Any actual way to reduce spam calls?

[Josh B]

My phone is a landline with a $19.95 phone/answering device from walmart
It is equal to a tin can and a string, I don't even have long distance

I answer with ""Hello".......(no response or recording) "Leave a message and I'llll call ya back"......Click


I get precious few phone calls, but by far the majority are real

 

[scotts90ranger]

I don't remember when it was, but a few months ago I got a call that was a robot obviously asking very sketchy questions like asking me my name and to spell it and what my zip code is, so I gave them Steve Genovski in 97301 (random name I thought was funny and just generic Salem Oregon zip code that isn't mine, if you know George Carlin stuff you might recognize the last name but I couldn't follow through with the whole joke and spell it Smith)

Anywho, that was a mistake as I got a bunch of calls shortly after but now I just get a good laugh every few days with a "High Steve" or "Hello Mr Genovski", somehow they have a 2019 F150 in the listing for this name so now they're asking for warranty follow up? LOL

Every call I get now is a person, most are EXTREMELY Indian and I can't understand their gibberish but still ask them (most usually politely unless I'm in a bad mood) to remove me from their list.

The volume is WAY down, goes through cycles it seems. I know I shouldn't answer but it's getting more entertaining now when I get a "Hi Steve". No more anxiety telling them off, it's more natural...

 

[ericbphoto]

I just embrace the calls and have fun. My co-workers don't even think it's abnormal now when I answer the phone and start talkkng gibberish or ask things like. "What are you wearing?" Or "Did you put that on just for me?".

 

[scotts90ranger]

I like that, they hang up too fast for that for me and I don't usually think about it, should really mix it up more but they catch me at bad times like the Indian dude I told off the other day when he called while I was trying to start a cranky pull start 8hp briggs that was just backfiring...

 

[Eddo Rogue]

Glad to know its not just me.
Between spam calls, unrecognized numbers, and people I dont want to talk to, my phone doesnt get answered much.

I keep it in airplane mode mostly now anyways, especially while working...unless I need wifi to stream music, then its in do not disturb mode, in which only some messages come through (which I dont mind).

I dont get people who will answer every call no matter what they are in the middle of doing and have hour long conversations about nothing.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I set them up for their monologue and then put them on hold.

You waste my time I will waste yours.