This is not a scam. They get the numbers from the agancy that hires them- usually a hosp or something like that. They use auto dail and thats why if you wait to answer no one is there.
It is legiamate research but funded by the state and Gilmore just calls for them. Since it is funded by the state that is why the compensation is only $10 instead of the usual $60-$100 offer for doing focus groups at the Gilmore location.