Caller ID and Telemarketers who call

Several years ago, Congress passed a law requiring, from what I understand, telemarketers to have "caller ID-identifiable" phone numbers.

In other words, the Caller ID wouldn't read simply "unavailable," "no name," or "Blocked."

Apparently that's not being enforced. But that's not the point of this thread.

On the numbers I do capture on the CID, I call some of them back after doing an online search for the name.

For instance, if a number the CID picked up comes up in Google or Anywho as a legit name, I'll call it back (this is most common with out-of-state calls to my mail-order company).

However, sometimes, a legit number will come up and when I call it, I get the recording that "this number has been disconnected or is no longer in service."

Now I know that can't be true because the CID just five minutes previously gave me the number.

So what's the deal? Are telemarketers <i>forging</i> their outgoing CID signal? Is that possible?

General