I don't understand the point of calling someone, then remain silent or hang up when the recipient picks up the phone. What are they telemarketing if they don't talk.
Your caller is a robodialer that dials thousands/millions of calls a day. A robodialer may call 15 numbers at a time. The first person who answers the phone gets the recorded message, or a foreign/domestic scammer. All the rest go back into the pool & called again later. In other cases the robodialer is trolling for live/active numbers. The most valuable for the scammer is the cell phone with text. An email to text program can send out millions a day for almost zero cost. All it takes for the scammer is a few bites, & someone to click on a link they shouldn't of.
Thanks for the explanation, Badge. I get a lot of repeat calls from the same numbers that I've been ignoring. Maybe I should just answer and talk, then I'll be taken off their re-call list, hopefully. Otherwise, the public is screwed.