Cell Phone privacy

[Wendy]

My husband received this email from his company yesterday about cell phones going public I am not sure of the accuracy but he works for AT&T and I assume they would know.

REMEMBER: Cell Phone Numbers Go Public this month.
> REMINDER..... 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.
>

 

[Sarastro]

To my knowledge this is accurate information. I have already called to list my number on the "do not call" roster.

 

[mmack66]

It's an urban legend and it is not true. It's been going around for years.

 

[Austin]

Thank you Wendy. I just registered.

 

[Hreafn]

My number is on the list already, if it was a myth then why does the no call list have a place for cell phones?

 

[Wendy]

I have heard of this in the past but I do not think AT&T would tell their employees this if were an untruth.

 

[mmack66]

You can place your cell phone number on the Do Not Call list if you want, but cell phone numbers are not being released to telemarketers this month. A quick google search will show that this email has been sent around for years.

http://urbanlegends.about.com/od/business/a/cell_directory.htm

 

[cricky101]

I get similar e-mails a few times each year too.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/cell411.asp

 

[BlackBard]

Sorry to disappoint, but this is a false alarm. It is true that you can register your mobile phone number on the "Do Not Call" list, but it is false that your number will be given to telemarketers. There is no mobile phone directory. See this site for details:

http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/cell411.asp

 

[airplanedoc]

yep its BS, Seen it over and over. It does serve as a good reminder thou to get relist your house number on the do not call list if you still have a home phone.

 

[FreezerBurns]

Sorry to disappoint, but this is a false alarm. It is true that you can register your mobile phone number on the "Do Not Call" list, but it is false that your number will be given to telemarketers. There is no mobile phone directory. See this site for details:

http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/cell411.asp

Yeah, I was just looking there as well. Can't hurt to register though. Another thing is the registration does not expire in 5 years.

 

[Edcculus]

Yea, these emails/messages go out about twice a year speaking of some impending doomsday when telemarketers will have our cell numbers. I guess it can't hurt to regisgter although its not true.

 

[mckolit]

The first minute is free on all incoming calls on my cell so I'll just hang up after 59 seconds.

 

[rickboone1]

Register all you like, but bear in mind that if you put any of your information any place stating you want information about this or that...you will get called. Of course, at that point, you can inform them to take you off their list if in fact you do not want to get called by that particular company any more.

On the other hand, sometimes it doesn't hurt to listen to what they have to say either. Maybe they will have something that would prove quite beneficial to you.

 

[airplanedoc]

but bear in mind that if you put any of your information any place stating you want information about this or that...you will get called

That is why I don't give out my real name, address, email, or phone number to surveys etc.

I have also set up alternate email accounts for things like facebook and the like.

 

[funkyb]

That is why I don't give out my real name, address, email, or phone number to surveys etc.

I have also set up alternate email accounts for things like facebook and the like.

This is smart and worth the hassle.

 

[Wendy]

You can place your cell phone number on the Do Not Call list if you want, but cell phone numbers are not being released to telemarketers this month. A quick google search will show that this email has been sent around for years.

http://urbanlegends.about.com/od/business/a/cell_directory.htm

Funny how there are AT&T advertisements on the same page. That is rather disturbing that a company would send an email like this to employees considering it is a phone company who provides cellular service as well.

 

[kwk285]

I have learned that if I don't pick up the phone, I don't have to talk to the person on the other end of the line.

I refuse to pick up my phone if I don't recognize the number or if the number is blocked.

 

[toucanlamp]

Yeah for starters I made sure I have caller ID on my cell phone and if it is a number I don't recognize I just let them leave a message for me.

In Canada here they made a do not call list a while back and it is just amazing. I went from probably 4 or so evening telemarketing calls per week to just a single one since, and I just reminded them that I'm on the do not call list and they should please not call back

But I wish they had cell phone numbers public, so few younger people have land lines these days and so it's impossible to look somebody up in the phonebook.

 

[raisindot]

My number is on the list already, if it was a myth then why does the no call list have a place for cell phones?

It doesn't. Please read the following link from the FCC that puts this whole urban legend to rest. You can enter both regular and cell phone numbers on the DNC list.

http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/truthaboutcellphones.html

Jeff in Boston