A woman by the name of Irene called just now, claiming to be from Windows... calling about reports coming from my computer that it was infected. I calmly said "please remove my name and phone number from your list." She said "I cannot do that." I said "you are required by law to remove it when I ask you to." She continued with her 'spiel' and I said "OK... I'm going to call Windows to see if you are calling from them. What is your call-back number?" She gave me this number: 1-866-989-0965... even though the number on my caller ID is 209-555-0109.
I have found that it is better to answer an unknown phone call and request that they remove my name and number from their list... which the reputable ones readily agree to... than to ignore the call and see that they call back over and over again.
>> I have found that it is better to answer an unknown phone call and request that they remove my name and number from their list... which the reputable ones readily agree to <<
If you are on the Do Not Call list, reputable telemarketers would not be calling you!
Therefore, ANY "telemarketing" call you get, is from a spammer / scammer.
Calling them back does not do anything but verify your phone number is "live".
If the call is from a charity, politician, debt collector, or other "exempt from the DNC" company, you might consider answering ... or not ... whichever seems to suit your fancy.