I moved my number to Google, got a burner number, set up the call forwarding. Registered number with no spam gov site. The phone doesn't even ring now, I just get a voice to text if caller leaves a message. This screens almost all bot calls.
If you want to chat, I have to call back. Also, you can turn on something with Google so caller has to say their name before you accept. Also, also can have it announce it is recording the call. Fun tools for thwart the fools. If a third world caller, always prefer payment in goats and chickens.
Regarding the bolded part above: what if I had done the exact same thing you did (as you described in first paragraph)? Because then you wouldn’t be able to get through to me. And vice versa. So how would I be able to talk to you?