Acutally, these calls are illegal. As has become the cool thing to say, "look it up"-
There is a helpful non-legalese FAQ the FCC has made:
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/tcpa.html
Esp. paragraphs under the heading: Automatic Telephone Dialing Systems and Artificial or Prerecorded Voice Calls (so far all calls this number has made to me have been dropped-calls, i.e 100%)
For the legalese version:
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/policy/TCPA-Rules.pdf
Esp. sections (b)(1)(B), (c)(5) and (d)(3)
Telemarketing can be a respectable profession. Unfortunately, the majority of them intentionally break telemarketing law, which is rarely enforced. In my mind, an employee at a call center who, for instance, hangs up when you ask to be removed, who refuses to identify themselves and who they are calling for or who does not provide a NO-COST means for removal from their call lists (a long-distance call back does not count), is a criminal or at the very least abetting one. They are not "just making a living" unless you consider other crimes justifiable means to earn an income, which definitely calls into question your ethics on this issue.
Yes, if a telemarketer scammed you out of money or tried to, then you should definitely file a complaint with the FTC as well.
Under no circumstance respond to a random phone contact or return that call. Anybody who recommends doing so on this board on any other forum is a shill or another scam artist. Never do anything that will validate your phone number. Dog whistles and other high frequency sounds are good to use. Harass these thugs in return as a form of self defense. Complaints to the "Do Not Call List" WEB site seems to actually work.
And yes, telemarketersare the enemy! Give no quarter or consideration to random these telemarketer vermin.
Under no circumstance respond to a random phone contact or return that call. Anybody who recommends doing so on this board on any other forum is a shill or another scam artist. Never do anything that will validate your phone number. Dog whistles and other high frequency sounds are good to use. Harass these thugs in return as a form of self defense. Complaints to the "Do Not Call List" WEB site seems to actually work.
And yes, telemarketersare the enemy! Give no quarter or consideration to these telemarketer vermin.