The DNC register is also unavailable to businesses, for reasons I cannot explain. But it seems to be a fairly ineffective measure anyway, designed mostly to silence the peasants and provide a warm fuzzy feeling.

People might find it bizarre to learn that the DNC register is not actually run by a government department at all, but is contracted out. Now guess who bids (and has been winning these contracts) for years? The two leading marketing companies in Australia! That's right, we actually put data collecting/list making/spamming companies in charge of ensuring you receive no spam. Omg it would be hilarious if it weren't true :(

The "Do Not Call Register" does not work for:- overseas, charities, government, politicians, emergency announcements e.g. bushfire.
Many charities and companies (probably including nefarious ones) use a "research company" to make calls for them - which is why the same number calls for different organizations.
Many of these calls come from a computer "bot" which calls numbers automatically to see if they are active. They do thousands. If you answer quickly, you may be put through to a real person. If you are too slow, or there is no-one available to take your response, they will keep ringing back. They never leave a message.
Some overseas scammers/spammers use an intermediary Australian number (saying they are a charity) to get round the law.

You can ask your telco to place you on "opt out" - but there will possibly be a monthly fee.
You can use "call blocking" if your phone or answering machine has this available.
Always let your answering machine take the call as spammers will not leave a message. Do not answer calls unless you know the caller. Explain to your friends that you will pick up the phone once they talk and you can identify them.
Avoid providing ANY details to any charity or other organisation - they may sell your details to other organizations - or their records may be hacked.

Putting your details, photos, activities, and friends on Facebook is asking for trouble. Facebook do NOT guarantee privacy or security, and hackers can get round most so-called "privacy" measures.

Your details can be gathered from Facebook (and other sources) for illegal purposes e.g. identity fraud, stalking, or other annoying/dangerous purposes.
Your privacy, security, and safety depends on who gets access. Don't make it easy!

Get Mr Number in your mobile folks, hangs up on them as soon as they call

sick and tired of these idiots i got about 20 calls from them today and when i hung up they called another 6 times until i said i was going to call the police i tried everything like blasting music and saying i didnt want it and they finally left me alone and when i tried to call them back it says the number was disconnected and Telstra wont do anything about it, im so annoyed, >:(

Sick of this number, I previously got so many unwanted overseas phone calls that I rang Telstra and had a block put on my phone so I wouldn't get anymore coming through but now I'm getting these people. I don't answer and they never leave a message and when I try and ring the number it says its been disconnected. It pisses me off because I'm paying to have a private unlisted number and yet I still get bothered

Had few calls from this number, I know to let unknown phone numbers ring out. They never have left a message.

We are on the DoNotCall Registry, which suggests these callers may be research or marketing companies.

However seeing as we get a bunch of several unknown numbers/callers ringing over a period of a week or so then none of these calls for a month or so; I am wondering if it is not some hacker driving the streets with a laptop hacking into the public phone system somehow and checking to see who is home and who is not home, so they can break in to your house without being disturbed by the owners.

I have been called by this number up to 50 times, same thing as others mentioned. I have a whistle ready next time

Thanks to this webpage I know not to answer. I've tagged it as "Telemarketer" so if it rings again I won't need to answer!

I had a call from this number today and I answered it. At first I thought they had hung up but I held on the line for a few seconds longer and the call connected. I thought this in itself was odd. A guy introduced himself as David from IMS. He tells me that this is not a hoax call and that it's a very important survey. He begins asking me if I work full time, part time or casual. I ask him if this is from the government or private business and he tells me its for the government and he is from Information Management Systems. I tell him I don't appreciate strangers ringing me trying to fleece personal inform from me and tell never to ring my number again.

a straight out pest caller, calls regularly but then hangs up.

no clue but rings often

Same issue as everyone, calls started mid November.

Phone only rings 3 or 4 times and no message are left. If I answer then its an immediate hang up.

Tried ringing back the first missed call, got the message that the number is disconnected ???

I think it is just some bot checking on live phone numbers but who knows ...

Answered call and they just hung up. I wonder how many calls I'll get in the future?

Same story as everyone else. This number calls my home regularly, even several times a day and always hangs up when i answer.

Several calls this week from this number, female voice with foreign accent asking me to take part in a survey, these guys wont take no for an answer.

This number has been calling a lot for the past month tried calling Optus to see if we can get the number blocked but they can't do it cause it's an international number and thy have no control over international phone numbers

Same as others, hangs up, no answer.

Has two calls from this number in the last few days when I was out. No message left. I'm also on the Do Not Call register, but it doesn't really seem to work.

After a few moments , hangs up