Litigation
Wrong Numbers Ring Up Profits for Facebook, Suit Claims
Posted Oct 23, 2007, 09:14 am CST
By Debra Cassens Weiss
An Indiana woman claims in a lawsuit that Facebook is profiting when its members mistakenly send text messages to incorrect cell phone numbers.
Lindsey Abrams of Patriot, Ind., says she received Facebook messages on her new cell phone number that contained explicit language and disturbing remarks, the Associated Press reports. The messages were meant for the person who previously held her phone number, yet she was charged 10 cents a message.
Children with cell phones are also receiving Facebook messages intended for others, creating “frightening and dangerous” situations, according to the suit, filed in federal court in San Jose. Abrams’ Chicago lawyer, Jay Edelson, told AP the class action suit is intended to force the social networking Web site to bar its members from sending text messages to recycled phone numbers.