Ask HN: How do phone scammers get your name and number?

1 points by swendoog 8y ago ↗ HN

I've received calls in the past alerting me that I have a virus on my computer and that I need their software to clean it.

I've always been disturbed and curious by the fact that the caller knows my full name.

Anybody know where these scammers pull this information from?

1 comment

[ 0.23 ms ] story [ 10.2 ms ] thread

bitxbitxbitcoin 8y ago ↗

Once they have your mobile ip address, they can buy your phone number, full name, billing home address, and billing email address - among other things.[1]

Of course, there are other more classic ways for them to buy this info but if they can get it from the source, why not?

[1] https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/blog/2017/10/stop-mobi...