> But I might start the practice of texting ahead of calling someone unfamiliar with a quick message like “This is John Smith's phone. I'll be calling shortly.” That way, I would ensure that my call was picked up or at least given the priority they prefer.

Hitta.se (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=se.hitta.andro...) will automatically look up the caller's name in the (equivalent of the) yellow pages.

I assume there's an equivalent in most other countries?

Isn't googling more work than answering and hanging up if it's a robot?

Actually, the phone call has been considered dead for a number of years now.

https://www.wired.com/2010/07/st_thompson_deadphone/

Just read an interesting strategy for dealing with robocalls: answer and immediately mute yourself. They will assume it's a dead line and take you off the list.

Or do what I do and answer every unknown call with "911. What's the location of your emergency?"

I use truecaller. It works well me, but robocalls have never been a major problem for me fohttps://www.truecaller.com/

> I often receive more annoying robocalls on my personal phone than welcomed calls from unknown numbers. My usual solution is to quickly google the number to see if any scam reports are available and then quickly answer if not.

My strategy is generally just not to answer and let them leave a message if it's an actual person. Unless I have some reason to be expecting the call, I think that most people nowadays would find it reasonable that calling someone who doesn't have your number might result in you having to leave a message. If it is an actual person, I'll very often call them back immediately after listening to the message.