our phone number has been hijacked, so we've had to change it

Some time in the last six months or so, a person going by the name of Terry Barnes decided it'd be a good idea to put down a phone number that wasn't his on any and all forms he filled out that asked for one.

I know he's done this because we've been receiving an increasing volume of calls from businesses seeking to speak with Terry Barnes at our unlisted home land-line number.

We've only given out our unlisted land line to a select few friends and family because, until Terry threw his pursuers into our lives, we've known that when the home phone rings, it's someone we want to talk to.

It doesn't matter that we insist there's no Terry Barnes at this number, we still get called again and again as Terry defrauds more and more businesses. Collection agencies, attorneys, private investigators... evidently the "there's no one here by that name" no longer means anything to these folks: they're all on the trail of Terry and he keeps giving them our number as his own.

In seeking help with the situation from AT&T, we were informed that the only solution was to change our own unlisted number and go about informing our limited "unlisted" network that we've had to move. Evidently this particular brand of identity theft happens a lot more than you'd think. The stakes aren't as high as when they take your social security number or credit card number, but there's still a big inconvenience factor.

Aside from my bank, PayPal and Google AdSense, I can't think of anyone that's ever verified my phone number. So of course, falsifying phone numbers is piece of cake when filling out apps at Blockbuster or the library or any other place that doesn't do an extensive credit check.

Here's an idea: smart vendors should start verifying phone numbers by requiring cell numbers and making a call to said cell phone on the spot to make sure it rings.

Oh, and if you happen to get any kind of application from Terry, cut to the chase and call the cops straight away. I'm sure all those collection agents would appreciate the tip.