Believe me, I do not answer these calls. If I do not recognize the number, it doesn't get answered. I read that if you do not answer the number, they will assume it is a bad number and not call back. However, if your answering machine picks up eventually, then they know it is a good number. I like to screen my calls if I'm busy or I do not recognize the number. I have reported calls to the FTC. Like another person mentioned, that number might get banned, but they call back on another number. It's so annoying.
One day I answered a call that was from someone I know here in town...only it was not her. It even showed her name on the caller ID. Some company had hijacked her number. I called her and told her about it.
One of the shopping channels had a call blocker on yesterday as the daily special, but you cannot even block calls if you do not know the entire 10 digits.
Maybe we should just go back to smoke signals!
A kind gesture can reach a wound that only compassion can heal. ~~ Steve Maraboli