with most phones .. even including some land lines , you can add a line to automatically be sent to voicemail , which for most scams just causes them to hangup.
On a cell phone/smart phone , just make a contact called ignored numbers.. add the annoying numbers and click the send to voicemail button , which will make the call come through for about 1 second before going to voice mail.. no ringer will happen.
On some land line phones you can do the same thing.. more difficult , but some do have the feature , would have to look at your manual to see how to do it.
As for paying 5 bucks a month for this feature.. bah.
Best bet is if you see a number you do not know which is either long distance or unknown/private , do not pick up.
Most scams and autocallers work by attempting a call to all numbers.. if the number does not pickup on the first attempt it is removed from the list.. if you do pickup , your number stays on the list , which can stay on list for anywhere from a month to 1000 millions years.
If you get the calls often , say twice a day , before 8am , or after 9pm , or if its a scam attempting to collect information such as your name , address, social security number. Call the cops , not 911 but the non emergancy number. They will direct you to a toll free number that deals with phone scams , you can give info to them , they do stop these things , might take them a while but they do.
