I've been getting a rash of these calls, also - a clear violation of the Federal Do-Not-Call Registry. Complaints to the DNCR, requesting follow-up info on the complaints, have gone unanswered.
Here is my solution, and likely the only thing that will work to stop this crap:
1. Register with the National Do Not Call Registry. You have now indicated your preference to not have any telemarketing calls, and any callers violating this are FAIR GAME.
2. When you get a call, play along as an interested customer. String them along as long as possible - time is money. Give any information requested, but remember: they called you - the info you give doesn't have to be correct. I don't know why, but when I receive these calls I can never get anything right - Name, address, CC#, phone # (why do they ask for that - they called me...), even my voice changes...Woohoo, tons of fun! If enough folks "Punked" these companies, they would eventually realize that no information they receive could be trusted and they would fade away.
3. Try to get as much information from them as possible and file a complaint with the BBB. If they are phishing for numbers for another entity (contractors, insurance agents and mortgage brokers seem big lately), when the other entities call, file a BBB complaint ("Unethical Sales Practices") for receiving leads from an entity that is breaking the DNCR law..
I use this method on ALL UNSOLICITED CALLS from callers that I don't know who want something from me, including non-profit companies (many of these seem pretty shady - "Sure, I'll contribute, here's my, uh, information..." hee-hee... Also, ask them to mail you more information - costs them money and helps the Post Office) and surveys (answer the questions randomly with no correlation to what you actually think or do...). I realize that these types of calls are not technically covered by the DNCR - all the more reason to have an alternative to stop them.
We're all in this together and it will take a lot of us to put a stop to the annoyance of these calls - feel free to pass these suggestions along to anyone and everyone.
HAPPY PUNKING!!!!