Attorney General Greg Zoeller is reminding Hoosiers that the next deadline to register for the state’s Do Not Call list is Tuesday, Feb. 16.
Phone numbers placed on the list by 11:59 PM (ET) February 16 will begin receiving benefits of the law starting April 1, 2010.
Currently more than 1.7 million phone numbers are registered on the Do Not Call list. However an estimated one third of Hoosiers are still not registered. Hoosiers on the Do Not Call list not only receive fewer unwanted telemarketing calls – they are helping to protect themselves and others from potential scams.
“A significant number of Hoosiers still have not registered for the Do Not Call list and are not protected by Indiana’s strong telephone privacy laws. I don’t believe that people who aren’t registered want to talk to scammers or welcome disruptive telemarketing calls; rather they are not aware of the program and its benefits,” Zoeller said. “My community outreach efforts are designed to connect with those who may not be aware of certain programs, like Do Not Call, and could benefit from this and other consumer protection services we offer.”
Registration is free. Re-registering on the list is not necessary if you retain the same phone number.
Indiana law also forbids the use of auto-dialers to deliver pre-recorded messages without a live operator obtaining consent to deliver the message. These calls are often referred to as “Robo Calls.” The Attorney General’s telephone privacy division responds to consumer complaints related to possible Do Not Call, Unsolicited Fax and Robo Call violations.
Last year, the Attorney General’s office settled or obtained judgments in 39 cases involving violations of state telephone privacy laws.
To register a residential phone number or confirm a number is registered, call (888) 834-9969 or visit www.IndianaConsumer.com.
To receive early warnings about new scams, sign up to receive electronic fraud alerts from the Attorney General’s office.
