Your theory/idea is very intriguing! Have you found any more information about this? I would be interested to read any information you might have!
Hi Dwntwnslim:seeya:
It has been 10 yrs ago that I worked for a 'Baby Bell' and technology has advanced like a firestorm in the wind since then but I can tell a little about what I know. I don't have links and I destroyed my manuals long ago as it is proprietary information for which I signed a legal document that I wouldn't share it with anyone.
I was a sales rep in a call center. The computer programs where proprietary information was located (at that time) were very complex...ms DOS. These programs allowed reps to view all calls placed and received from the customers landline number. If one had nefarious reasons, one could look up info on the customers call list. For instance, it would be easy peasy to find a victims' mom's work number.
Alot of personal info is on a persons phone acct. Name, address, work number, next of kin not living in the household the phone # is assigned to, that persons phone #, ss#, etc. This info is collected as a precaution to prevent someone from fradulently establishing an acct in another person's name.
The call center environment was very busy and reps activity was monitored closely. However, there were rooms in the complex where the techs worked...mostly males. There were techs for landline service and DSL who sat at computers, monitoring 'things'. IDK what as I am not a techie but I do know they possess capabilities to snoop. Heck, phone rep out in the field can tap into conversations from what is called the 'central office'. This is a place where all the landlines in a neighborhood are all patched into. These are all over the place, and there is usually a small building at the location.
At the time I worked there, each baby bell's mobility service was combined into one nationwide service....Singular (except it begins with a 'C'
). The wireless service was a separate entity from the baby bells and they had their own call center and techs, however the baby bells call center reps sold the service. It was simple for the customer as the info on the landline acct was just transferred over to the wireless acct and the customer's phone was delivered in two days. Once the sale was completed the customer then dealt with the reps for the wireless company and we transferred them to that entity when calls came in re: wireless service.
There is extensive testing by the company before one is hired....math, verbal skills, actuality phone test where one sits in a room with a phone and actors call you and fuss at you and you have to diffuse their anger and resolve the problem. I was given a folder of scenarios which I had about 5 minutes to look over before the phone began ringing. I think there was also a criminal records check but cannot be sure. The final test was a drug test. My testing lasted from SEpt thru Dec.
Once I was hired, I underwent 8 weeks of training. My trainer was a man who had transferred from the baby bell in TN to the one in my region. He travelled up and down the east coast conducting training sessions at other BBs in our region. The tech bigwigs travel also to conduct training. (Call it woman's intuition or my sixth sense but I always found this trainer to be sketchy. Something about him just didn't set right with me. As it turned out he is now serving 30 yrs in prison for molesting 2 young boys from his church where he served as youth minister. but I digress)
It seems reasonable to me that with so much information available it would be easy for a tech person in the wireless industry who maybe works second shift (as the co. I worked for was union so I guess it is still the same), sits alone in his room, monitoring meters and computers and with alot of time on his hands while at work could obtain a number from Craigslist or backpage or where ever could easily stalk his victims remotely. All he needs is a phone number.
This is JMO IMHO MOO and all that jazz. HTH!
wm
