There are the "telezapper" products that may help, but they are kinda lame. I use a linux-based asterisk [asteriskpbx.org] phone system. If your caller ID is not on the (mysql based) white list, you need to navigate the menu. Numbers I dial are automatically added to the white list, and I also have a web-based management tool for it.

There is also a Telemarketer Torture [voip-info.org] script for asterisk someone came up with... :-)

That sounds like the same calls that I keep getting! Recorded message, wanting to sell satellite service, same voice every time, same sales pitch, saying things like "I was given your name by a friend as someone who might be interested in this." Yeah, right. We already have Dish Network and have no desire to change to any other service. I finally called the stupid 800 number and the first option on the menu was the one to remove your phone number from their list. That just shows how many people they are ticking off. In two or three months they called around ten times. It's like e-mail spam: they figure if they spam you enough you'll eventually buy something. Argh!

I received a phone call a few days ago in the middle of the day that when I picked the phone up it just said "we're sorry, this phone message was intended only for your answering machine" and then it hung up.

Very strange.

...is that the legal system is regional with the concept of jurisdiction, whereas communication technology is global.

It is simply a logical progression for phone / fax spamming companies to use this method of bypassing the law.

Now what I REALLY want to see, is a filtering system for telephone calls. For example, I want to have the ability to be able to block ALL calls using a white/blacklist, or perhaps automatically reject all calls from a certain area / country. I also want to be able to filter SMS text messages.

I'd been predicting it since the DNC list was announced and recently, I got my first loophole call!

Here's the loophole:

1.Non-profits are exempt from the DNC.

2.Non-profit needs funds.

3.Company pays NPO to make calls on their behalf.

Mine began,

Caller: "Hello, may I speak to (me)?"

Me: "Uh, speaking."

Caller: "Hi, I am calling from the (city) (religious organization) Community Center. Could you take a moment to answer a few questions?"

Me: (not wanting to go to Hell this week) "Uh, sure"

Caller: "Great! Are you (religion)?"

Me: "No."

Caller: "Is anyone in your house (of the XYZ religion)?"

Me: "No."

Caller: "Okay, that's all for that part of the questions, just a few more."

Me: "Great."

Caller: "How many telephones do you have at this number?"

Me: "What?"

Caller: "How many telephones do you have at the address for this phone?"

Me: "Why do you want to know how many phones I have?"

Caller: "Oh, we just want to ask about your long distance carriers"

Me: "What does this have to do with (religious organization)?"

Caller: (click)

The original story does not say what number is shown for Caller-ID. I'd be interested to know if this call shows up as originating from India, or Out-Of-Area, or Unavailable, or what?

Now what I REALLY want to see, is a filtering system for telephone calls. For example, I want to have the ability to be able to block ALL calls using a white/blacklist, or perhaps automatically reject all calls from a certain area / country. I also want to be able to filter SMS text messages.

For GSM cellular on the Treo 600, the CallFilter [palmgear.com] application can filter both calls and SMS messages.

Of course, just switching to a cell phone instead of a landline pretty much solves the telemarketing call problem -- in the US it is a violation of federal law to make an unsolicited sales call to a mobile phone or any other recipient-pays telephone (ship to shore, etc).

Bill collectors are known to use these tactics. They'll try to call you, then if they can't get you, they'll just tell you to call them without leaving a name, only a number.

Are you paid up on your Beowulf cluster of Imacs?