I'm just as frustrated as the rest of you. The number you "supposedly" receive a call from isn't likely the originating phone #.
Your best bet is to NEVER call a # back you don't recognize. An unfamiliar # is not your long lost love trying to get back in touch, its not an old friend, it's not a family member in need, i.e., it's not a call that should pique your interest -I can't believe some of you saps call these #'s back (no offense)!
Secondly, if a call looks suspicious, I answer w/ my phone on mute... I don't say a word (usually a roto/autodialer won't originate a caller on their end until you speak). If you answer w/o saying hello, and their end remains quiet, chances are you have a scammer.
If you do answer, NEVER threaten these FCUKS. Sorry to say, but the ball is in their court. They know you're #, and you don't know anything about them. Let me be clear, the phone # on your screen is in no way related to them. Threaten them, and they will bother you more and put your number on more call lists.
The "Do Not Call List"? Hah, what a joke. There needs to be stricter enforcement on Caller ID spoofing, auto dialers, et. The jerks that call you don't have the DNC list, nor do they care about honoring it.
Typically you have companies mining for valid phone #'s (for resale, I've read the going rate is $0.10 a pop for every valid # they can compile/data broker -which is why I answer suspicious looking calls w/ my mute button on). Change your outgoing message to only reveal your phone # for those times you can't answer phone w/ it muted -then at least they don't have your name via your outgoing message. There are also smart phone Apps that recognize harassisng telephone/telemarketer numbers and spoof THEM that your number, "this number has been disconnected" (again, these scumbag telemarketer phone #'s are typically spoofed so these apps kind of help -but these *ssholes change their spoofed #'s often).
Write the FTC. Write your State and Local Reps. Federal Legislation was finally signed and passed into law w/in the past year or two but unfortunately the calls continue as nobody enforces closing "Caller ID Spoof" providers.
For further reading, check out...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caller_ID_spoofing
http://www.fcc.gov/guides/caller-id-and-spoofing
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2012/12/federal-judges-affirm-right-to-caller-id-spoofing-if-its-non-harmful/
If the Feds can take down the Silk Road, they certainly could take down Caller ID Spoofs and Telemarketers. Unfortunately for consumers, there is no revenue for the Feds to help us out, i.e., they don't care if your privacy is invaded b/c they can't make any money closing Spoof Services and enforcing the new(er) legislation isn't cheap.
Be smart, don't threaten these scumbags, don't put your cell # on surveys, the Do Not Call List is a waste of time, so is filing more than 1 complaint w/ the FTC... again, if you threaten these guys you will just be bothered more -that is until the Govt. takes effort to uphold existing law(s).
Hah, "telephone privacy rights". Thats some ironic shti!!
