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Does this annoy you too?

Nothing agitates me like getting unsolicited calls from telemarketers.

What boggles my mind is how these intrusive companies get a hold of my phone number.

If you find yourself in a similar boat, there are various websites online on which you can report the offending company or phone number.

When I don't recognize the number, I proceed to type it on Google and run a search. Usually, there will already be complaints issued about said phone number on sites like 800notes.com. Some people even report the numbers to the Federal Trade Commission.

I never answer the phone unless I recognize the number. If they leave a message, I vet it in order to determine whether the source is legitimate. Oftentimes, it's a call from, say, AT&T or my bank. In other cases, however, it's a scam that far too many consumers fall prey to.

I advise all my friends and readers to do the same. Some of these schemes can be egregious; the shady companies pull out all the stops to get people to divulge their credit card number and other sensitive information.

Next time you get calls of a dubious nature, don't answer. If it's that important, they can leave a message. If the calls become a daily nuisance, report the number immediately.

Have you found yourself in this situation? How'd you resolve the problem?

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