You’d like to think that if you’re forking over a sizable amount of cash to be shown the sites of Hollywood, your tour guide would at least have some idea what they’re talking about. Yet a new report shows that not only are some of these tour buses apparently fleecing passengers; they’re also putting innocent homeowners in the crosshairs of potentially dangerous stalkers. [More]
stalking
Is It Illegal To Use An App To Track Your Kid, Spouse, Or Employee?
By 5.9.16
There are a number of well-known apps that allow you remotely track your phone if it’s lost, or that track the movement of another device but do so with that user’s knowledge. What about those apps that let you track another phone — and maybe intercept calls and texts — without the other person having any idea? [More]
Man Uses LifeLock To Track Ex-Wife; Company Didn’t Care
By 11.23.15
Imagine you found out that your former spouse had opened a fake LifeLock credit monitoring account in your name, and then used it to follow your every financial move for two years? Then imagine that no one at LifeLock will take your query seriously, even after the police get involved. [More]
Woman Convicted Of Stalking Couple Who Outbid Her On House Says Losing Dream Home Was “Devastating”
By 2.12.15
In a twist on the old haunted house tale, a couple in San Diego found themselves haunted by the ghost of a woman in their present, who was convicted of stalking them after they won a bidding war over a house. Though the woman says she didn’t intend do to any harm, the loss of her dream home was “devastating.” [More]
You Can Make Your LinkedIn Profile Stalker-Proof, But Then You Might As Well Not Have A Profile
By 6.18.13
On Facebook, you can make your profile very private so that no one outside of your network can see anything other than your name. You can also block individuals from contacting you. Twitter allows you to make your feed private so that you pick and choose who can follow your Tweets. Meanwhile, LinkedIn allows you to limit who can see your profile, but does not give you the ability to block individuals, so it’s kind of an all or nothing. [More]
Fix Mortgage Errors By Promising The CSR "Phone Fun," At Least At Wells Fargo
By 5.24.10
According to a lawsuit filed in New Jersey, a CSR at Wells Fargo’s Home Mortgage Division refused to correct a payment error for Jamie Nelson unless she had some “phone fun” with him first. Phone fun, in this case, seemed to mean naked pics of the woman. She’s suing for emotional distress, since you can’t take someone to court simply for being a skeevy jackass. Wells Fargo says they’re taking the allegations seriously. [More]
Walmart "Stalking" T-shirt Angers Stalking Victim
By 9.30.07
A stalking victim that has found she has little legal recourse against her harasser due to North Carolina’s weak laws is angry at Walmart for selling a T-shirt that makes light of stalking.
GameStop: No Solicitation Calls = No Reservation Calls
By 2.16.07
I called my local Gamestop, where I know most of the employees by name, and asked what to do. They said they couldn’t help me directly, but to call customer service at (800) 883-8895. I called that number, waited on hold for a few minutes, got a CSR and asked that my name be removed from the solicitation list. I said that I don’t mind the calls telling me my reserved games are in, but that the solicitations needed to stop. He said that the two systems are linked, and that I couldn’t be removed from one without being removed from the other. I said that was acceptable, since I really didn’t want the solicitations. He asked for my phone number, I gave it to him, and he said he’d “put in a request” to have me removed from the system.
GameStop Matches Customer Contact Info To Purchases, Asks If They Can Buy Back Games
By 2.16.07
“We hope you’re enjoying your copy of Twiliight Princess, but if you’re finished with it, why don’t you bring it to the store and trade it in? We’re willing to give you $35 in trade for your copy of Twilight Princess….” I hung up at this point, and try not to curse. I really don’t like this sort of phone call, but I’m almost willing to tolerate it when they’re telling me a game I want to buy is coming in.
It seems that GameStop has cross-referenced their reservation database with the records of what their customers purchase. Then, when they’re running low on used copies of Twilight Princess or whatever, they can call and harass people to sell them back. Damn, GameStop. We know a lot of your customers are used to being treated like crap, but this is a new low. —MEGHANN MARCO
Pith & Vinegar
By 5.19.06
• Find free wifi nearby with your cellphone at ilovefreewifi.com. Stalking on a shoestring has never been easier.
