Hanging up on the 'Do Not Call' hoax

By Darren Weeks

I really wish people would do some research prior to mindlessly forwarding e-mails on the Internet. Nearly all hoaxes are very easily dispelled, when entered into a search engine.

I'm sorry to say that any of you who may have forwarded the email below, have been had.

Subject: FW: National DO NOT CALL list for cell phones [PMX:]

JUST A REMINDER...20 days from today,
cell phone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies
and you will start to receive sale calls.

YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR THE CALLS...

To prevent this, call the following number from your cell phone: 1-888-382-1222.

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.

PASS THIS ON TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS

Read.....

E-mail hoax sparks 'Do Not Call' stampede
"A hoax e-mail circulating the Internet has millions of Americans scurrying to add their cell phones to a national Do Not Call list to avoid telemarketers...."

The current national "Do Not Call" list is the ONLY one, and they accept all numbers -- including cell numbers. I entered mine into their data base about three years ago, along with my house number.

Here's another one for you...

'Do Not Call' List for Cell Phone Users?
"While it's true that the major wireless phone providers (Verizon excepted) have announced their intention to establish a 411 directory of customers' cell phone numbers beginning in 2006, it is not true that they plan to "publish" said directory for any and all to read.... In fact, per FCC regulations, telemarketers are already prohibited from calling cell phone numbers using automated dialers, which are standard in the industry."

While it's probably not a bad idea to register your numbers with the REAL "Do Not Call" registry, I'd be very careful about calling a number circulated in an e-mail and entering ANY personal info. The number in the message above is the correct "Do Not Call" number, but you cannot count on that being the case, unless you looked it up beforehand, as I did. I wouldn't put it past telemarketers to start up an e-mail hoax for the purpose of harvesting numbers to call.

If you wish to register your numbers (including cell phones) you can go to www.donotcall.gov . It is the real (and ONLY) "Do Not Call" registry, and is administered by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

All right. One more and I'm done. If you still have your doubts, read this right from the horse's mouth:

The Truth about Cell Phones and the National Do Not Call Registry
"If you've received an e-mail telling you that your cell phone is about to be assaulted by telemarketing calls as a result of a new cell phone number database, rest assured that this is not the case.... The federal government does not maintain a national cell phone registry. Personal cell phone users have always been able to add their numbers to the National Do Not Call Registry — the same Registry consumers use to register their land lines — either online at www.donotcall.gov or by calling toll-free 1-888-382-1222 from the telephone number they wish to register."

In conclusion....

It took me less than 5 minutes to dig these up. The best policy is to investigate before forwarding these kinds of messages. If everyone did a search prior to forwarding these things, most e-mail hoaxes would have their lines cut, before they ever got off the ground.