Cell phone rumor appears to be bogus
Talk of a nationwide cell phone registry is false, Web site says

By Larry Meyer
Argus Observer
LarryM@argusobserver.com
Saturday, October 31, 2009 9:02 PM PDT

ONTARIO — This rumor keeps on going.

Despite numerous efforts to debunk it, the rumor that cell phone numbers will be released to the public or published persists.

According to a Web site dedicated to investigating rumors, though, the cell phone hearsay is false.

Basically the rumor goes like this: On the Internet and through e-mails, it is reported that cell phone numbers will be released to the public and people can, or need, to register their cell phone numbers on the national “do not call” registry for five years so they will not be bothered by telemarketers.

“I’ve heard about it,” Jacqueline Hendon, Verizon Ontario store spokesperson, said. But neither she or any other staff members had received any inquiries from customers or other members of the public, she said. Another local cell phone business representative also said she had not seen or heard of the rumor.

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According to truthorfiction.com, a Web site dedicated to probing rumors, viruses and Internet hoaxes, these cell phone rumors have been in circulation for at least five years. Some versions claim that there is a deadline for listing cell phone on the “do not call list,” and cell numbers are being handed over to telemarketers, or cell phone companies are being required to release the names of their users.

All of it is a hoax, according to truthorfiction.com. According to the Web site, the truth is the government does have a “do not call” registry where people can list phone numbers they want blocked from unsolicited calls such as telemarketers. However, it is available to both wired and mobile phones, and there is no deadline for registering numbers.

“There is not a separate cell phone registry,” the Web site said.

There is discussion among mobile providers about setting up a mobile phone directory listing cell phone numbers, but that idea is in the preliminary stages and having a number listed in that directory would only be voluntary, it said.

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