The popular Wisconsin do-not-call list for telemarketers now includes spamming text messages. Sandy Chalmers, administrator for the state Division of Consumer Protection, says consumers had been getting tired of being woken up by late night unsolicited messages or some were losing money because their cell phone plan does not include free texts.
Chalmers says there is a common scam circulating from a criminal posing as Wal-Mart. The consumer is directed to a website for a chance to win a gift certificate from the retailer. The website asks for a social security number, an indicator the site is “most likely a scam.”
The agency cities a market research firm’s findings that consumers received an estimated 4.5 billion spam texts in 2011 – more than double the number received in 2009.
To sign up for No Call protections, Wisconsin consumers can register for the No Call List by visiting nocall.wisconsin.gov or calling 866-9NO-CALL (866-966-2255).