Comments on: Freebies 101: Protecting Your Personal Information

By: Katie

Katie — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 02:19:03 +0000

wow Caroline, that’s awful. I’ve seen things like on Inside Edition, where the callers make threats to get money. You should call your phone company and see if you can block them. We have privacy director, and if any marketing or unknown number calls, a recording comes on telling them they have to identify thier self and thier company before it will go through. They usually hang up and our phone never even rings. Every now and then though, one will come through and it’s usually a political call.
I will definately start looking at when a phone number is required now though, and probably will make up a bday to use from now on.

By: caroline

caroline — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:22:10 +0000

even with a “major” company, your info may not be safe. I only give out info that i would not have a problem with the world knowing. I just don’t enter any contest that requires a phone number. I can get a new email pretty easily but changing phone numbers would be too much of a hassle. My husband applied for a car loan at one of the big dealerships around here and a couple of years later they closed down. (We didn’t get a car from there). A year ago we started getting phone calls from “Mainland Marketing”, a fake payday loan company that said my husband had taken out a loan and owed them money. Neither of us had ever taken out a payday loan but they had all of my husband’s info- SSN, bank acct #, address, phone, employer (old employer thankfully bc when i researched them i found that they go to your work and harrass your coworkers, boss, and you until you give them money to make them stop)… All the info that he put on the loan app for the car co. My point is, you never know where your info is going when you give it out, even when it seems to be going to a big company. We are still getting harassing phone calls saying things like- if we dont pay them “only god can help you”…

By: Shay

Shay — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:51:10 +0000

These a great tips. I NEVER give my real age, D.O.B. or telephone number. Most companies would contact you by email before phoning you, so I don’t thing it’s necessary to give out your real number or information for that matter, unless it is for a BIG time contest for some major legit company.

By: Dana

Dana — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 03:05:51 +0000

All great advice, but additionally, when a lot of these places ask for birthdate information and you try to leve it blank, they won’t let you continue. So, I have created a birthdate I use that is literally, the day, month, and year before my actual birthdate. I won’t forget it that way, but don’t have to give out my actual info.

By: Denise

Denise — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 03:51:19 +0000

I usually give my real info and have not had any problems. My husband appreciated the value more after I took him coupon shopping and we only got things for him! ;)

By: Rachel

Rachel — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 18:30:58 +0000

I pay close attention to what fields are REQUIRED and which aren’t. If it’s not required, I don’t put any information in there.

If it is required, I 99.5% of the time put in a fake phone number and use my back up e-mail address.

I don’t care so much about my DOB, what are they going to do with it?

By: hlth4life

hlth4life — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 17:32:38 +0000

Thanks for the tips! I am new to this whole on-line coupon thing and trying to get some good deals, but at the same time not get tons of spam or worse. I noticed when signing up for shortcuts, they asked for date of birth. What is the purpose of this and has anyone had trouble? I also requested the free tote from a link I saw here, but they asked for phone # and email? Weird, my husband hates me doing all this stuff because he thinks its more trouble than its worth. I don’t want to prove him right. Has anyone noticed any problems after signing up on mulitple sites?

Thanks!

By: Penny Pinching Parent

Penny Pinching Parent — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 01:34:00 +0000

Great tips. I wanted to let you know that I nomintated you for an award. I just posted the details on PPP. You have a great site, thank you for sharing such great tips! :o)

By: cy

cy — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 21:53:00 +0000

Great tips. It is important to be careful with your information.