[Bordermarch] Fwd: Do Not Call registration - FYI (FALSE INFORMATION)

Tue Apr 5 21:29:45 PDT 2005

Spam lists false deadline to block cell phones

By PAUL WENSKE
Columnist
Whew! Talk about the evil power of spam to mislead unsuspecting consumers!
A bogus e-mail has been scaring the dickens out of millions of cellular
telephone users led to believe they face a crushing deadline to block
telemarketers.
It's untrue. But rampant rumors drove about 7 million people to call the
Federal Trade Commission in a panic in the last several weeks to register
their cell phones on the national do-not-call registry. Normally the
registry gets only 250,000 calls in a week.
"This demonstrates the power of the Internet for good and evil," said FTC
spokeswoman Jen Schwartzman. She said there's no reason for anxiety.
"There are no plans to release cell phone numbers to telemarketers," she
said. "This is nothing but an urban legend." In fact, she said, there is no
deadline to register either your cell phone or home phone on the do-not-call
registry.
Yes, there are plans afoot for a national cell phone "411" directory,
developed by the wireless industry. But it will not be published. And
participation is voluntary.
The recent panic was spurred by an e-mail stating: "In a few weeks, cell
phone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies and you will
start to receive sales calls."
The e-mail message gave deadlines - Dec. 15 and Jan. 1 - to call the
national do-not-call registry to escape telemarketing hell.
What gave the e-mail believability is that it contained a kernel of truth.
You can register your cell phone on the registry. But there is no pending
deadline.
Consumers can register their cell phones any time on the do-not-call
registry by calling a toll-free number, 1-888-382-1222, or by going to
www.donotcall.gov <http://www.donotcall.gov>  on the Internet, Schwartzman
said. You can also get there by going through the FTC's Web site at
www.ftc.gov <http://www.ftc.gov> .
In addition, federal law also protects cell phone users. Telemarketers are
banned from using automatic dialers and recorded messages to make unwanted
solicitations to cell phones, and other services that charge for incoming
calls.
By the way, if you ever received a telemarketing call on your cell phone, it
was probably inadvertent.
It can result from using your cell phone to order a pizza or to order
something from a catalog. The business you called, not knowing you were
using a cell phone, may have added your name to a marketing list that it
sold to a telemarketer.
Wireless directory
So what's up with this cell phone directory?
The new wireless "411" directory will be launched sometime in 2005. But
unlike traditional landline directories, this one will be strictly private,
according to Qsent, the Oregon phone contact company developing it for a
consortium of wireless carriers.
The idea is to add another service that makes cell phones an alternative to
landline phones, said Greg Keene, chief privacy officer for Qsent.
According to a survey by the Pierz Group, cell phones are the primary
communication device for 24 percent of consumers. Six percent of households
said cell phones are their only phone. Surveyors also found 53 percent of
consumers support a wireless 411 service, with privacy protections.
Keene said participation is strictly voluntary. He said consumers must, in
fact, ask to be listed in the directory. Revenue will come from charges when
consumers actually use the service. The charges will be similar to what is
charged now to get a landline number.
And there is no charge if consumers later choose to opt out. Also, Keene
said names from the directory are scrubbed from the company's records.
The directory will not be published and numbers will not be shared with
telemarketers. Keene said cell phone numbers would only be made available
when a caller asks an operator for another person's phone number, the same
way a directory works now.
The only difference is the operator will ask callers whether they want the
other person's land number or cell phone number.
The wireless directory is expected to be launched by individual carriers.
Expect it to be offered sometime next spring.

-----Original Message-----
From: bordermarch-bounces+kpicou=gt.rr.com at ansteorra.org
[mailto:bordermarch-bounces+kpicou=gt.rr.com at ansteorra.org]On Behalf Of
kandace harris
Sent: Tuesday, April 05, 2005 8:33 PM
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Bentley; Barnoy of Bordormarch; Brain; Desmond or Brents; buddy; J.Scott
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Subject: [Bordermarch] Fwd: Do Not Call registration - FYI

Cathy Lempa <clempa at sysmatrix.net> wrote:
From: "Cathy Lempa" <clempa at sysmatrix.net>
Subject: Do Not Call registration - FYI
Date: Tue, 5 Apr 2005 13:28:57 -0500

HEY JUST A QUICK REMINDER......
In a few weeks, cell phone numbers are being released to
telemarketing companies and you will start to receive sale
calls. You will be charged for these calls.

    Call this number from your cell phone 888-382-1222.
It is the national DO NOT CALL list. It only takes a minute
of your time. It blocks your number for 5 years. Please pass
this on to everyone you know who doesn't want to be hassled.

You can also register for this service, on-line,
at   www.donotcall.gov <http://www.donotcall.gov/>

It's nice to be important..but....It's more important to be
nice...Ly.Kandyce of Oakclyffe
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