I had a receptionist at a PR agency ask me today who I was (which is fine) and whether the person I was calling knew that I would be calling (definitely not fine). If a PR agency is doing its job right, strange people will be calling from all over wanting to get more information about what's being promoted, to talk to the inventor/owner, find a fresh story angle, etc.
The person who answers the phone should be a screen, not a gatekeeper.