Here in the UK, I get one a year. I used to get more, but then I answered a couple and was deliberately obstinate in a way that seems to have gotten me added to a blacklist.

“No, you called me, so you have to prove that you are who you say you are. We’ll start with your company registration number, registered office, and FCA registration number.” No threats or profanity or abuse, just firm demands that they prove their identity. They always hang up, stop calling, and tell their fellow scammers not to bother with me.

I definitely don’t trust the government to regulate properly, but I do trust the scammers to recognise that pestering me wastes their time and gets them nothing. While it may seem like the 2-3 minutes per year spent stubbornly refusing to give any personal information until I’ve done “due diligence checks” is a waste of my time, I consider it an investment, since I don’t have to deal with any calls in the future.