I DO NOT answer phone unless I recognize number. My ans. machine is NEVER on. Friends/relatives know my cell. If I answer then YES, they will sell the number. I keep a LIST beside my phone with these numbers and when a new number comes in, I find it n call notes. This has cut down on many, many calls because I DO NOT ANSWER.
I do something totally different and my rate of blockage is probably 99%. Well I still get the calls but only one time. I researched and found a way to stop these calls by placing a simple SIC code on my voice mail greeting. Everyone should be familiar with what a SIC code is. Ever call a number and get that three tone beep and then a recorded voice of a woman says "The number you have dialed has been disconnected...." Well that three tone beep at the beginning is the SIC code. How it works: Most the scammers are using a computerized dialer to call numbers. The dialer is programmed to listen for several things. Either an actual person saying "Hello" or the SIC code. If it gets the SIC code, it hangs up and deletes that number from the calling list because it thinks the number is a non-working number.
Since I work from home, I know what calls come into my house every day. It is rare to get a call from these idiots. But when I do, I just let it go to voicemail, the SIC tone plays and then my voice plays right after telling the caller "I cannot get to the phone, yada yada yada". I write down the number and have it right there on my desk. In two years, I have had only one number call back again.
SIC codes are easy to find and download. Just download one, then re-record your voicemail greeting. But this time, when you are ready to record the new greeting, Play the SIC code through your speakers first while holding your phone close by and then say your greeting. I have been very happy ever since.
Here is what I do.... Set your printer/Fax machine to have the fax come on after 4 rings.. Took care of many but new ones try but gives up after a few try's...
Ah, good to know it's those scumbags, thanks Cookie. I automatically block the entire 202 area code as nothing good comes from there. The caller ID on my CDR was the scariest yet: "INCOMING BABY". Thought it was an entirely different kind of call :)
I saw the caller ID "Incoming Baby" and so I answered it. The woman introduced herself and asked me how I was. I told her I was fine unless she's looking for $$ and that I think you're despicable for using "Incoming Baby" as her called ID. She said thank you for your time and I told her to drop dead. Sorry but these bottom feeders are incorrigible.
"INCOMING BABY"??? That's Hilarious! I'm picturing them launching babies into peoples homes -kinda like a new age high tech version of the Stork. A new version to tell little ones where babies come from!