The DNC is underfunded and understaffed.  Frequently the scammers' technology is more advanced than the DNC's technology.  I know this is not a satisfying asnwer but there we are.  To be sure, not answering a ringing phone is an annoyance but it is a small annoynace.

I, like the rest of you, receive these calls all the time.   Our government is WORTHLESS, especially when it comes to blocking these calls.  

Your only other course of action is this:  

Do NOT, under any circumstances, answer a caller you do not recognize.  When you do, all you are doing is confirming for them is that they have reached a viable, working number and then they WILL call you back PLUS they will sell your number to other scam artists so they can call you too.   If they continue to call then first, check with your phone service and see if they have a call blocker service (mine does).   If I continue to receive calls from a certain number then it goes onto my "Blocked" list.  

Also, just pressing 1 or any number they say to remove you from their list is also a scam.   It doesn't work either.   Also, I turn off my answering machine when I am home.  If it answers them, then once again it only confirms the fact that they have indeed reached a "Working" number and they WILL continue to call you.   Have a pleasant day.  Sure am glad too for websites like this.    

Thought for the day:  I Wonder what would happen if everyone stopped answering these calls.   IF they got no more answers then would they just give up and die ?

I will add that by using these tactics, there are days now when I have NO MORE phone calls from scammers!   Only had one in the last three days now.    Please folks, don't answer these phone calls.  Use your caller ID's.  

I hope these scum watch their children die of cancer!

I too am receiving a barrage of spam callers.  Unfortunately, it started three days after seeing a new doctor. I know he sold his clients info.  Seven harassing calls six days a week. My solution is to interrupt the caller as he starts to read his script and state in a firm voice, "This phone call is being recorded."  they hang up fast. The best thing to do is not answer the phone, but if you are like me and I forget to screen,  use the " this call is being recorded."
Hopefully you will see a decrease to a full cease of the marketing phone calls as I have.  Hope this helps.

Forgot but telephone company suggested removing my land line or get a new number.  Why should I be inconvenienced?  Try *77

This number in Wisconsin and another one from Florida have called me for 7 years.  Yes, 7 years.  I am not the person they are asking for and they keep calling.  I tracked them on the internet and just got off the phone with the sheriff in LaBelle Florida.  It is either a warehouse or mobile home park.  Always foreigners so I can't catch what they say at first.  Don't give up people.  I have just begun the fight!

Yes received same call, didn't answer, then another number calls 5 minutes later saying congratulations you have been selected: click and I hung up. Now I have an iPhone that now gives you option to block caller. So yes I hit to block and a box pops up saying "you will no longer receive, phone calls, text messages or face time requests" but yet the same number I blocked calls a day later? Wtf is up with that?

this number called my cell - I blocked the number from any further incoming calls...  then 414-336-1533 starts calling my 'home' number a few days later...  pretty sure Verizon is enabling this caller as they provide both lines to me and NO ONE has my home number except family.

Called on 5-22-2014!

Same. Wow, they seem to be calling like everyone in America. No msg. Early morning, New York.
Given all the hacking of names, emails, etc., I'd be really careful to not offer up anything additional (like phone # confirmation).  When will phone spam and email spam be seriously eliminated?

Free cruise - ??  This Wisconsin number had the same message as a Florida number, only this number is a cell phone !

They are preying on my elderly parents hoping they will make a mistake.  What a nightmare - pure evil.

rec'd call tonight...........they did not leave a message.
/we have been receiving a lot of calls from weird numbers, mostly cells.
they are checking if you answer and then pass the number on to the soliciters.

keep hanging up -------------- one idea that was given to us was to consistently press the
# sign on your phone if you answer.  It is suppose to confuse the computer and remove your
number .......... hv not tried this, but no harm to try.

Just got one, so annoying, and we pay all this money to the phone companies????? What responsiblity do they have if any!!!!!

ANOTHER PIA - CALL 2 TIMES A DAY ,

 P I A =  PAIN IN A**

Unfortunately, this aspect of the Information Age is a form of war, between the callers and those that wish to stop them.  Shutting down one number will simply lead to the formation of another, for the same purpose.  What needs to happen is for the perpetrators to be severely penalized for their invasions of privacy and other adverse effects against the general public.  I have been hit with the same exact scam emanating from four different phone numbers in four different states.  They can network and use the latest technology to continue their horrid ways.  It's going to take a colossal effort to stop these awful people.  I do like 800notes the best for identifying unknown numbers.  We must band together, and do what we can, but complaining to the government doesn't seem to be even remotely enough in this continuous battle.

I may have already posted to this site. I've been called by this number, 414-336-1533, more than once. When I dial that number I get a busy signal.

I'm on the Federal Do Not Call list.  Just received an illegal call from this Wisconsin telemarketer.  They do not identify themselves, just pop right in with the "survey".  I'll file an online complaint with the FCC.  Wish everyone else would do the same.  I had good luck doing that against AT&T

No message

I have filed complaint after complaint about the same businesses/individuals calling me even though I've been on the Do Not Call list for years and the gov't does absolutely nothing.

I finally contacted the dept that handles the DNC list and asked them what, if anything, they were doing because I'd reported #'s over and over again and also mentioned that there were pages of complaints about the same #'s online.  I received a response from them that was less than helpful and basically indicated that they weren't doing anything.  I don't remember the exact language but given that the calls continue and I continue to file a complaint, I have to wonder what our tax dollars are being spent on to support this dept which appears to do absolutely nothing with the complaints.

sigh.  called didn't leave a message.  this is an awfully familiar refrain ...  ;-)  blocking this number now.

Couldn't pick up.  Glad I checked here before I tried to return the call.  No message left.

Cellular phone moron strikes again. Rejected call so I didn't have to pay to be taken advantage of.  IF YOU DON'T RECOGNIZE THE  NUMBER...REJECT THE CALL!

I also got it on my cell phone, ID showed Wisconsin. I have AVG Privacy on my Android so I have blocked the number. And if they role to another number I will block it, and on and on and on....

Received call auto message for Free Bahamas cruise. Message  gave the typical scammer scummer fraudulent press 1 to talk to "Dufus" or press 9 to make sure we call you more spiel. This is part of the corrupt call center network of Hognuts R US inc. Formerly known as Butt Plug Sales INC. Member Hognuts are Vanessa from 813 area code, then we have Hognuts Bridgett and Carmen, card services, from 360, 305, 407, 315 area codes, then Dufus Hognuts from 857, 414 area codes. One thing is clear, they need a much larger feeding trough for all their Hognuts personnel.

Called and I did not answer ...left no message

I don't answer calls unless it is a known contact. Love my blocking software and it goes right into a spam folder.

Received call from this number did not answer and now message left.

"wireless caller" on the caller ID.  Ah, the cruise scammers again.  These scammers have thousands of numbers available to them, or are constantly spoofed.  They are in cahoots with the phone companies that provide them.   Until the phone companies and scammers pay for each robo call they make, (to us the ratepayers),  these calls will never stop.
Google   callerID4u.com  to see why.

"wireless caller"  on the caller ID.  Another in a list of thousands of numbers available to all these scammers.  The phone companies and scammers both make money from all these robo calls.  Until the phones companies and scammers pay  for each call they make (to us, the rate payers), these calls will never stop.  
Google   callerID4u.com  to see why.  

Ditto John H
I would also add  - let everyone you know who may be gullible to never respond to these calls. If it's your grandmother or your teenage or whomever, have them check with you before they get excited or scared, depending on the tactics of the caller. My 91-year-old cousin is a bulldog in going after these people. No one fools her. Get everyone you know on board. If no one sends them money, they'll have to find some other way to make money.