We also try not to answer unknown phone numbers unless messages are left. However, sometimes I answer in German - haven't found any scammers that speak that yet. Like the Internet scammers, it's a shame that criminals use a potentially wonderful information source and make it harder to use safely.

There is a FREE (NO ads, NO cost) service which will intercept virtually 100% of all robocalls and telemarketing calls on the first ring and immediately disconnect them from your landline, VOIP line, and cellular (Iphone and soon Android) calls. Many (maybe most?) phone systems are able to use this service. We have been using the service at home (Comcast XFINITY voip)for about two years now and have not received a single nuisance call of the covered types since we signed up and as far as I can tell, we have never had any normal calls blocked. We receive several (one to five) one ring calls virtually everyday indicating that NOMOROBO is doing an excellent job for us. This service is one of the very few recommendations I routinely pass on to friends and family. NOMOROBO will require only your email address (for confirmation) - use a throwaway address if you wish, plus the phone number for which you wish to add the blocking service - that's all you need to do.

The NOMOROBO webpage address is:
https://www.nomorobo.com/

GeorgeRud wrote on Sun, 19 February 2017 16:10

We also try not to answer unknown phone numbers unless messages are left. However, sometimes I answer in German - haven't found any scammers that speak that yet. Like the Internet scammers, it's a shame that criminals use a potentially wonderful information source and make it harder to use safely.

... ....
Our native language, Dutch, works also excellent ...

Daniel

Handyman wrote on Sun, 19 February 2017 09:52

GeorgeRud wrote on Sun, 19 February 2017 16:10

We also try not to answer unknown phone numbers unless messages are left. However, sometimes I answer in German - haven't found any scammers that speak that yet. Like the Internet scammers, it's a shame that criminals use a potentially wonderful information source and make it harder to use safely.

... ....
Our native language, Dutch, works also excellent ...

Daniel

Wow, the only language I ever learned to speak is Korean and I haven't used it for almost 50 years. I doubt I could ever carry on a conversation if they were to respond to my greeting.

Yoboseyo

I wonder how they would respond to that.