1. How do telemarketers get my telephone number?
   
   There are several ways telemarketers can get your number:
   
   
   1. You may inadvertently give your phone number to them! If you sign up for a contest or sweepstakes, register at a new website, or make purchases on-line, a phone number is usually requested. Such give-away promotions may have less to do with gifts than they do with obtaining your number for sales pitches. If you have your phone number printed on your checks, your name, address and phone number can easily be copied and entered into computerized mailing/phone lists.
   2. Random digit dialing devices are able to determine all possible phone number combinations, even unlisted numbers, and dial them much more rapidly than any person can.
   3. "800," "888," "877," "866," and "900" numbers are another way for telemarketers to obtain your phone number. When you call these numbers, your phone number may be captured with a system called "Automatic Number Identification" or ANI. ANI uses equipment that automatically identifies and stores the number from which you are dialing. By matching your phone number with other computerized lists and street address directories, your name and address can often be discovered and added to marketers' databases. Not only will the company that captured your number be able to use it, they may sell it to other marketers.
      
      
2. How can I stop sales calls?
   
   It is difficult to completely eliminate sales phone calls. However, you can dramatically decrease the number of calls you receive by taking the following steps:
   
   
   1. Sign-up for free on the Pennsylvania Do Not Call List which registers your number on a list of consumers who want to avoid telemarketing calls. Every telemarketer that calls consumers in Pennsylvania is required to purchase the list from the list administrator. The telemarketer must then remove every name on the "Do Not Call" list from their calling lists within 30 days of receiving the list. A violation of the law carries a civil penalty of up to $1,000, or $3,000 if the person contacted is age 60 or older. Complaints against a telemarketer in violation of this law should be filed with the Office of Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection by calling the toll-free hotline at 1-800-441-2555, or by filing a complaint online at http://www.attorneygeneral.gov.
   2. When you are contacted by telemarketers, tell them to put you on their "do not call" list. Federal laws requires them to maintain and honor such lists.
   3. Screen your calls with an answering machine or voice mail service.
   4. Contact Acxiom, a large data compiler that sells consumer data to marketers. To request an opt-out form, leave a message on its Consumer Advocate Hotline at (877) 774-2094, or send an e-mail message to optout@acxiom.com.
   5. Contact the credit bureaus and ask that they remove you from their marketing lists. Four major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian (was TRW), Trans Union and Innovis have established a shared opt-out number. Call (888) 5OPTOUT (888-567-8688).
   6. Be aware of ways that you inadvertently release your phone number. Don't have your phone number printed on your checks. Consider providing your work number when you must give a number to merchants. Do not provide your phone number when you sign up for contests and sweepstakes. Avoid providing your phone number when you register on web sites. Be sure the requestor has a reasonable need to obtain your number.
   7. When calling an "800," "888," "877," "866," or "900" number, indicate that you do not want your name, address and phone number rented or sold to others. Also request that they do not call you in the future.

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