First rule, don't take calls from people or ## you don't know.  If it is important they'll leave a voicemail message.  If not, you haven't wasted your time.

Second rule, if you do decide to pick up and answer the telephone do not say the word "yes". I read something just recently about how the latest scam is to get you to say the word and then they'll use that recorded word from you to do all sorts of bad things, I suppose. So saying hello is fine but I would not say "yes" unless you really knew who was calling you and why.

Third rule, if you do decide to pick up and answer the telephone, and it's a solicitor or a scammer or something that you just don't want to deal with again, almost all telephone systems nowadays have a capability of blocking further calls from that number. I hit block all the time. And I realize scammers, etc. will find new phone numbers but at least I won't get anymore from that number.  And actually since hitting block on scam calls, for those calls about timeshares or about Medicare or about anything else where people are going to try to take your money, I don't get as many.

Finally, you will never get a non-initiated-by-you call from the Internal Revenue Service, Social Security, Medicare, or other reputable government agencies. If anyone calls you out of the blue saying they're from those places, don't believe them. Besides, if you have to talk to people at those entities, you can go on the web and leave a message at their website or call them yourself. It may take some time because I'm sure they get a lot of calls, but it's certainly much more secure.

PS - I JUST received a phone call, picked up the receiver and it said "Caller Blocked". = Hurrah!!

Des Moines at Sunset