That is exactly what the scammers are doing, fooling those who may even have devices that display the caller’s number into answering the call. Plus these scammers cannot be traced either. They have exploited the 020 3 area code and all this is legitimate as someone, somewhere is being paid to supply these ‘false’ telephone numbers. There is more information about all this on the link I supplied.
You can hire a “virtual office” where you obtain a “proper” business address to collect your mail from, and also make/take calls using the “office” number. Rates vary depending on how posh the areas is, but in Glasgow they can be as little as £50 a month…Edinburgh is more expensive. Not bad for a professional look to your business, eh? 
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I used to find the quickest way to to make them end the call was to ask for the computer’s IP address as i have several lines so I can discover which computer it was. Since putting my “landline” on an answering machine that source of enjoyment is lost to me.
The above.
To add: The thing is though I don’t want to make them end the call, I am intent on wasting as much of their time as possible. That means someone else, possibly a person who is more vulnerable to scams, is prevented from being contacted by these appalling scammers. The longer I can keep them on the phone the better for that reason.
I too put my landline onto an answer machine, sometimes though I do answer it, then the fun begins. Since putting the answering machine on it though the number of calls has dropped dramatically, from something like six a day down to probably two or three a week, if that. That proves it pays not to answer the landline but to use an answering machine as an intercept, to the scammer that is a ‘dead’ number so not worth their time calling it. My mobile number is now my regular contact number for all who know me.
Why should we have to do all this though just to have a telephone, it’s a complete waste of time?
Also for many who are older it’s wasting very valuable time, in effect it’s our lives!
This really annoys me.
Today I received an SMS from the United Australia Party (UAP), the party is home for the nutcase element of Australian politics like Craig Kelly (he even managed to get thrown out of the Liberal Party the natural home of right wing nutters)
What really annoys me is that I can’t reply with a “F**k off” message, nor can I complain about the breach of privacy because politicians are exempt from the legislation.
(I know this is a bit off topic but I feel this topic has run out of steam and this is sort of related. Forgive me.)
