Someone here mentioned in another thread that they would like to see something done about unsolicited telemarketers. I have my personal phone in addition to a cell phone I use to run my business. While getting these calls on my personal phone can be dealt with by simply not answering if I don't recognize the number, I can't do that on my business phone because it may be a potential customer. This problem is made even more difficult because the telemarketers disguise their number so that appears as a local number that is not their own. The telemarketers as of late have been blowing it up too, to the point I would consider it harassment. While I don't think it should be illegal to make a sales call, I do feel like there should be some sort of FCC regulation making it illegal to disguise your number as someone else's. If you are conducting business, you should be forced to display YOUR number and it be a number someone can call back. That way the people you call 10 times a day can call you back and hold you accountable for your annoyance. I feel like this alone would drastically reduce the number of telemarketer calls a day , especially from the same ones over and over. Also, this is not something that would infringe on someone's rights to conduct business via the telephone, only not let you do it "anonymously". These people would slack off if they knew people could tie their business to a phone number and they would be able to suffer some sort of backlash. Thoughts?????

not sure how to regulate overseas scammers?

That was my post. And I'd like to see these folk tied to a tree and their skin flailed off until dead. I'm in the same boat. Business, I have to answer. I get a notice on my phone that says possible scam. I don't usually answer those. Until one day I accidently did, and it was a client wanting to do business. I noted a half dozen of them over the next week that was the same. So I HAVE to answer them, even if it says Scam Likely. I get 10-15 a day, every day, all times, late at night, after bed, doesn't matter.

We already have laws on the books about it. Doesn't matter, they aren't enforced. I don't know how to stop it, but there has to be a way. And it needs to happen.

Mine hav not seemed to hit me as hard lately. For years - the instant i see it a scam or a sell trying to be made - no voice, no nothing - just click it and hang up

Hav not had one in a while - use to get a lot. Wonder if they got tired of the click/quick hang up

I never answer an unknown number and let it go to VM. This has curtailed my telemarketer calls greatly. They get paid by the answer.

Most calls seem to come via marketing data sold. My way of subverting that is to use my google voice number for most online form input. It is not attached to my cell number so i dont have to worry about calls. Also i maintain a spam email address as well. The only people that get my real contact info are ones who I truly know and preferably trust. My wife does not follow this mantra and therefore gets a shitton of calls. She doesn’t see the correlation.

If this industry didn’t make so much money then the government would fix it but instead the FCC and AG pretend to give a crap while people suffer scams and identity theft constantly. Crime pays on both sides.

I answer call regardless of the number. Had a friend whose daughter got in a wreck and was ejected from the car. A person who came up on the scene knew who she was and tried to call her parents. They didn't answer because they didn't recognize the number. They had no clue that their daughter was less than 2 miles up the road laying in a filed, until someone pulled into their driveway to tell them. Even though she only had minor injuries , I could not imagine not answering a phone call like that because it might inconvenience me for 5 seconds.

It’s all day, every day here. Luckily, while I run a business, I’m in a place that I do not need more clients. I’m full. I let everything go to voicemail. No message, block caller. Very few come up “Mobile” but I get Bayou LaBatre, MacIntosh and Uriah regular so I know they are spoofed numbers.

Was told by a friend pretty high up with AL Power that they sell people's phone numbers to data center's. Not sure how that is legal

They do it, and its perfectly legal. You gave them permission to do it when you agreed to their terms of service. That is how your phone number gets out there. It could be from any company you agreed to terms of service with. Like the cell phone company who makes a lot of money selling phone number lists.

The cell phone companies canstop any number determined to be a scammer. They just dont want to do it.
Maybe with new rules that are going to affect the FCC, (if Elon leaves any of it remaining), the cell companies can be compelled to make it stop. A simple financial barbecuing of the worst offenders may cut it down fast.

I am sick of it, my phone has been blowing up lately, and its so frustrating. There just needs to be a federal law passed that requires all companies to get your permission specifically to sell your data.

Facebook is the worst.

They could have left a message

I'm having the same problem DB ..... I have to answer the business line I have no choice.... something really needs to be done about this problem.

Pro tips for Telemarketers. Drivebys catering&cocaine delivery what's your location? Buy two keys a third is halfprice. Act like your into the sales then ask 38 questions tying that rep up as long as possible. Tell them they have won a prize from your business what's their address so you can send it in. After you've had your fun ask for a supervisor and ask who sold them your info IF they know then take your rage out on those people. Yes sadly brothers&sisters I have to admit to being a phone jockey for a couple of years and yes most people who call are younger tattooed stoner types who enjoy being on the phone 7-8 hours aday because it's easy work for$2400 a month up to $3250 if you sale and collect a bunch. 3K a month for 155 hours of easy work is decent for these folks.

Most of the calls lately are automated. If I answer and it's a human, I try to sell them a home inspection.

Unsolicited telemarketing? Is there any other type?

I kinda like it whenever they actually Talk to you…

Yes; if I am just watching TV or something I keep them on the phone as long as possible. Time is money for them

So is your recorded voice. Never say YES out loud to anything. Its best to say nothing at all. They can clip cut your "Yes this Mr Smith" into "YES, I agree to pay you whatever you are asking for".

I get around 60 calls a day , and can damn sure prove it from my call log.