Have you ever wondered how people know what they know about you?
By Amber
@AmbiePam (121092)
United States
July 1, 2023 8:27am CST
I was talking to someone the other day, and in the middle of the conversation they casually mentioned where I live, and described what my apartment complex looked like. I was surprised because I never told them where I lived. Since my family and friends didn’t know this person I figured they couldn’t have gotten that information from them.
When I went home I looked up what the internet said my address was, and my address is still listed as when I lived with my dad, 17 years ago. So, I’m curious to know how they found out, and why they could describe so many things about my apartment complex (obviously, they found a way to see it).
Have you ever wondered how someone had certain information about you?
24 people like this
20 responses
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
1 Jul 23
Ohhh, I guess I'd kinda freak out (internally) if someone told me that. Right, you have to wonder how much this person snooped online 
. In all honesty, I have snooped online and found information on people I could not believe was just out there . . . but I wouldn't actually tell the person I did that 
. Scary to think how much is "not" private .
. In all honesty, I have snooped online and found information on people I could not believe was just out there . . . but I wouldn't actually tell the person I did that . Scary to think how much is "not" private .3 people like this
@AmbiePam (121092)
• United States
1 Jul 23
You know, a friend of mine started to get upset with me because she thought I had told an old classmate she moved back to Oklahoma. Because to her, how else would that classmate have known? I easily showed her a quick search turned up her place of work (she’s a nurse). I thought she knew that was easy to find out.
2 people like this
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
2 Jul 23
@AmbiePam Yah, nurse/doctor info is out there for sure. Years ago my cousin's new wife was studying to become a nurse, but I knew she was going to school in another state. I don't really talk to my cousin, and I never saw any updates on his life on Facebook, so I looked for her online. I pieced together that now she works as a nurse still far away from him, but they are also divorced . These "clues" are online for all to see, anyone can find out almost anything if they took the time to "investigate".
. These "clues" are online for all to see, anyone can find out almost anything if they took the time to "investigate".1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (135966)
• Marion, Ohio
1 Jul 23
If someone is determined they can find it anymore
3 people like this
@Tampa_girl7 (54730)
• United States
1 Jul 23
That’s a bit creepy. I hope this is a good person who was just curious.
2 people like this
@akalinus (44366)
• United States
1 Jul 23
You can do a search of an address. It will show a picture of the house, a map of where it is, how many people live there and sometimes the names of who lives there.
A more important question is whether someone is stalking you. Why are they looking for that information about you? What else do they know and why do they want to know it? Maybe you should consider blocking this person.
1 person likes this
@akalinus (44366)
• United States
1 Jul 23
@AmbiePam that is what I probably would do too if I met someone like that. A lot of information is wrong on the internet. People move around and relationships change. You could get a false impression of someone by reading false information online.
1 person likes this
@Starmaiden (9308)
• Canada
1 Jul 23
Maybe they live in the neighborhood and have seen you around. They may even live in the same building. If it were me I would have asked them.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (121092)
• United States
1 Jul 23
@evilamericans Yes, I think I remember my sister showing me a view of her house that way too.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169568)
• United States
2 Jul 23
In what context do you know this person? That might indicate how they know your information. Maybe they worked the last Census.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (121092)
• United States
2 Jul 23
They are a regular worker at my grocery store, but I use the self checkout, so I usually only talk to them when I run into them while I’m shopping, or whenever I’m getting ready to leave. I’ve never paid with anything that has my address on it, and he shouldn’t have even got a chance to see my last name on food stamp card. It really surprised me since he had told me once he didn’t even live in Norman.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169568)
• United States
2 Jul 23
@AmbiePam So it is even possible someone else who knows you has filled him in. I was hoping you were not on a dating site. Hope he has not followed you home. Does your store have a loyalty card? It could be in your files that way.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (121092)
• United States
2 Jul 23
@GardenGerty Oh, no. No dating site for me. No, my store doesn’t have a loyalty card system. But now that we’ve talked about it, I’ll be on the lookout for anyone who looks out of place. around me.
@marguicha (230365)
• Chile
1 Jul 23
I wonder about many things now. Bad guys who want to get money out of you call you here by the phone saying that they are doctors. They tell me that my daughter had an accident. They know my 4 (four) names and Claudia´s both names. That´s how I know it is not true. No doctor will care to use my 4 names.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (44560)
• United States
1 Jul 23
That could be a little creepy. We live in such a small community that everybody knows everything.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (121092)
• United States
2 Jul 23
I didn't expect the grocery store employee to even know my last name as I only use self checkout, and he has never seen my license or checks as I don't use them there. If he's reading my emails or listening to my calls, I gotta think he wouldn't be working at a grocery store. Or maybe I'm just stereotyping the guy. If someone is listening to my calls, and I mean anyone, I do apologize for any trauma I have caused.
@JudyEv (382457)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 Jul 23
In a way, that's a bit worrying. Our son can always tell where we are but that's because we've allowed him to track us on his phone. We can do the same with him but that' totally different to an acquaintance knowing so much about us.
1 person likes this
@misunderstood_zombie (8765)
• United States
2 Jul 23
That would creep me out quite a bit, especially with your address is still listed at your dad's house. Did you ask them how they knew?
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (209132)
• United States
1 Jul 23
Ocassionally but I have lived in this house a long time, if it is someone from the hood, I wouldn't be surprised if they know who I am and where I live, if it was elsewhere, yeah I would be.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222726)
• United States
2 Jul 23
Yes. Someone who used to be a member here had my address. I never gave it to him. That was a little bit freaky. Have a good rest of your weekend.
