Q: I hear the term "Cellphone Radiation Scam." What scams are associated with cellphones?
A: Fraud and scammers always are looking to make a quick buck, and with consumers concerned about harmful exposure to cellphone emissions, many scammers are looking to promote "shields" to protect from the cancer-causing waves.
The Better Business Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission are warning consumers to be on the lookout for these so-called "shields" and advising consumers to turn to free options when limiting exposure to cellphone electromagnetic emissions.
Like many other "too good to be true" products, there is no scientific proof that these shields are effective. While it is always good to protect yourself from potentially harmful emissions, there are other ways to do it besides investing in a shield for your cellphone.
The FTC even notes that these so-called "shields" may interfere with your cellphone's reception.
Scammers typically look to jump on the latest scientific frenzy and find a new approach to a fraudulent scheme.
It is important for consumers to do their research before investing in any "too good to be true" technology. More times than not, victims will end up with a faulty product that, in many cases, does not actually do any good.
BBB and the FTC advise consumers to consider these free options for limiting cellphone electromagnetic emissions:
• Go hands free. When chatting on the phone for long periods of time, consider using a hands-free device, like an earpiece, or using the speakerphone feature. For short conversations, you may even want to consider just texting the message, which allows for a quick response and keeps the phone away from your head.
• Wait for a good signal. When you have a weak signal, your phone works harder, emitting more radiation. Phones also give off more radiation when transmitting than when receiving, so tilt the phone away from your head when you are talking, and bring it back to your ear when you are listening.
• Shop around. When looking for a new cellphone, consider investing in one that has a low specific absorption rate before you buy.
Measured in watts per kilogram of tissue, the SAR reveals how much radiation the body absorbs while using the mobile device.
The FCC has a record of this information for phones that were made in the last two years. You can find the FCC ID number on the inside of your cellphone's case.
Legally, in the United States, a phone cannot emit more than 1.6 watts per kilogram.
Get answers to your questions each Friday from Jim Winsett, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau Inc., which serves Southeast Tennessee and Northwest Georgia. Submit questions to his attention by writing to Business Editor Dave Flessner, Chattanooga Times Free Press, P.O. Box 1447, Chattanooga, TN, 37401-1447, or by emailing him at dflessner@ timesfreepress.com.