How to Avoid Telemarketing Phone Scams

I have received twice a call from 123-456-7893 and no message.  How can I avoid this number or block it? It's very annoying..

More at https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-123-456-7893

Received 3 calls in the last 12 hours.  506-226-26111  
Caller ID  -   Out of Area

Since 5/28/08  have received more than a dozen calls (one even on Sunday) from "Unknown Name",  number is 800-927-2291.....I registered last year for the government Do Not Call List....obviously it is not working; also have received 16 calls from other numbers too, in that time frame......and today, 6-2-08  received my first one on my cell phone...it too was supposedly registered on the cell phone's govt. do not call list....How do we fight back.....I tried to see how to contact AT&T about blocking the calls on my land line....have YOU ever tried to get thru to them??

The problem with the government Do Not Call List, is that it only works on real companies.  That just keeps the annoying legitimate telemarketers from calling you.  The people that try to scam you are either in another country,  or with an unregistered "company"..etc.

Does the Do Not Call List apply to companies calling from overseas?  No

More about 800-927-2291:

https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-800-927-2291

Reminder:  Do Not Call List - does not cover 100% of potential callers.  Frequently non profit businesses/agency are not bound by the laws.

ANY business you've "done business" with in the past 18 months is allowed to call you, even if you're on the DNC list, because you're a "legitmate customer."

So remember that every time you fill out a survey, enter a contest, give your contact info in exchange for a coupon, etc. that re-starts the 18 month clock. And the exclusion works for both the business you interact with and the "partners" they mention in that teeny tiny print. That also means that, even if you don't list your phone number in the ad or form or survey, if you become a "legitimate customer" they can do a search on you. With a name and birthdate (often asked for on those surveys and contests, to "prove you're over 13," almost anyone's address and phone number can be found.

Caveat contestant.

I keep getting phone calls from an Out of Area number. they say "please hold for a message from EIC" then nothing for about a minute. Finnaly i get a dial tone. Any ideas on what this could be. When i search for EIC on the net i only find earned income credit.

Has anyone been called by 617-628-7669? Actually says "Marketing" on caller ID, there never is a message, but it happens around 5:30 everyday.

Also...have been getting a call from an "Out of Area" while at work..but no message. Today, a message was left from a "Kevin" to call on "a personal business matter" but that it was not a sales or marketing call.
800-289-5426.  I tried to call back after 6 pm. Tape was "The Business Office". Anyone getting calls from this guy or number? Nothing on reverse look up.

I got a call early this morning. In fact it woke me up! Some East Indian woman by the name of Kathy Brown.H E L L O!! First red flag! Then she is asking something about my son who is a grown man and handles his own bussiness. She had his address but not his phone number. She wanted me to give him her phone number and have him call her. I asked her what is this about and she said I can't tell you. I said If you can't tell me then I can't pass along your phone number. She hung up! I called her back and used a Asian accent.She told me to loose this number. I called back a little later and got a man, again East Indian. We had a little fun, I told him I was going to give this no. to the Police this is a scam. He said can you spell scam and I said can you speak English! This went back and forth for about 5seconds and he reminded me it was a bussiness and it was being recorded. Yea! who cares I didn't do anything wrong. The caller Id.said 866-825-5473. The number where the person is at 866-825-5474.

617-628-7669 is the Somerville MA "urgent" public announcement phone that gets used for Snow Emergencies, street closures, and other citywide/neighborhood matters like fires and power outages.

If you're getting a call from it every night on a regular basis, call Somerville City Hall.  My experience is that they're very responsive.

Really?  I've tried for the last couple of months to get off and they haven't removed me yet.

The great thing about non-profits is that they need your money much more than regular businesses do.  If you don't want to be called, make it very clear to them, and tell them that you will not donate again if they do it again.  I worked for a non-profit a couple of years ago dealing with donations and had anyone complained about receiving phone calls (we rarely solicited by phone, so  I didn't get any complaints), I'd have removed their phone number completely from their membership record and made a clear note of it.  Donors are fickle and there are plenty of other places for them to take their money if you piss them off.