Don’t phone me, don’t …

Cell phone numbers are not, repeat, not about to be released en masse to telemarketers. That rumor, fueled by fears that cell phones were about to be inundated with unsolicited sales calls, has not been true since it began circulating more than eight years ago. What is true, and what likely spurred the rumors, is that at about the same time several major wireless service providers proposed compiling a cell phone directory, in part because of the trend toward abandoning land lines. Even if the plan had not been shelved, about six years ago, customers would have had to give permission for their numbers to be included.That phone numbers would be “released” to telemarketers and that anyone receiving sales calls would be charged are clues that this is a hoax. There is simply no reason or directive for a telecommunications company to release numbers, and whether or not someone pays for an incoming call depends on their data plan.Also true: Scammers are taking advantage as the alarming message continues to circulate in emails and on Facebook. They pose as officials with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and offer to add people to the Do Not Call registry, requesting personal information for verification. What they are really up to is identity theft. The FTC does not call people. Scams such as this, through email, have also been reported.Consumers are advised to give out no information, but to try to get the caller’s organization and phone number and report it to the FTC at www.ftc.gov or by phone at 877-FTC-HELP, or to the office of the state’s attorney general.The most common message being copied and pasted is that a phone number is protected for five years. A registration does not expire under the Do-Not-Call Improvement Act of 2007. However, you may still receive sales calls for up to a month.There is no charge to sign up and the only information requested is an email for online registration. Clicking on a link in the email verifies the phone number submitted at the website and completes the registration. Call 888-382-1222 or go to www.donotcall.gov.