# family threatened by calls on cell phones **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 26, 2007, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-threatened-by-calls-on-cell-phones/409419 "2007-06-26T00:56:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bc8723/32.png) [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2007, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-threatened-by-calls-on-cell-phones/409419/41 "2007-06-29T15:50:51Z")
Don’t forget that witnesses to poltergeist-y phenomena are notoriously unreliable, and we’re getting the information about the batteries being out and phones turning themselves on, etc. through at least double hearsay. Almost every story of a “poltergeist” that turned out to be a kid in the household includes detailed descriptions by adults that items clearly moved on their own, that things happened when the kid was not near enough to touch the item, etc. People’s perception, recollection, and interpretation of such events tend to suck royally, especially when they get emotional about it. ---
**Author:** ![DustyButt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc348/32.png) [@DustyButt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DustyButt)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2007, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-threatened-by-calls-on-cell-phones/409419/42 "2007-06-29T16:13:55Z")
Are these the same people as in this news story? [Link to video](http://consumerist.com/consumer/privacy/family-stalked-using-cellphone-snoopware-271435.php) Damn. The part that freaked me out was the automated voice message. If my phone did that to me in the “you have voicemail” voice and it didn’t sound like a tie in, I’d be at my security office with the quickness. Of course, I’d have to announce that I’m a moron for infecting my own phone with malware. ---
**Author:** ![BooBoo316](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e0b2c6/32.png) [@BooBoo316](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BooBoo316)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2007, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-threatened-by-calls-on-cell-phones/409419/43 "2007-06-29T16:19:37Z")
A wizard did it. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2007, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-threatened-by-calls-on-cell-phones/409419/44 "2007-06-29T16:27:23Z")
I agree with what the other people are saying. If this is disturbing your life enough that you have to contact the police, then try the following: - stop using the cell phones for a few months - destroy them or put them in a security box at your bank. - on your land line, subscribe to the phone service that blocks all call when the caller has caller id blocking turned on. See what happens in the next three months. ---
**Author:** ![Aioua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@Aioua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aioua)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2007, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-threatened-by-calls-on-cell-phones/409419/45 "2007-06-29T16:47:28Z")
[QUOTE=BooBoo316] A wizard did it. [/QUOTE] Ahem. A _ghost_ wizard. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2007, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-threatened-by-calls-on-cell-phones/409419/46 "2007-06-29T16:57:05Z")
[QUOTE=DustyButt] Are these the same people as in this news story? [/QUOTE] Yep. This “snoopware” thing is what I was talking about up in post #3. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2007, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-threatened-by-calls-on-cell-phones/409419/47 "2007-06-29T19:27:20Z")
One theory is that one of the girls used her phone to access a MySpace page, which downloaded a virus to her phone. Another family in the area are reportedly now having a similar problem, though much worse, after expressing sympathy toward the Kuykendalls. There is also evidence that someone broke into the bedroom of one of the girls. One interview with the reporter is [here](http://www.harrisonline.com/2007/06/cell-phone-death-threats.htm), a second one where he describes the apparent break-in and what this other family has been going through, and reasons these people don’t want to give up their phones, should be up tonight. ---
**Author:** ![BooBoo316](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e0b2c6/32.png) [@BooBoo316](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BooBoo316)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2007, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-threatened-by-calls-on-cell-phones/409419/48 "2007-06-29T19:28:17Z")
I stand corrected. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2007, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-threatened-by-calls-on-cell-phones/409419/49 "2007-06-30T00:22:30Z")
As expected, [here’s the interview with the reporter from earlier today](http://www.harrisonline.com/2007/06/hijacked-cell-phones-again.htm). ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2007, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-threatened-by-calls-on-cell-phones/409419/50 "2007-06-30T15:06:53Z")
I’ve listened to the second interview and I’m not convinced that a hoax wouldn’t still be the most likely explanation. It just doens’t sound convincing. ---
**Author:** ![Operation\_Ripper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/34f0e0/32.png) [@Operation\_Ripper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Operation_Ripper)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2007, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-threatened-by-calls-on-cell-phones/409419/51 "2007-07-01T21:19:54Z")
So are Magic Ghosts the new 1920’s Style Death Ray [sic]? They have mithril technology, obviously. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2007, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-threatened-by-calls-on-cell-phones/409419/52 "2007-07-01T23:13:21Z")
