Stop Unsolicited Mail, Phone Calls, & Email
Tired of having your mailbox crammed with unsolicited mail, including preapproved credit card applications? Fed up with getting telemarketing calls ju5st as you're sitting down to dinner? Fuming that your email inbox is chock-full of unsolicited advertising? The good news is that you can cut down on the number of unsolicited mailings, calls, and emails you receive by learning where to go to "just say no."
Direct Marketers
Telemarketing
Mail & Email
or mail your request with a $1 processing fee to:
DMAchoice
Direct Marketing Association
P.O. Box 643
Carmel, NY 10512
Cell Phones and The Do Not Call Registry
Despite viral email, there is no new cell phone database.
Consumers may place their cell phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry to notify marketers that they don't want to get unsolicited telemarketing calls.
The truth about cell phones and the Do Not Call Registry is:
- The government is not releasing cell phone numbers to telemarketers.
- There is no deadline for registering a cell phone number on the Do Not Call Registry.
- Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations prohibit telemarketers from using automated dialers to call cell phone numbers without prior consent. Automated dialers are standard in the industry, so most telemarketers are barred from calling consumers' cell phones without their consent.
- There is only one Do Not Call Registry, operated by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), with information available at donotcall.gov. There is no separate registry for cell phones.
- The Do Not Call Registry accepts registrations from both cell phones and land lines. To register by telephone, call 1-888-382-1222 (TTY: 1-866-290-4236). You must call from the phone number that you want to register. To register online (donotcall.gov), you will have to respond to a confirmation email.
- If you have registered a mobile or other telephone number already, you don't need to re-register. Once registered, a telephone number stays on the Do Not Call Registry until the registration is canceled or service for the number is discontinued.
Computer
Alarming messages on your computer warning that a ‘free’ scan has found malware could be a rip-off.
Secure your computer and protect yourself from hackers, scammers, and identity thieves.
This Q&A can help answer questions you have about cookies and online tracking.
Getting rid of a computer? Follow these instructions to protect your personal information.
What to do if you think your email or social networking account has been hacked.
Here’s how to prevent a thief from snatching your laptop — and all the valuable information it houses.
Steps you can take to avoid, detect, and get rid of viruses and spyware.
Consider these computer security risks before you share files through a P2P network.
What to do about messages that ask for your personal information.
Who is calling out of the blue, claiming to be able to "fix" your computer? A scammer, that’s who.
Devices
What to know about apps that help you make purchases and find deals in brick-and-mortar stores.
Dispose of your mobile phone safely.
Consider these questions before you download a mobile app.
When you shop for an internet camera, put security features at the top of your list. Here are tips to help.
Networks
Protect the wireless network in your home.
Here’s how you can protect your personal information when you’re using public Wi-Fi hotspots.
All information in this article has been provided by
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