NEW YORK -- Unsolicited messages, known as spam, flood e-mail boxes -- and cell phones. If you carry a cell phone, those spam messages could follow you.

Monica Fernandez just got a new cell phone, complete with text messaging.

"I went into my purse and saw that I had a text message," she said.

But it was not from family or friends.

"The message on my cell phone was an address that was indicative of something that was pornographic," Fernandez said. "I've had it happen to me twice already."

Fernandez had been spammed -- on her cell phone. That sort of junk mail used to be reserved for e-mail in-boxes, but now, advertisements for pornographic Web sites, sexual aids and fad diets are on the move, text-messaging cell phones and pagers.

"Spam going to cell phones and pagers and other wireless devices is, in fact, a growing concern," Direct Marketing Association representative Louis Mastria said.

Mastria said cell phone owners could ultimately be charged to receive those text messages they might not have wanted.

"It is actually not legal. You're not supposed to send any messages to any devices where the consumer gets billed for the call," Mastria said.

Travis Larson, a spokesman for the cellular industry, said Verizon Wireless has even filed a lawsuit against spammers who sent sexually explicit messages to its users recently.

"Carriers don't appreciate spam messages," Larson said.

How would spammers get your cell number? They use computers to search for phone numbers capable of receiving text messages.

To prevent cell phone or pager spam, you can register your cell number on "Do-Not-Call" registries. Also, experts warn that you should be careful to whom you give your cell phone number. And if you do get spam, contact your carrier so you're not charged.

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