Ever wonder where people sell your name to when you fill out a request form or profile form online?
Here’s a trick that I do: When filling in your first name put something unique after your name. i.e. my full name is Matt Maldre.
When I fill out forms I may put in “Matt Groovy” for the first name. So now whenever I get junk mail, if it’s got “Matt Groovy Maldre” in the address, I know where they got my name from.
Any word will do. Just keep track of what words you use for what.
Here’s some recent examples I’ve done:
- Matt Paperlover Maldre: Request for Domtar paper swatches.
- Matt Peppy Maldre: Dr. Pepper
- Matt Awakenow Maldre: Coca-cola
- Matt Newsboy Maldre: Chicago Tribune
- Matt GDFunk Maldre: Graphic Design USA magazine
i do that too. i will insert a variation of my initials as my middle name. yours are much more creative.
people at work find them quite amusing when they give me my mail. “hey matt peppy!”
That’s is really clever! I have an email address I use that way. When I get ebay or PayPal or bank emails declaring that I MUST TAKE ACTION, I know it’s a scam because the email address isn’t “real”. A friend of mine belongs to a book club and uses his dog’s name. He knows even the most official-looking mail is junk when it’s addressed to “Sparky Johnson”
My own COLLEGE sold my name to a local car dealership. Shortly after I graduated, I got a mailing from Jackson Auto Group congratulating me and inviting me to come down to their showroom. The nerve!
I haven’t signed up for any mailing lists in quite some time. This makes me want to do it again.
Mattlearningalwayslearning for ebglobal.com (Learning & Development Council)