I get a lot of calls from these various people too. I hate them. As someone who worked from home for about 20 years until recently, the interruptions alone have cost me dearly.
Remember, they are all criminals. I have been on the list for none of those calls for years.
On three occasions I have shown interest in solar panels (which I don't really want). I have let them ring me back and discussed all about it. I have consented to their local rep coming to see me - and I'm only usually available at weekends. Each time I have kept the spiv who has turned up talking for a while before explaining that the only reason he is here is because I wanted to waste his time, like his firm has wasted mine. The solar panel calls are decreasing.
For most other calls, if I haven't the time to play them along and if they ask for me by my surname, I say 'which one'. They ask for me and I pause a bit. Then, slowly in a sombre voice, I say 'I'm his son John and I'm sorry to tell you he died yesterday.' They apologise and discontinue the call. Makes their day.
When it is the Microsoft scam I have worse lines that I use with these thieves, but I won't describe them here.
Our Government could stop a lot of them when they are UK based, by making the person doing the call liable for their actions. Wouldn't cover everything, but could be a useful deterrent. It would also get round the business of UK offending companies not paying fines, going bust and starting up again. If the directors were liable for incitement to commit a crime, and the call makers were liable for the calls they made, it would soon change things. We have had a sequence of governments without the bottle to do anything about it.
I cannot, however, think of any politicians strong enough to do what it requires.
Get the blighters and do to them whatever it takes.
