counts... However, I've personally dealt with more than one case where officers walked into stores with a bag of phones and attempted to 'sell' the RSR into giving detailed customer information so they could gain access to drug dealing communications and location based data. And, unfortunately, even many of the smarter RSMs can get involved. :(

[Rzrlvr74]

I was reading this since this caught my attention.

T-Mobile Forum (Phone Scoop) (http://www.phonescoop.com/carriers/forum.php?fm=m&ff=5&fi=1415815)

The question I have is how much info did T-Mobile release? It is not unheard of for a cellular or even traditional phone company to release basic information to authorities in any case where a phone is being used for illegal activity ie: harassing, threatening
phone calls. However, the caller ( based off of the poster's decription of events) did not sound like law enforcement. They themselves have immediate access through legal channels to find out what you had for dinner last night. It sounds like T-Mobile gave the info to the wrong individual. They are definitly not blameless, however with all of the things going on in our country, Im not surprised things went down as they did. They do deserve a good swift kick for this one!

[chokaay]

CNN: Verizon Offers Details On Records Releases (http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/16/verizon.records/index.html)

Companies other than T-Mobile also release information without subpoena too...

[j__1]

CNN: Verizon Offers Details On Records Releases (http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/16/verizon.records/index.html)

Companies other than T-Mobile also release information without subpoena too...
Well, at least it ain't just the federal government.... :rolleyes:

Sounds like a telco needs to come out with a new ad: We try hard not to violate our 'mutually beneficial' relationship... and as long as we trust each other that you will pay your bill on time, well, no harm, no foul. :mad:

[Rzrlvr74]

Depending on the circumstances, I believe that there are occassions that waiting for a supeona would cost precious time in finding a killer, a kidnapper or a violent spouse. That being said, turning over information because someone complained about an alleged obscene phone call is pushing the envelope a bit. The other concern is GPS in cell phones. The fact that you can be traced to wherever you are via your cell. If that info is given to the wrong person, it can have dangerous reprecussions. It's a grey area with little room to move. I don't think the telephone companies should be blasted for providing authorities with potentially vital information. You have to sacrifice to gain.

[j__1]

The other concern is GPS in cell phones. The fact that you can be traced to wherever you are via your cell. If that info is given to the wrong person, it can have dangerous repercussions. If the carrier is the one giving the data out... they don't need GPS to locate you. Even before E911, it has been only a matter of knowing the right people with the right knowledge set to acquire location based data.

Today... well, as you said, it is more than just a small concern. Real people can get hurt.

[eduardosuarez]

Dude that must of sucked for you.