Did You Get This Email?

Here's an oldie but goodie that's been making the rounds since 2005.
Here is the message in question:
REMEMBER: Cell Phone Numbers Go Public next month.




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 TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS... It takes about 20 seconds.

?Are telemarketers really chomping at the bit, waiting for cell phone numbers to go public next month? In a word, NO.

First of all: There's no such thing as a complete, nationwide directory of cell phone numbers. Several so-called "Wireless 911" services have tried to get off the ground, but without much success—and besides, Wireless 911 directories are opt-in only, meaning that callers who do nothing wouldn't be included.

Next: There's no deadline for registering your cell phone on the federal "Do Not Call" list, and thanks to recent legislation, all numbers on the list will stay there permanently, not just for five years.

Finally: Keep in mind that the FCC already bans telemarketers from using automated dialers to call cell phone numbers—and since automated dialers are "standard in the industry" (as the FTC puts it), that essentially puts the kibosh on 99.9 percent of cell-phone telemarketing calls.

So no, your cell phone number is NOT going public next month, and the next time someone forwards you a warning that it is, please nip that message in the bud.
(paraphrased from Yahoo.tech)

It is still a good idea to get your phone registered to prevent those unwanted calls.
You can go to the Federal Trade Commission site to read about it for yourself.
You can visit the National Do Not Call Registry to register on-line.

Read more at About.com: Urban Ledends