Is your cell phone number going public this month?

By now you should know the answer, NO!  Three times in the past two months clients have received a email identical, or similar to this,  

Subject: Cell phone numbers go public this month - Do Not Call number

 PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

REMINDER..... all cell phone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies and you will start to receive sales 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. It takes about 20 seconds. 

https://www.donotcall.gov/default.aspx

You cell phone number is not going public, here is the statement straight from the FCC, 

The Facts

At present, a wireless 411 directory is only in the idea stage.

Even if a wireless 411 directory is established, most telemarketing calls to wireless phones would still be illegal. For example, it is unlawful for any person to make any call (other than a call made for emergency purposes or made with express prior consent) using any automatic telephone dialing system or any artificial or prerecorded voice message to any telephone number assigned to a paging service, mobile telephone service or any service for which the called party is charged for the call. This prohibition applies regardless of whether the number is listed on the national Do-Not-Call list.

FCC Website Link

It look like the FCC is painfully aware of the scams that have been going on.  If you receive one of these emails, please reply to the sender with this post.   The only way that we can stop these hoaxes is with facts and follow up.   If you are interested in more information on the hoax, check out the Snopes listing,

Celling your Soul