# Cell-Phone "Do Not Call" Number: Yea or Nay? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 4, 2005, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-do-not-call-number-yea-or-nay/320108 "2005-09-04T22:43:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-do-not-call-number-yea-or-nay/320108/1 "2005-09-04T22:43:05Z")
I just got this e-mail from a pretty reliable friend: is this for real, or Snopes-fodder? > [@](#): > > JUST A REMINDER…31 days from today, 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. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-do-not-call-number-yea-or-nay/320108/2 "2005-09-04T22:53:30Z")
It’s real. [Do Not Call Registry](https://www.donotcall.gov/default.aspx) You can register all your phone numbers here. ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-do-not-call-number-yea-or-nay/320108/3 "2005-09-04T22:53:34Z")
Nay. The number works, but the dealine is fake. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-do-not-call-number-yea-or-nay/320108/4 "2005-09-04T23:02:01Z")
Snopes says: > **[Are Cell Phone Numbers Being Given to Telemarketers?](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/cell-phone-numbers-given-telemarketers/)** > > Rumors that cell phone numbers are going to be released to telemarketers if their owners don't sign up with the Do Not Call registry are false. ---
**Author:** ![Feydeau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df788c/32.png) [@Feydeau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feydeau)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-do-not-call-number-yea-or-nay/320108/5 "2005-09-04T23:03:00Z")
[Snopes’ link.](http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/cell411.asp) ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-do-not-call-number-yea-or-nay/320108/6 "2005-09-04T23:05:03Z")
Thanks–I do so much Snopes-forwarding my friends must think I own stock in it. ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-do-not-call-number-yea-or-nay/320108/7 "2005-09-04T23:09:43Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > Thanks–I do so much Snopes-forwarding my friends must think I own stock in it. Hmm… I don’t think snopes has a business model or an IPO date. 😉 [sub]I wonder if we could start an email chain letter spreading this as a rumor, though :-D[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-do-not-call-number-yea-or-nay/320108/8 "2005-09-05T02:38:38Z")
You mean you don’t know the real story behind Snopes? They’re actually a front for the Illuminati. Their role is to establish a rock-solid reputation for discrediting rumors and urban legands. They’re always a step ahead of others because many of the stories are originated by the Secret Masters so Snopes always has advance notice. Then on X-Day, everything will be in place for the Illuminati will make its master move and take control. But to do this they will have to reveal themselves and the world will see them for what they truly are. And then Snopes will step in and deny that all the rumors going around have any truth to them. People will believe them and hesitate to act, even if only for a few crucial hours, and all will be lost. And then the Great Awakening will begin… But I’ve probably already said too much. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-do-not-call-number-yea-or-nay/320108/9 "2005-09-05T02:39:22Z")
> [@Little Nemo](#): > > But I’ve probably already said too much. Look! There’s a black helicopter heading for Little Nemo’s house! ---
**Author:** ![John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ccd318/32.png) [@John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Kentzel-Griffin)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-do-not-call-number-yea-or-nay/320108/10 "2005-09-05T03:35:25Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > Look! There’s a black helicopter heading for Little Nemo’s house! No there isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-do-not-call-number-yea-or-nay/320108/11 "2005-09-05T03:51:05Z")
Go ahead and register your number with the Do Not Call list if you want–all you spend is a few minutes. However, couldn’t telemarketing and other unsolicited calls be actionable under the junk faxes law? ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-do-not-call-number-yea-or-nay/320108/12 "2005-09-05T12:30:42Z")
> [@Little Nemo](#): > > You mean you don’t know the real story behind Snopes? They’re actually a front for the Illuminati. Their role is to establish a rock-solid reputation for discrediting rumors and urban legands… And then Snopes will step in and deny that all the rumors going around have any truth to them. People will believe them and hesitate to act, even if only for a few crucial hours, and all will be lost. And then the Great Awakening will begin… Hmm… I guess that means all the ‘don’t trust us completely, trust your gut and research things yourself’ spiel from the lost legends section is all a smokescreen because they know that everybody’s too lazy to do that? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-do-not-call-number-yea-or-nay/320108/13 "2005-09-05T16:30:22Z")
The Illuminated Ones have been studying humanity for thousands of years. They understand psychology quite well. They know that having Snopes tell people to doubt them will actually increase its reputation for trustworthiness. A Secret Master would even do something like reveal the truth here just so it will be dismissed as a joke. But, again, I’ve said too much.