Security at Home - Menu

1. Canvassing
2. Telemarketing
3. Computer/E-commerce
4. Loan application
5. CD Club and other memberships
6. Magazine solicitations
7. Product warranty cards
8. Life insurance application
9. Donation to a charity
10. Auto and House Insurance Renewal

Telemarketing

The telephone may be a more important source of potential privacy "leakage" than your computer. Because we have all grown up with telephones, and are speaking to a real person on the other end of the line, we may not think twice about providing personal information. This is especially true if the caller appears to represent a good cause, like a charity, offers an interesting product, like discounted magazine subscriptions, or purports to conduct a survey. The data gathered, such as credit card numbers, family information or spending habits, can be collected or sold, or used for identity theft. Let's face it - in most cases of telemarketing, you really have no idea who is on the other side of the phone. That goes double for cell phones and cordless phones, which can be overheard by persons with the right kind of receivers.

Telemarketing can be one of the most intrusive and annoying invasions of privacy. The more times you freely provide your personal information, the more often the phone will ring. You can stop telemarketing from members of the Canadian Marketing Association by contacting the Association.