Blow a whistle in their ear

Blow a whistle; horn; or whatever into a phone.    Will this work....?  Short answer, no...  An electronic system doesn't allow for your desired effect...

I have found that not answering any call whose number I do not recognize works wonders.  If they do not leave a message I simply add them to my "Call Block" list (New Panasonic phone allows up to 3,000 numbers).  Simply by not answering the phone I have found that I may get 3 or more calls from a number per day over the course of a day or two, but then I don't get any calls, sometimes, for weeks on end.

I think if you answer these calls you:
 1.  Validate that your number as ligit, and....
 2.  It is a number where person(s) will answer the call (which may place you a list of "Potentials" for telemarketers and scammers).

To argue with some maggot is basically a waste of your time.  My suggestion is to not waste your time.

 1.  Do not answer those calls.
 2.  Compile a "Call Block" list.  If you phone does not allow this, invest in a phone that does.
 3.  If an unsolicited caller actually leaves a message, validate it...  If you can't validate it, or determine that it's a scam, block the number and erase the message.

Basically, don't let these maggots have any control over you, take control over them by denying them what they are after...an answered call...

Just a thought,
Best wishes....
Tim

Keep checking back here over the next couple days - I will post some sort of an outline back in this thread.  Fundamentally I am in the category of Ignore and Block.  What I can add is a few tricks about how to work that system, what to expect in results and a few ideas on general information security.  I am guessing Chainsaw - who posted above - and I work about the same way. You see a drop in call volume fairly quickly, but the part that is really cool is the if you stick to your system, your rules and discipline, the calls continue to drop off.  And with lower call volume, I get a better idea where my info is leaking depending on the type of calls I am getting.  So check back.

These calls you're getting, the ones you say indicate the DNC isn't working, are they from legitimate telemarketers? Or are they from exempt callers such as charities, surveys, and political calls? Or, even worse, are they from scammers? See, if you're getting calls from legitimate telemarketers then yes, you can say the DNC isn't working. But I'll bet your calls are from the others I mentioned.

Your right B, I use to come up with humorous things to have on the answering machine, like me and grandchildren singing off key some strange ditty or something. Got fussed at for teaching foul humor to them, so a just simple due to the robo spam/scam calls, leave a message, and never answer and unknown phone number.

Sure...  go ahead and piss them off!  And for that one tiny moment of satisfaction, they're gonna put you back in queu, and also share your number, which they now know is working because you answered, with every scammer in the universe.  Congratulations, you've lost control over the situation!  As Mrs. Obama said:  when they go low, you were supposed to go high.  So, was it worth it?

If the calls are being recorded, why did the telemarketer who called me get away with all the names he called me, which I cannot repeat here?  I know he did, because the same person called back a month later.

Tygerkat: While I agree that the DNC is working with respect to legitimate telemarketers, I guess the other issue is it effective? Does the private right to action (lawsuits) and the FTC have enough teeth to sufficiently discourage unlawful telemarketing. Unfortunately, I think the answer to that is "No". The traffic on this site, the rising number of FTC complaints, etc would seem to indicate that it's not enough. I don't think the government alone is going to be able to legislatively solve this issue.  It has helped, and I certainly wouldn't want to see a repeal of the DNC, but more things need to be done. That is probably the largest sentiment behind the "The DNC doesn't work" and they don't realize how much worse it could be without it.

TT -

>>  but more things need to be done. That is probably the largest sentiment behind the "The DNC doesn't work" and they don't realize how much worse it could be without it.  <<

Unfortunately, it seems the greatest number of "The DNC does not work" complaints here are due to the fact that the poster does not understand the DNC! As written, the DNC rules forbid LEGITIMATE telemarketers from calling registrants.  There is (as yet) no universally acceptable method to prevent scammers and spammers from calling.  The scammers & spammers happily ignore the DNC laws, as well as any other law that might apply.

Yes, more things need to be done.
A good call blocker prevents second (and subsequent calls) from the same number.

But, you knew all that..

The FTC and top communications companies are meeting, to determine what they can do to stop robocalls and other illegal calls.  Here is a link to a frequently updated page, showing the history and progress of their initiatives, as well as recent Congressional bills:

http://www.phonehelp.2truth.com/initiatives.html

Moderately Snarky Observations:

1.  As expected, the Robocall Strike Force seems to be taking a long time to decide where to play golf, rather than settle on a viable technological answer.  AT&T however, is trying to get more subscribes, by stating they have an answer to the problem.  Here is a quick summary of what happened at the Oct 26 meeting:
https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-341925A1.pdf
Some good suggestions there, including Free Call Blocking!  However, no real implementation yet.

2.  Check my phonehelp link for recent Congressional bills.  Then, recheck the link to see what happened to old Congressional bills on the same topic.  Lots of smoke (and mirrors), but no fire yet.

~~~~~~~~

Quote:

Yes, more things need to be done.
A good call blocker prevents second (and subsequent calls) from the same number.

Only for that phone(s) with the call blocker. Not the other millions of phone lines targeted by telemarketers. I think that's an important distinction.  I just don't see everyone purchasing a call blocking phone and maintaining call block list as a scalable solution. At best it's a stop-gap measure. And the autodialers already scale up outbound calls in order to attempt keeping each live agent is engaged in a call, so more blocking will result in autodialers making even more calls/second.  Already it's not uncommon for a campaign to make millions of calls per day. And of course, caller id spoofing is becoming more common (as an anti-blocking measure).

Frankly, I'm not yet encouraged by the Robocall Strike Force. I think they are going to put in technological solutions, which will end up having technological anti-solutions to work around them. It's not really a technological problem (like building a bridge), but a social one.

I make decisions based on fear and the possibility of what might happen. I am fearful the caller may become irritated ifI I blow a whistle and it may lead to retribution.

And besides that it just does not work. You're better off not answering unknowns and not calling them back. Consider getting a call blocking device (or app for your cell phone)-they're available online and start around $45. https://800notes.com/nb/search?q=call+blockers
Call blockers do work.

Is there any reason your Charity can't provide you with a calling list that has any number registered on the National DNC List already purged from the list?  I would think that most legitimate charities would respect the preferences of phone owners.

Just from my own, personal, experience:

Legitimate charities do respect the DNC list, though not obligated to do so.  Since putting my number on the DNC, over ten years ago, I've received only 2 calls from real, actual charities and they never called again, after my request to be removed.

Federal law and regulations requires charities (and survey companies and political groups) to have their own internal do-not-call lists.

I recently got rid of United Breast Cancer, which was calling me daily and sometimes twice daily.  I finally answered the call, and a woman who gave her name as Maria said that getting hold of us was harder than getting her children to write to her.  Then she introduced herself and said who she was calling from.  I said "You're too late, she died."  "What?"  "She died, of breast cancer."  She got very flustered, said she'd add my number to their Do Not Call List, and hung up.  And they haven't called back.