Not sure if that will work in their case. FIL is a psychologist who sometimes has to use his home phone for calls, so I think they have their number blocked all the way around. I do know *82 though - I have to dial it when I call my mom because of the phone block.
In any case, if I suspect that it's a spam call (in-laws almost never call during the day, usually at night when hubby is home), I let the machine get it. No message? It's spam.