Gary W. Halsey Sr.

Alert! "Cell Phone Numbers Go Public Tomorrow"!!



Posted: Wednesday, January 28, 2009

by
All Season Karaoke and D.J.

To those of you, like me, that have received these types of e-mails that claim that if we do not register our phone numbers with the National Trade Commissions "Do Not Call List" and that we will be bombarded with telemarketers on our cell phones and we will be charged for it, is totally bogus. I for one, have never received a solicitation on my cell phone, for the exception of my own telephone company trying to sell me additional features that I can get, like Web Browsing, Movies, and all types of other stuff or features, and I even had the option to "Opt" out of that, which I did. If you should get a e-mail that starts off with "Cell Phone Numbers Go Public Tomorrow", don't panic, it is totally untrue according to "Snopes.com". http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/cell411.asp

Snopes.com outlines in detail how this rumor was started, and added and I quote "Despite dire warnings about the imminent release of cell phone numbers to telemarketers that continue to be circulated via e-mail year after year, cell phone users do not have to register their cell phone numbers with the national Do Not Call registry before a soon-to-pass deadline to head off an onslaught of telemarketing calls".

"The panic-inducing e-mails (which circulate especially widely every January or June, since many versions of the warning list the end of those months as a cut off date for registering cell phone numbers with the national Do Not Call Registry) grew out of a misunderstanding about the proposed creation of a wireless directory assistance service".

Here's the Truth, and again I quote from Snopes.com " A national directory will be compiled, but numbers will be included on a opt-in basis. If a cell phone subscriber does nothing, the number will not be listed. When the Directory is ready, it will be available only as a part of the existing 411 directory service, accessed by calling in and asking for a specific number. It WILL NOT be published in a book or on the Internet. And it will not be sold to telemarketers.

Cell phone subscribers can list their numbers on the Do Not Call registry if they choose, but there is no deadline to get on the list, as the e-mail messages now circulating suggest".

This information can be obtained by going to Snopes.com at http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/cell411.asp

Also, as a footnote; "Telemarketers will NOT have access to the directory. It is illegal for telemarketers using auto-dialers, and most do, to call wireless phone numbers". (also cited by Snopes).

If you are experiencing a high volume of telemarketing calls, and you wish to put your Cell Number, Your home number on the national "Do Not Call List" you may do so by calling 1-888-382-1222 which is the number for the "National Trade Commission", or you can go to https://www.donotcall.gov/ You will note that nowhere within this site does it give such a warning about telemarketers bombarding your cell phones.

I highly recommend to everyone that before passing on these types of e-mail warnings, to check with Snopes.com, they research each and ever rumor there is on the Internet, from amber alerts to...well, you name it. It prevent me from passing it on. One day, perhaps we can end these panic messages. Hope this helps.

Gary W. Halsey Sr. Author on SearchWarp! Gary W. Halsey Sr. Featured Author on SearchWarp! Gary W. Halsey Sr. Featured Columnist at SearchWarp!

Gary W. Halsey Sr. has been writing since he was in Junior High School. He is a retired professional in the Electronics field. He has also appeared in a few movies as a stuntman, and also a singer/actor. His favorite things to write about are Entertainment, Poetry, and Current Events. What inspires him to write about poetry is everyday life experiences that we can all relate to. His poetry is a intriguing collection of original poetry which provides the reader a glimpse into the author's life experiences and views pertaining to a myriad of issues most of us encounter throughout our lives. Gary W. Halsey Sr.'s poetry and articles reflects a creative and insightful mind. For those who perhaps share and relate to these traits of his work, could be found entertaining and thought provoking. Mr. Halsey was born in Frankfort Indiana, in 1946, now retired.  
 
 
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)
» left by Ronyae
 3 years 1 day ago.
92 fans. Follow Ronyae on twitter!
Gary,
 
I, too, have been hearing this and seeing emails sent from cautious family and friends about a possibility of having cellular numbers open to telemarketers.
 
But to be honest, rather there is any truth to any of it or not, I still registered my cell number with the "Do Not Call List", as well as my Mother been having our home telephone number registered more than 5 years ago.
 
Thanks on the heads-up on the potential scare of having solicitors possibly having our cellphone numbers.
» left by Gary W. Halsey Sr. 3 years ago.
Ronyae, Oh, I encourage folks to have their numbers put on the list , what could it hurt, all of my numbers are on the list to reduce the possible number of solicitors that may want or try to call, its a good thing to put your numbers on the list. At least the scare gave us the opportunity to learn about the National "Do Not Call List", Thank you for reading this....I just thought folks should know. 
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