What has the world come to?

As if telemarketing scams alone aren't bad enough, I just found out that you can have people steal money from you by simply answering your phone and saying "Hello".

If you get any calls from "telemarketers" (they aren't even legal, because they don't adhere to the Do Not Call List like legit ones do) to either lower your credit cards OR extend your auto warranty it is these same criminals.
Here is a website that shows the experiences that others have had just within minutes of my own phone call from the latest number (they change their number, but it is usually out of Florida): 772-664-4005

I have been reporting these people to the FTC, and even spoke with one of the "reps" for this scam both yesterday and today. I told each of them I was reporting them to the FTC. In the past I have been hung up on when I questioned what the name of their company was, or which of my credit cards this call was in reference to.

I stumbled upon this website today (view it Here), claiming they can steal money from you if you merely answer your phone. I went ahead and called Hickory Tech (our local phone company) and they confirmed that by picking up the phone these people are able to put a charge on your phone bill for some sort of "service". She said if we ever see any of those charges she can have them removed, but that we have to call some number to have the "service" stopped so they don't continue to bill us.
Ok, I'm sorry, but WHAT THE HELL PEOPLE? How in the heck is it that the phone company and law enforcement can't stop someone from stealing money from you when you merely pick up your phone? What do people without caller ID do? Every time they answer their phone they risk being robbed repeatedly?
What really makes me irate is that when my brother calls from overseas, his calls are usually patched through a satellite and come up on my caller ID as a Florida or California number. So, if I never answer a number I don't know, I will never be able to take his calls? I'm lucky if I get to speak with him once every three months as it is.

I am begging you, PLEASE REPORT ANY CALLS you get from these slimebags to the FTC. Here is the FTC complaint form for exactly this kind of problem: FTC Complain Form

The phone company told me there is nothing I can do to protect myself from this. It apparently shows up on the phone bill as a long distance charge, but we don't have long distance on our home phone even - and putting a "block" on our account still won't help prevent someone from charging us.

If the phone company KNOWS this is an illegal operation, then why are they collecting money for these people? Why aren't they working with law enforcement, the FTC, the FBI, ANYONE to help catch these people (or at least prevent them from making any profit)?
Yeah, they had no answer for me, except to keep an eye on my bill for weird charges. I find it hard to believe that there is no way to avoid having people robbed just by picking up their phones. What if their answering machine or voicemail picks up? It's almost unavoidable.

If anyone has any better or further ideas (beyond reporting them to the FTC), I welcome them gladly. I will no longer answer any calls from Florida (guess I will just have to wait for emails from my brother), and should probably turn off my answering machine so I don't get robbed while I'm not home.
By the way, looks like a lot of cell phones are getting this same call.

Check your phone bills. I have heard that people have had their credit cards and stuff dipped into as well by these people (not sure how, if you aren't giving them any info but...). Watch ALL your statements, apparently nothing is safe anymore. Sad sad sad. :(