Verizon: Local company took confidential info

By DAVE GUSSOW
Published November 10, 2005

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TAMPA - Hillsborough sheriff's deputies seized files this week from a Temple Terrace company that Verizon Wireless accused of improperly obtaining its customers' confidential information.

The seizure occurred after Verizon Wireless sued Global Information Group in Hillsborough Circuit Court last week and obtained a temporary restraining order.

Global Information Group, identified as a private investigative agency, impersonated Verizon Wireless employees and posed as customers to get the information, according to Verizon Wireless.

"It seems someone else may have hired them to secure customer information," said Chuck Hamby, a Verizon Wireless spokesman in Tampa. "The motives will come out, we hope."

It also is not clear what type of information was obtained. This is at least the fourth time this year that Verizon Wireless has sued companies that allegedly obtained, or attempted to obtain, customer data. Suits have been filed in Florida, Tennessee and California, including blocking telemarketers from making sales calls to Verizon Wireless customers.

In addition to electronic means, companies have taken the personal route, such as posing as operators, in their schemes to fool Verizon Wireless call centers into releasing information, Hamby said.

"We noticed a pattern in our customer service center," Hamby said. "These folks are trained not to fall for this kind of stuff."

Global Information Group could not be reached for comment.