Officials advise people who don’t want telephone solicitation calls to register your home and mobile phone on the National DO NOT CALL Registry.
It’s easy and it’s free! Call 1-888-382-1222 or register online at www.donotcall.gov
Some things you need to know:
– Registration is good for five years. Unfortunately, businesses and non-profits – including faith communities – are not eligible to register.
– Some telemarketers can still call you. Charities, politicians and companies with whom you do business are exempt from the law. But you always have the right to say “Put me on your Do Not Call list.” This has been a Federal Rule since 1996.
– The DO NOT CALL Registry will not protect you from crooks! Never talk to strangers on the phone. Simply say, “I do not do business (do not give to charities) over the phone,” then hang up – remember that you are in control of your phone!
-Be careful what you sign. Companies can call with your written permission, so look carefully at contracts, order forms, contest entry forms, and other things you sign to make sure you’re not agreeing to be called without realizing it.
-It may take a while to notice fewer calls. Most telemarketers should not call your number once it has been on the registry for 31 days. If they do, you can file a complaint at www.donotcall.gov.
-Register for Florida’s Do Not Call Registry. Call 1-800-435-7352 or go to www.fl-ag-online.com. It costs $10 a year which covers the administrative costs and $5 every year thereafter.
For assistance, call the Sheriff’s Office Fraud Line: 239-477-1242

Source: CASE, Communities Against Senior Exploitation