Feds: Cell Phones Safe From Telemarketers

FTC Says E-mail Rumors Mobile Numbers To Be Released To Marketers Is Bogus

(AP)  An e-mail warning consumers that cell phone numbers will soon be released to telemarketers is making the rounds again, and government officials have a key detail they'd like to add: it's totally bogus.

The e-mails say that recipients must add their cell phone numbers to the federal government's Do Not Call registry by a certain deadline in order to avoid being deluged by telemarketing calls.

But there is no deadline, cell phone numbers aren't about to be released to telemarketers and it is already illegal for most telemarketers to call mobile phones, the Federal Trade Commission said Friday.

It's against the law for telemarketers to use automated dialing to reach cell phones, pagers or any other service in which the recipient has to pay for the call. Automated dialing is used by most telemarketers.

The e-mail rumor has circulated before, but Mitchell Katz, a spokesman for the FTC, said the agency has experienced a recent surge in calls and inquiries about it.

“This is an urban legend that will not die,” Katz said, requesting that recipients stop forwarding it to others.

It's not clear who or what is driving the e-mails, Katz said. They usually include the correct number for the Do Not Call registry and don't appear to have any monetary angle.

The Federal Communications Commission said in a statement on its Web site earlier this year that the rumors may stem from discussions by leading telecommunications companies - including AT&T Inc. and Sprint Nextel Corp. - about creating a wireless 411 information directory.

But that idea hasn't yet been implemented, the FCC said, and would require consumers to choose to be included in the directory. In addition, the directory wouldn't be released to telemarketers and wouldn't change the fact that automated telemarketing calls to cell phones are illegal, the Federal Trade Commission said.

Consumers can add their cell phone numbers to the Do Not Call list, the FTC said, though it isn't necessary.

Telemarketers are prohibited from calling phone numbers on the registry, though there are exceptions for charitable, political or survey calls. Companies face fines of up to $11,000 for each violation.

It is true that phone numbers registered when the list began in June 2003 will soon expire. The FTC purges numbers after five years, though legislation is pending in Congress to make the numbers permanent.

People can check online when their registration will expire, or register new numbers, at www.donotcall.gov. New numbers can also be added by calling 1-888-382-1222.

[klingon69]

Yeah some calling is done by computer, the computer dials sequenced number or random numbers, if it gets a hit then it marks the number as active and goes to the next one. Then a human will call the number at the same time the next day. Simple huh?
Posted by ToolMangler at 07:51 PM : Oct 14, 2007
Actually, theoretically(sp) this bank of generated numbers are recalled not by a human, but by another computer. When a contact is made(phone answered) the computer routes the call instantly(almost) to any available sales desk. Many times the computer is slow, or there is no sales desk open, and the receiver is disconnected before the desk can get the call. That was the principle behind the catch-a-calls, sold at retailers. When the phone was answered the CAC would send an encoded data stream (heard as a beep) informing the calling computer that this number was out of service, thus removing it from the electronic rolls.

[mitch0927]

WIth all the online orders being filled, and they always want an "evening" number, what I do is just enter my work number instead. Like stated in other posts on here, never give out your cell number to online ordering, those numbers as well as email addresses are being sold to the highest bidders, probably form the Ron Paul campaign people, you know, the ones who wear bed sheets and preach the gospel. Inbread wannabees

[mitch0927]

I know who I''m NOT voting for and that is Ron Paul....havins his desiples place ads on comment board on news sites is cheap. But hey, he''s a KKK follower, they''ll try anything for someone to join their group of inbred, good for nothing creeps.

[sjw1253]

To those who say they get telemarketer calls on their cell - I have one suggestion:

Don''t fill in the cell phone number on any contest entries, any credit card applications, or any websites or other business oriented applications.

When you do this - there is usually a catch in their policy that allows them to call you on any number you provide.

Now - for those who have tossed their landlines for just a cell phone - you may have no choice as many times they do require at least 1 telephone number...

[psk123-2009]

Yes, telemarketers DO call cell phones. I get at least 4 calls or text messages per month on my phone. Stupid ads for more services I do not need or want.

[toolmangler-2009]

Telemarketers do call cell phones. Everyone I know has received telemarket calls on their cell.

Posted by httpwwwnews at 06:01 PM : Oct 13, 2007


Yeah some calling is done by computer, the computer dials sequenced number or random numbers, if it gets a hit then it marks the number as active and goes to the next one. Then a human will call the number at the same time the next day. Simple huh?

[dr1jr11]

I''ve gotten a few telemarketer''s calls on one of our cell phones---we have four, none on the others.

[klingon69]

They may not be allowed to call cell phones, but they do.

[kaiyo4u]

I''ve gotten that email and shrugged it off. I''ve also gotten telemarketers calling me on my cell phone. I''ve answered a couple of times (doh!), but if it''s a number I don''t recognize, I don''t answer anymore. They can leave a message....