Many marketing calls are now computer generated. Some use artificial intelligence to elicit interest or precorded verbiage using a person or computer. They are relentless.
But, there is an interesting twist. Many want to leave a message and have you call them back. They want to market on your nickel. Now, this will sound contrarian, but the best way to get rid of them is to answer the phone. Often, they won’t speak, so I give them a couple of hello’s and ultimately hang up.
If you do get someone, you can politely tell them you are not interested. But, frequently it is a prerecording paced with pauses to simulate an actual person. Once you sense this, you can hang up.The trouble is these calls are being made from numbers in your area. The idea is to get you to pick up. So, pick up and hang up,
We do need to do more to stop the relentless calling. We signed up for the no-call list years ago, but that obviously does not work.
If this is not stopped, people will stop answerlng the phone altogether. And, that would be a shame.
musingsofanoldfart 
Note to Readers: The number of robo calls related to a subject is highly correlated with the profit margin of a product. Car warranties are a good example, as most people that buy them usually forget they have them.
I never answer my cellphone unless there is a name attached (so the caller is in my contacts list). If the call is legit, they will leave a message and I can call back on my schedule. My phone is for my convenience, not for other’s. In fact, calling it a “cellphone” is a bit of a misnomer in my case. I use it more as a camera and google search device.
Janis, you are a wise person. Keith
Having gotten rid of my “land line” and relying entirely on my cell phone, I find myself using the text feature more and more. Hard to fake a text message, and ‘they’ know there is a trace. Unfortunately not all my new client/contacts make it to my contacts list so when I get a local number, I have to respond. A couple of seconds is all I need to know it’s spam and I hang up. Annoying, yes, but a lot of more important things are much more annoying, methinks. Kinda like commuting, you have to go with what is, or give up! Good points made though.
Thanks Sha’Tara. You and Janis have it down.
Believe it or not, I have started getting ‘spam’ text messages! Usually they say they are thanking me for an “order” that I never placed.
You’ve got to be kidding! … but then you woudn’t, hah! At least a text can be read, the messages blocked.
Nope, not kidding. The messages can be blocked, deleted, etc., just as the phone calls can be left unanswered, the number blocked against future calls. But, it is all annoying as heck and sometimes makes me sorry I even have a cell phone.
Jill, I get spam texts as well, but some are pfishing expeditions. They tell me something is amiss with my bank account, eg. Keith
Yes, mine are often along those lines, as are the spam I get in email. I’m so tired of it all … don’t people have anything better to do with their time than think up ways to scam others?
Jill, technology has removed the humanity, so financial crime is more clinical. Keith
Yep … they can call hundreds, maybe even thousands, all at one time and with a click of a mouse. And obviously some people are falling for these scams, else they wouldn’t still be doing it. Most likely those who fall for it are those who can least afford to be taken to the cleaners, too.
You are so right. The banking pfidhing looks credible, so some would open it up.
Sadly, the ones who fall prey to it are usually the elderly who cannot afford to be taken advantage of.
True.
This is so impertinent, I can’t believe it. Is that legal? Unbelievable how this develops!
Erika, impertinent is a good word. Annoying is another. Thanks for commenting, Keith
Yes, annoying meets it for sure too! I thank you, Keith.
Erika, I was thinking that if all non-American bloggers reach out to their American friends asking a simple question, “It saddens me to ask, but do you folks realize how untrustworthy the US has become under the current President?” Keith
Note to Readers: Today, the US FCC announced a Robo call scam, which echoes the above. The FCC said the call would be one ring during the night. The goal is to get you to call back and be marketed to while being charged 900 number long distance fees.
At one point, I was receiving on average, 10-12 calls per day. I installed a robocaller software that identifies and blocks, the problem being that it identified my friend Herb as a robocall and sent him straight to voice mail! And he was in my contact list. Anyway, I rarely receive more than 3-4 a day now, and I am grateful. I don’t have time nor patience for these attempts to con me. Sigh.
Jill, I need to look into that. Keith
Note to Readers: Several in our blogging community have written about scams:
– IRS scam: a serious sounding message says you are in trouble and must call this number to resolve
– Microsoft scam: a caller advises you your computer has a virus. They want to access it to steal account information.
– Grandmother scam: a phone call pretending to be a grandchild calls and says he has been in an accident and needs money wired. The grandmother usually provides several names to choose from.
– Bank scam: I mentioned this above, but a text is received looking like it was sent by your bank. It says there is a problem with your account.
All of the above are scams.