I think fake callers are getting nastier

Someone kept phoning about environmentally friendly home improvements and asking if we're the home owner.

DH said, no, he'd have to ask the landlord as did I.
Next time he phones I'll tell him I have to ask my Mummy.

This person phoned someone near here 20 times in one day.

I always just hang up. I don't see the point of engaging.
I do like the man "from" hmrc who tells me what to do so that I do not become arrested for fraud, nice, deep voice. I let him just witter on to the end. I think he's just a recording anyway, and I worry that pressing end call might somehow be translated as to pressing the key he wants me to.

I have clearly got it right. (see link above) I answer the phone, but say nothing. If it is a tape that is about to play, and it usually is, if there is no voice response, after about 5 secs it clicks off and I end the call.

I do not ignore the call because I do not want the call running to answerphone and letting people know there are real people at the end of that number, even if they are not answering. For calls with real people, as soon as they speak, I end the call.

It seems to work because the number of calls we now receive has dropped right off.