Wallingford, CT – November 7, 2011 – Rumors persist that consumers’ mobile phone numbers are being shared with telemarketers. Despite SPAM emails and many Internet postings to the contrary, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) says not only is the rumor not true, but adds there are no plans to share a cell phone number database with telemarketers in the future.
According to a news release and
information page on the FCC website, “…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 consumers’ consent. Unfortunately, not all callers are playing by those rules.
Connecticut Better Business Bureau Communications Director, Howard Schwartz, says nobody is immune.
“In recent weeks I began receiving illegal and unwanted automated telemarketers’ calls on my cell phone, even though I guard that number jealously.”
A widely-circulated email encourages recipients to register with the Do-Not-Call Registry by going on line at
www.donotcall.gov, or calling 1-800-382-1222. Both landlines and cell phones may be registered. Although legitimate telemarketers are not allowed to call numbers in the registry, unscrupulous ones still do.
According to the FCC, the rumor’s seeds were planted by discussions in the wireless industry about establishing a cell phone 411 directory. Email campaigns have been cautioning that if consumers’ wireless numbers were contained in such a 411 directory, they would be available to telemarketers. The SPAM messages also falsely claim that there is a separate Do-Not-Call Registry for cell phones.
Connecticut BBB cautions consumers that they may be hit with wireless charges if follow the advice of SPAM emails and dial numbers that “must be called directly from their cell phones.” Some of these numbers automatically charge consumers to those area codes which are often used for paid services such as daily horoscopes.
If consumers receive a telemarketing call that violates the do-not-call rules, they may report it free of charge to the FCC at
www.donotcall.gov, or by telephone at 1-888-CALL-FCC. (1-888-225-5322)
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