WTF is WRONG with People?

Today I got a phone call from a 407-area code. This is the third call from this area code in three days. The phone number also has a 000 prefix. Perplexing. If the prefix is 000, you can't look up this number, call it back, or anything. Pain in my ass.

So, the first time the number called, I ignored it. The caller didn't leave a voicemail, so I didn't worry about it.

Shortly thereafter, the phone rang again. Figuring someone was clearly trying to reach me, I picked up. I was greeted by a recorded message, "Hi, this is R.achel from C.ardholder Ser.vices", and went on and on about how my credit card was eligible for a discounted rate. I had the option to press 9 to speak to a representative, so I did so. I had a feeling that this was a scam, so I wanted to tell the representative to remove me from the calling list. Besides, this was my cell phone, and I KNOW I am on the national DNC registry.

A man picked up on the line, and explained that I could be eligible for a lower credit card rate, and so I asked him which credit card.

"Mastercard, Visa, we work with all the cards," he said.

"So, you are NOT actually calling from my bank," I asked.

"We can save you money with a lower credit card rate," he snapped back.

At this point, I continued to ask questions about his company being an outside company, and not at all affiliated with the issuer of my own credit cards. He kept repeating his pitch, and before I even got a chance to mention the do not call list, he hung up on me!! I was a little shocked, but, whatever, he was off the phone, and I didn't have to deal with a telemarketer. The rest of the day was spent with me being a little paranoid that I was now more annoying than a telemarketer.

Today, TWO DAYS LATER, I received another phone call from 407-000-xxxx (those last four digits change every time). I listened patiently to the message again this time, and hit 9 to speak to a representative. This time, I was really going to be firm, and let them know right away that I wanted to be OFF this calling list.

"Hello?" a voice asked. It seemed to be a 20-something guy, and he shouted again as I replied "Hello." It took a minute for us to finally get into a conversational you-talk-then-I-talk thing,

Once we realized we were both on the phone with each other, I demanded to be removed from the calling list.

"What's your name?"

"YOU called ME! I want to be removed from your calling list!"

"Tell me what you look like, and I'll take you off."

OMG, WTF?!?!?!

I hung up the phone, sufficiently creeped the fuck out! I figured "THAT WILL SHOW HIM", but then I did some work on Google - there are all these articles about how this call persists, and the people on the other end are relentless scammers! FOR SHAME. A lot of internetting later, and a lot of wasted time, I came to see that you can not report these calls to the FTC because of the 000 prefix, AND the company that is associated with this number supposedly contracts out it's cold calling, and there isn't a whole lot that can be done! I mean, every once in a while I would like to just be a jerk and mouth off to who ever is on the phone, but, since I am a (mostly) NORMAL HUMAN BEING, I don't.

So, seriously, my question to you is, WTF is wrong with people?