>On 18/01/2010, at 5:32 PM, Peder Kristensen wrote:
>YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR THESE CALLS
Actually this email is a hoax as only in the USA are consumers charged
for incoming calls as well as out-going and mobile phone numbers are
not about to be released to telemarketing companies. Note however,
that the Australian Do Not Call Register itself is legitimate however.
Here are more details:
http://www.hoax-slayer.com/do-not-call-register.shtml
Status:
False - Note however that while the claims in the email about the
release of mobile phone numbers is untrue, the "Do Not Call" register
itself is real and perfectly legitimate. Read commentary below for
details.
Example:(Submitted, March 2009)
Subject: RE: MOBILE PHONES - Do Not Call Register!
This is legit
YOUR CHOICE...........
This is for Australian phone numbers!
REMEMBER: Mobile Phone Numbers Go Public next month.
REMINDER all mobile phone numbers are being released to
telemarketing companies and you will start to receive sale calls.
YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR THESE CALLS
Below is a link where you can enter your phone numbers online to put
an end to telemarketing calls
https://www.donotcall.gov.au/
Commentary:
The Australian Government does operate a Do Not Call register, but
rumours that mobile phone numbers are about to be released to
telemarketers is untrue
According to this widely circulated email warning, mobile phone
numbers in Australia are about to be released to telemarketing
companies. It claims that consumers will be charged for calls made to
them by telemarketers.
However, these claims are untrue. According to a Do Not Call Register
staff member that I contacted with regard to the email, the
information does not originate with either the Australian
Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) or the Do Not Call Register
Operator. She notes that the The Do Not Call Register Operator has
received a number of enquiries about the message and its origin is
currently being investigated by the ACMA.
Moreover, the ACMA has now published the following consumer alert on
its website warning people about the hoax:Consumer Alert: Viral email
with misinformation on release of mobile numbers to telemarketers &:
associated mobile charges
The ACMA is aware of an email currently circulating providing
misinformation about mobile numbers being made 'public' in the near
future. It advises that as a consequence mobile users will be charged
for calls made by telemarketing companies to their mobile service.
While the email refers to the Australian Do Not Call Register website,
it appears to have originated in North America a number of years ago
and has been intermittently circulating since that time. The reference
to consumers being 'charged' arises from the different charging regime
for mobile calls in the USA, where often charges are incurred by
mobile phone users for calls they receive. This charging regime does
not apply in Australia.
The Australian Do Not Call Register has strong mechanisms in place to
protect the privacy of registrants. The numbers on the Do Not Call
Register are never provided directly to telemarketers.
Consumers can list their Australian fixed line and mobile numbers on
the Do Not Call Register, provided the numbers are used primarily for
private or domestic purposes, on www.donotcall.gov.au. Consumers can
also register by phoning 1300 792 958.
Under the Do Not Call Register Act 2006, telemarketers can check their
calling lists against the Do Not Call Register. If a telemarketer
calls a number on the Do Not Call Register, they may be in breach of
the Act, and may face penalties.
The ACMA recommends recipients of the email delete it and not forward
it on to other email users. A variation of this email was previously
circulated during March/April 2009.Like other warnings of this nature,
the message contains no references to back up its claims. The lack of
specific and verifiable details in the message is also a
characteristic of such bogus warnings. For example, rather than
include a specific date for the supposed changes, the message simply
claims that they will take place "next month". If a concrete date was
included, the message would obviously become outdated as soon as the
date had passed. However, by vaguely referring to "next month", no
deadline is specified and the message is therefore likely to continue
circulating for months or even years to come.
In fact, as the following example illustrates, the email is simply a
rehashed version of a long running email hoax that targets US cell
phone users. Apparently, some prankster has simply altered the
original American version of the hoax to fit Australian
conditions.Pass it along...
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 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 numberVariants of the US based hoax
email have been circulating since 2004. In 2007, The Federal Trade
Commission (FTC) in the US published information debunking the
warnings as hoaxes.
While the claims about the imminent release of mobile phone numbers
are untrue, Australian consumers can register their telephone numbers
on the Do Not Call Register. Users can register both mobile and fixed
phones. The Australian Do Not Call Register was launched in May, 2007
and is the responsibility of the ACMA. Information about the Register
on the ACMA website notes:The Do Not Call Register has opened and
individuals can register their home phone and mobile numbers.
Registration is free.
The register was established in response to community concern about
the growth in unsolicited telemarketing calls. It enables Australians
to list their fixed line and mobile telephone numbers, used primarily
for private or domestic purposes to opt out of receiving certain
telemarketing calls.For information about registering phone numbers in
Australia, refer to the Do Not Call Register website. Australian
consumers who are bothered by telemarketing calls certainly should
consider registering their numbers on the Do Not Call Register.
However, sending on the misinformation contained in this email forward
will serve no good purpose.
-Mart
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