Recently I was asked about the following email:

HEADS UP

REMEMBER: Cell Phone Numbers Go Public today.

REMINDER... all cell phone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies tomorrow and you will start to receive sale 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 TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS.. It takes about 20 seconds.

[More:]

According to the ftc website:

The Truth about Cell Phones and the National Do Not Call Registry

"If you’ve received an e-mail telling you that your cell phone is about to be assaulted by telemarketing calls as a result of a new cell phone number database, rest assured that this is not the case. Telemarketing to cell phone numbers has always been illegal in most cases and will continue to be so. In response to recent e-mail campaigns urging consumers to place their cell phone numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry, the Federal Trade Commission and Federal Communications Commission issue this advisory to give consumers the facts."

Read the rest of the advisory.

Also, there is a sentence in this message that makes me think that this is a hoax. The following line: HELP OTHERS BY PASSING THIS ON TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS or wording like that is normally part of hoax emails.

So, read the information on the ftc website and make your own decision on whether or not to add your cell phone to the do not call registry.

Dave