DON'T ANSWER UNKNOWN CALLS (If it turns out that you did not answer a call from someone you know, number not on this great web site, just call them back).
DON’T HAVE YOUR NUMBER REMOVED! (When you press the number to have your number removed, you confirm that your number is a working number and your known active number is sold to another scammer).
ROBO CALLS: There are 800 area codes with 9,999,999 numbers. Since Robots call every number in succession, they don't need to buy lists from anyone. The FTC receives 250,000 to 300,000 complaints per month, with robocalls responsible for around 60% of those complaints.
TO TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR HOME PHONE: block, use call forward selective, or save calls to a phone address book as spam with a description (spam medical, spam alert, spam microsoft), and continue using this great site for information. MY HOME PHONE (Panasonic Link2Cell Bluetooth® KX-TGH263B LCD/2 Handsets) BLOCKS 250 NUMBERS AND THE ADDRESS BOOK HOLDS 3,000 numbers and the phone talks to you and says spam from across the room (like if you are up on a ladder or disabled).
TELEMARKETING: (and I quote) "The Center for Investigative Reporting joined two news organizations in an investigation of groups that use telemarketers to raise money and found that most of the money is paid to telemarketers, leaving the charities with little, if anything. (3% in some cases)
Not only that but reputable charitable organizations don't solicit donations by phone.
So it's good advice to remember to just say no to anyone who solicits over the phone unless you actually personally know the person calling." (My information adding to this from CNN is: http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/19/us/scam-charity-investigation/