Scammers send mass e-mails, phone texts, Twitter posts, or even make telephone calls, informing that “starting of 15th of next month, all the mobile phone numbers are going public”.

They also mention that the numbers will be released to telemarketing companies and “you will start to receive sale calls that you will be charged for!”

Of course, nobody wants that so it is no surprise that hundreds of thousands of people all over the world fall victim to this scam.

The scammers ask for personal information and – in the case where they contact the victims by e-mail – provide a link to a fake Do Not Call Register service that is actually in Australia).

How to avoid: mobile phone numbers are not going public, and if they do, you won’t be told about it just like that. Media will make it public.