Love this site - I have an iPhone, and if you jailbreak it (Google if you don't know what that means - you need to do it!), there's a program in Cydia called iBlacklist, which lets you BLOCK callers (you can choose what happens when a certain number calls, such as: Voicemail, Busy Signal, Accept and Hangup, No Action [which does nothing], and Accept), and it also has a White List (which is very useful for parents, since you can setup the phone to only allow calls to and from pre-defined numbers.)
I create blacklists in iBlacklist, and put these numbers in - no unwanted calls EVER ring on my phone (OK, well, sometimes one will pop up that I don't have, which is why I end up here, find out who it is, and add them to the proper blacklist.) Bada bing, they always get a busy signal when they call me. :D
Of course, from now one I'm giving them my Google Voice number, which is WAY better; Google Voice forwards to my "real" number, so it's transparent to the caller, but the BEST feature of Google Voice is that when someone calls, I can go into the settings and BLOCK that person/number - if they call again, they'll get a recording saying "This number is no longer in service." For everyone else, it works fine. Plus, when I answer a Google Voice call, I just press 4, and it RECORDS THE CALL FOR ME.
Google Voice works with *any* phone, not just an iPhone. Check it out - you won't be disappointed. Plus you can pick your phone number (and have it spell what you want, if it's available! Mine spells something dirty. LOL)
Maybe it's easier for *you* to answer if your phone will "blow up" otherwise. Sounds like you need a new phone.
My phone gets put on silent mode. Caller ID flashes when someone is calling. If it's someone I want to talk to, I pick it up. If not, or it's a number I don't recognize, I don't pick it up and my phone somehow doesn't explode like yours does.
That's a habit everyone needs to take up (don't answer the phone from unknown or anonymous calls) and there'd be a lot less of this harassment going on.
I started getting these calls a couple of days ago. The calls started coming from FL, then TX, now PA from these numbers:
FL 954-473-7001
TX 469-201-4312
PA 814-234-7669
I do not have an account with BofA. I went to BofA directly and there is no activity happening against in my against my personal data. The FL and TX numbers are not listed by BofA as any of their offices (I didn't check the PA number). I called the numbers back from a fax line and from skype. My call is immediately transferred. The TX number answered as customer service, I asked if this was Sears Customer Service, they said no, thanks for calling. The FL number was also immediately transferred. I think they just said hello. I asked if this was Sears Customer Service, they said it was card services. A collection agency will usually leave a message, a number and a name of a person to call back and speak with (at least initially). A con or unscrupulous sales person will identify themselves as someone they are not (such as BofA). I have never answered any of the calls. It seems I get a few calls for a day, maybe two and the next call is the same type coming from another state as I have shown.