[QUOTE=Arnold Winkelried] I agree with what the other people are saying. If this is disturbing your life enough that you have to contact the police, then try the following: - stop using the cell phones for a few months - destroy them or put them in a security box at your bank. - on your land line, subscribe to the phone service that blocks all call when the caller has caller id blocking turned on. See what happens in the next three months. [/QUOTE] Unfortunately those people probably have the modern american brainwash _phone ring, must answer phone_ Personally, I drive people at work insane, Ill be reading on my treo at lunch and it will ring, and I go on reading until it goes into voicemail when i tap ignore…As far as I and others on the board are concerned, the damn phone exists for MY convenience, nobody elses. Personally having had a stalker that was physically violent, and another who tried stalking me by calling me and emailing me, I found that ignoring phone calls of threats works fairly well. The second guy stopped after about a month of dumping his email through a filter into the trash, ignoring his phone calls and going about life as normal worked just fine. The violent guy just follows me now and then [he has to take time off from work and come to connecticut from virginia to do it … and i ignore anything from him also.] ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-threatened-by-calls-on-cell-phones/409419/53 "2007-07-02T00:07:43Z")
I agree. Rule #1 of dealing with unwanted attention is Do Not Engage. They practically begged for it to continue by making a big deal out of it. And they’ve guaranteed themselves an extra couple of months at least by going to the press. I smell attention whoring. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-threatened-by-calls-on-cell-phones/409419/54 "2007-07-02T13:14:01Z")
[QUOTE=Shoshana] I’m not sure what’s special about this. It’s what happens when anyone blocks their caller ID before dialing your number. Set the land line to block all calls with restricted caller ID. [/QUOTE] No, **Sternvogel** was responding to **Jodi** ’s suggestion that the families stick to landlines from now on. How long has this been going on? Don’t stalkers usually either escalate or give up after a while? I would cite the bedroom being broken into, but if the girls are doing this themselves, how hard is it to “break into” your own room, or your friend’s room? ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-threatened-by-calls-on-cell-phones/409419/55 "2007-07-02T13:18:03Z")
Not that difficult to break into your own place. Go outside and break a window. You don’t have to worry if people inside see you or not. ---
**Author:** ![miamouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ad7895/32.png) [@miamouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miamouse)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-threatened-by-calls-on-cell-phones/409419/56 "2007-07-02T18:04:31Z")
OK. I see the reasons for wanting to say “give up the phones”. I had the thought myself. Then I had another thought: “If there’s a stalker tracking me, I want to be able to call 911 from wherever I am.” ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-threatened-by-calls-on-cell-phones/409419/57 "2007-07-03T01:01:45Z")
[QUOTE=miamouse] OK. I see the reasons for wanting to say “give up the phones”. I had the thought myself. Then I had another thought: “If there’s a stalker tracking me, I want to be able to call 911 from wherever I am.” [/QUOTE] That is why you do what I do, I look at the incoming number, if it isnt someone I want or need to speak with, it goes straight to vm. No number? no answer. If you dont want to be paniced at the messages, get someone to listen to them for you and not tell you what the stalker is threatening. FWIW? I seem to remember that there were a number of empty threats made. Nothing the caller threatened happened. Empty threats dont need a response. ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-threatened-by-calls-on-cell-phones/409419/58 "2007-07-03T14:17:28Z")
[QUOTE=A.R. Cane] NPR had an interview w/ the head of a secuity firm. He said this is a new phenomenon and is legitimate. He also said we’re going to see more of this activity in the near future. [/QUOTE] He meant hacking/phonejacking activity, though, right? Because I don’t want to see an increase in ghost activity. You know with all this ghost activity nowadays, I’m surprised no one has insisted the presidential candidates to come with a plan for dealing with it. None of them seem to be even aware of the problem, except maybe Dennis Kucinich. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2007, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-threatened-by-calls-on-cell-phones/409419/59 "2007-07-05T19:16:37Z")
[QUOTE=Operation Ripper] So are Magic Ghosts the new 1920’s Style Death Ray [sic]? [/QUOTE] [Something like that.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=8748909&highlight=magic+ghosts#post8748909) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2007, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-threatened-by-calls-on-cell-phones/409419/60 "2007-07-05T20:05:54Z")
_Have they checked their attic?_ (Obscure reference to an 80’s horror film. A girl was being stalked by a caller who seemed to know her every step. It ended up that the guy was spying on the girl via her own attic. Emergency dispatcher: “We’ve traced the call! Get out!! He’s calling from inside the house!!” How he got a phone line connected and installed in the attic was never explained.) Anywho, assuming the girls aren’t involved in some elaborate hoax, I’d have a security team come and sweep my house for those tiny cameras that you can buy now. They are teeny and can be hidden in a variety of places. That would explain how someone could know what color sweater you’re wearing or what you’re chopping up. I’d also keep my cell phone but buy a phone only model. I can see how a virus or malware can be downloaded via phones that can accept wireless files. I can’t see how a virus or malware could be downloaded via an audio only phone. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-threatened-by-calls-on-cell-phones/409419.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-threatened-by-calls-on-cell-phones/409419.md?page=4)