AT&T assigned us this number and an hour later we received payday loan calls.  It's been 3 months and we received 1-2 calls PER day from payday loans with area codes of Calif. New York, Wa D.C., Texas.  Etc.  the caller I'D shows a different number each time.

The reason that is is due to your 'new' number being someone's OLD number. Look into a call blocker

All phone numbers are recycled.  No one gets rid of a number without a good reason since it a pain in the butt to notify everyone.  So now you know why the former owners got rid of that number.