Cell Phones Go Public This Month: HOAX

by Glenn Littrell
(archived from www.glennlittrell.org)

It’s A HOAX:

reposted from August 7, 2011
from SNOPES.com 

“Washington, DC -- For several years there has been a rumor circulating, mostly by e-mail, that a nationwide directory of cell phone numbers will be made available to telemarketers, and that consumers will start receiving telemarketing calls on their cell phones.
There is no truth to this rumor. Cell phone numbers are not being released to telemarketers, and you will not soon be getting telemarketing calls on your cell phone. FCC rules prohibit the use of auto dialers and prerecorded messages to call cell phones without the consumer’s consent.
Thus, most telemarketers are barred from contacting consumers on their cell phones.”  source:  News Media Information FCC

Usually the phone number for calling the “Do not call list” is legitimate, so why does this hoax get perpetrated [circulating and updating since at least 2004]? Read my articles on “Spam & E-Mail Hoaxes”
Sources & References:

• Cell Phones and The Do Not Call Registry:     “Despite viral email, there is no new cell phone database. Consumers may place their cell phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry to notify marketers that they don't want to get unsolicited telemarketing calls. The truth about cell phones and the Do Not Call Registry is:  1]The government is not releasing cell phone numbers to telemarketers…”
• FTC FACTS for Consumers  “The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR) puts consumers in charge of the number of telemarketing calls they get at home. The..”
• National Do Not Call Registry     “Scammers have been making phone calls claiming to represent the National Do Not Call Registry. The calls claim to provide an opportunity to sign up for the Registry. These calls are not coming from the Registry or the Federal Trade Commission, and you should not respond to these calls. To add your number to the Registry you can call 888-382-1222 from the phone you wish to register, or go click on “Register a Phone Number” in the left column of this page. Your registration will not expire. Telephone numbers placed on the National Do Not Call Registry will remain on it permanently due to the Do-Not-Call Improvement Act of 2007, which became law in February 2008…”
• Q&A: The National Do Not Call Registry 

Glenn Littrell

The above was in response to the following e-mail:

----- Original Message -----REMEMBER THIS IS A HOAX-----

Cell Phones Go Public This Month:
Opt Out Information
all cell phone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies and you will start to receive sales calls.
YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR THESE CALLS
To prevent this, call the following number from your cell phone:
888-382-1222.It is the National DO NOT CALL list -It will only take a minute of your time. It blocks your number for five (5) years. You must call from the cell phone number you want to have blocked. You cannot call from a different phone number.
HELP OTHERS BY PASSING THIS ON. 
It takes about 20 seconds