Using google voice for hobby phone

[wozer]

Is goggle voice good for hobby use or should I stick with pre-paid cell?

[DCGuy]

A prepaid cell is MUCH more anonymous. GV is linked to an email account which can be traced to your IP address.

[jframe2]

Sounds like this might be time for a posting of "How to be a Successful Hobbiest"
--
Effective 11/23/11
How to Be A Successful Hobbiest
These are just Guidelines. Each person has to find his own level of security and procedures in this hobby!
Play safe, enjoy!

How to Use a Burnphone Wisely
- buy a burn phone (non-smart, pre-paid type) with cash.
- do not register/create an account with any pay-as-you go phones.
- always pay cash for more minutes.
- only turn on the burn phone when needed.
- turn on your phone approx 1-2 hours before appt.
- turn off your phone approx 1-2 hours after appt.
- do not store anything in contacts.
- delete your call history often.

- keep battery separate from the phone during down time.
- if you find an ATF, set up a Safe word for texting/emailing. Find a simple word you will both remember.


Other Useful Things-
- at a hotel incall, always put the security bar on the door and check the bathroom before placing the donation
- be aware if the hotel room has an adjoining door to another room, think about your surroundings and why would a provider get adjoining rooms.
- if stopped by LE, never allow them to search your vehicle. Immediately after LE has verified your ID, ask to leave. If you are detained, ask for and attorney and then say nothing no matter how they act to you.
- only carry your ID and a small amount of folding money on your person to a date. Leave all else in your vehicle.

- create a separate email account for the hobby and do not use the same handle from any Hobby site for your hobby email. Never use your personal or work email for the hobby. Ever!
- handle as much of your communication by email using an on-line web-browser.
- be aware your ISP is required to keep logs of sites you visit. Use a anonymous connection. Search the web for them.
- be aware your computer keeps records of every website you visit.
- if you are signed into facebook or other social media sites they may Slurp your contacts out of your computer. Yes "Slurp" is the technical term.
- programs like ccleaner, or evidence eliminator are useful to cover your tracks from your pc.
- if you have a car GPS and use it to map to a provider, CLEAR its history as well.

Credit for this information go to all the successful Mongers who contribute to our boards.
Have Fun, Be safe!

[guest061212-1]

If your only criminal activity is having sex with escorts, then a google voice number works just fine. You can disable it and turn it on as needed. It keeps your real identity and phone number out of the hand of unscrupulous providers.

It works best on a smart phone where you can actually run the app and control its functions with out a PC.


While GV is enabled, texts and phone calls come into your phone. If you have an SO who might look at your phone, then a second "work phone" might be better, although a second phone can also arouse suspicions. You have to decide what is best for your situation.

Give it a try and find out. Don't cost nothin.

[mirandalee]

I love google voice, it comes in handy when you need to block any annoying guys harrasing me.

[Tilly S'Moregasm]

Watch out with google voice because you can still have your phone number "slip" through. I had that happen with one client who was using google voice on his computer to send text messages. When I responded it showed my real phone number.

How easy is it to change the phone number of a burn phone? I thought most places were requiring ID now for disposable cells...?

[Missy Mariposa]

Google *ANYTHING* is bad for the hobby. The fact women use it for work astounds me more than words can express.

Google voice is also awful for letting numbers "slip" as Tilly mentioned.

Burn phones are piss easy - walk into Walmart and buy a SmartTalk right off the shelf. Pitch it in the garbage, go to a different Walmart, buy another one.

[italia]

Originally Posted by Missy Mariposa

Google *ANYTHING* is bad for the hobby. The fact women use it for work astounds me more than words can express.

Google voice is also awful for letting numbers "slip" as Tilly mentioned.

Burn phones are piss easy - walk into Walmart and buy a SmartTalk right off the shelf. Pitch it in the garbage, go to a different Walmart, buy another one.

what happens when u've gone to all the walmarts in ur hometown lol ijs do we travel to another town

[mirandalee]

If you really think about it you could be at risk regardless of what type of phone u have whether its prepaid or whatever there is something called cell phone towers that records all conversations and LE could find your exact location. So nothing is really safe except try to screen as best as you can.I have not had no issues with google voice..

[plainjoe]

Hobby phone and minutes replenished using cash. The less record out there of my hobbying, the better.
Google's new privacy policy does not seem too secure. Every few months, new information is revealed about Facebook and how it collects, consolidates, and uses/sell data. Is Google that far behind?

[mirandalee]

Nothing is really secure, but Im pretty smart and careful I delete all my numbers everyday all you do is screen well and check refrrences. Whether you have another phone or not if LE gets a hold of the phone they could still get you. I would suggest taking the battery out and hide it well lol...

[Missy Mariposa]

Originally Posted by italia

what happens when u've gone to all the walmarts in ur hometown lol ijs do we travel to another town

Hah, the area I live in has 4 walmarts. Could easily just make a loop whenever you needed a new phone. I commute to Nashville where there's a ton as well.

But no seriously, there's other throwaway phones besides Walmart so I guess when you exhaust that option you get a TracPhone or something

[Sabrina Morgan]

Originally Posted by Missy Mariposa

Google *ANYTHING* is bad for the hobby. The fact women use it for work astounds me more than words can express.

Google voice is also awful for letting numbers "slip" as Tilly mentioned.

Burn phones are piss easy - walk into Walmart and buy a SmartTalk right off the shelf. Pitch it in the garbage, go to a different Walmart, buy another one.

Thirded (and excellent points, Missy). I've experienced the Google Voice "slip" as well; fortunately I was just testing it out with a few regulars and so the application was running on my burn phone, but as handy as their voicemail interface and block features are, the only way I'd use it for keeping personal information from prospective clients is layered on top of an anonymous, paid-with-cash phone. This is a known bug and it's been an issue for years.

I would not recommend that any provider use Google Voice as their hobby number layered on top of a personal cell phone in their name.

From a conversational data standpoint, texts and call logs are retained no matter who you send them through. Keep this in mind when communicating. Google just takes it to a (much) more ambitious level. Truthfully, our goal should be never to have a communication that could be construed as incriminating. Unfortunately the need to establish compatibility leads people to get sloppy.

It's much easier, and safer, just to get a prepaid phone off the shelf. If you ever run out of Walmarts there are Radio Shacks, Best Buys, etc. If you want to get fancy you can get a prepaid smartphone (bear in mind GPS/location data cautions if this is a concern for you). Reload with cash or with anonymous gift cards. Easy.

[AngeLisa]

ME nd my bestie use GV , nd it acts up,badd
i am considering a throw away fone because GV hasnt been RINGING.i can see i have missed calls or texts but it doesnt notify me sometimes

[JackFromPhoenix]

Great advice from all of you ... thanks!