University Police
eNewsletter

2009 Edition, November Issue

How to Cope With the Crank Phone Caller
by Sgt. Ed Jones

    The phone rings. It’s 3 a.m. No, it’s not Mom calling to say Dad just deposited $500 in your account. Instead a string of obscenities, heavy breathing or silence greets you. You have just become a victim of the crank caller. Some authorities estimate that over one million crank calls were made last year. Most of these calls are the ring and hang up variety. A growing number are either obscene or threatening. Obscene or harassing phone calls can be one of the most stressful and frightening invasions of privacy a person experiences. Unwanted phone calls, while a minor problem when compared with threatening calls, can still be a major inconvenience. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to put an end to these unwelcome intrusions.

1. Hang Up. — As soon as you hear an obscenity, improper questions or no response to your sleepy “hello?’ — Hang Up.
2. Do not talk to strangers. — Be careful when the caller says he/she is taking a survey. If you have any concern about the legitimacy of the survey, ask the person for his/her name and telephone number. Say you will call back to verify the authenticity of the survey.
3. Do not play detective. — Do not try to figure out who is calling. This or any type of reaction is exactly what the caller wants and needs.
4. Keep Cool. — Do not let the caller know you are upset or angry.
5. Do not panic when the phone rings. — It may be the wrong number.
6. Do not try to be clever. — A witty response may be interpreted as a sign of encouragement.
7. Do not try to be a counselor. —  The annoying or obscene caller needs professional help, but he/she will only be encouraged by your concern and will continue the late night calls.
8. Do not tell everyone about your calls. — Many calls of this type are actually made by friends, family members, even your closet girlfriend or boyfriend.
9. Never volunteer your number to an unknown caller. — This is an invitation to call again. If your number is the wrong number, the caller does not need to know your number.
10. Annoying Messages. — If an annoying message is left on an answering machine, do not erase the tape or delete the message. It may be useful to the possible criminal investigation of the incident.
11. Report obscene or annoying calls to your police department. — Make a phone call log to keep track of the call. By reporting the call to authorities, you have begun the process to stop 3 a.m. calls.

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