I got an automated call this past week from Apple. I haven't used any Apple hardware since 1989! (That was a new one. Usually it is MS, FBI or Social Security - none of which would ever call.)
Now I've turned off all the ringers on the phones. The legitimate callers know to let a message on the answering machine. The phone attached to the answering machine has a yellow light surrounding the top of the handset. When that blinks, we know we have a message. It is easy to see which is why we bought that phone and attached answering machine.