There are growing concerns that signing up for Canada's "do-not-call" registry may actually increase the likelihood a number will be called by telemarketers.
The list, which was created in 2008, was created to prevent telemarketers from calling people who did not wish to be sold to.
However, its availability for online purchase has made signatories targets for the companies from which it is supposed to be protecting them. Companies are being charged $50 for the list, purportedly so they know which numbers do not wish to be contacted.
"The list is being purchased by fraudulent telemarketers who have access to a list of confirmed telephone numbers," Mel Fruitman of the Consumers Association of Canada tells CP24.
"As a bonus, they have cell phone numbers, which they never had access to before... It's not proper foresight."
Fruitman contends that the list should never have been created and says the country's communications regulator - the Canadian Radio-Telecommunications Commission -- does not have adequate consumer representation.
"The (do-not-call list) doesn't work," he adds. "Stop taking the names on the list right now. Stop selling the list right now."
A spokesperson for the Privacy Commissioner of Canada says the do-not call list is something Canadians obviously want. The commissioner's office is meeting with the CRTC next week to try to sort out the problem.
