# Harrassing Phone Call **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 20, 2003, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harrassing-phone-call/149736 "2003-01-20T04:17:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Conti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c67d28/32.png) [@Conti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Conti)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harrassing-phone-call/149736/1 "2003-01-20T04:17:23Z")
I keep getting harrassing phone calls from someone on my cell phone. This is the 5th time in the last week. What can I do? I can report it to the my wireless provider but what will they really do? I dont think they will give me the number of the individual will they? I dont want to have to go through court and all that mess but I sure as hell want to know who’s doing it. Thanks, Conti ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harrassing-phone-call/149736/2 "2003-01-20T04:41:28Z")
Ever heard of caller ID? ---
**Author:** ![Conti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c67d28/32.png) [@Conti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Conti)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harrassing-phone-call/149736/3 "2003-01-20T04:51:56Z")
Yeah, I got it. They’re blocking the number. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harrassing-phone-call/149736/4 "2003-01-20T04:52:51Z")
Don’t accept blocked calls. Haj ---
**Author:** ![JoltSucker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d2c977/32.png) [@JoltSucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoltSucker)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harrassing-phone-call/149736/5 "2003-01-20T04:56:15Z")
You should definitely report it to the phone company. If you have the number from CallerID, it may be straightforward for them to block the call from ever getting to your phone. If it’s a serious case of harrassment (threatening or abusive language, for instance), call the police and at least get the complaint on file. ---
**Author:** ![MaryEFoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MaryEFoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaryEFoo)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harrassing-phone-call/149736/6 "2003-01-20T06:21:28Z")
They can do more than get a file opened. The phone company, with your information, can track the call. They will have a procedure. ---
**Author:** ![Spit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/76d3ee/32.png) [@Spit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spit)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harrassing-phone-call/149736/7 "2003-01-20T06:37:06Z")
Call the police, and I bet the first thing they say is to call the phone company. They will have the ability to track the person down, if it is possible. > [@](#): > > I dont want to have to go through court and all that mess but I sure as hell want to know who’s doing it. You don’t want to go to court, but you want to know who is doing it? What, exactly, are you going to do when you find out? If you don’t want to follow through, then don’t waste resources. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harrassing-phone-call/149736/8 "2003-01-20T12:17:26Z")
The phone company has the right to cut off the offender’s phone access without going through the courts. They take this stuff seriously, and they’re not shy about cutting somebody off. ---
**Author:** ![Belrix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed655f/32.png) [@Belrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belrix)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harrassing-phone-call/149736/9 "2003-01-20T16:49:22Z")
I was given this trick once that might fool them. When you get the call the next time, press a key on your keypad to generate a tone, then speak, “Yes, Operator, this is the call I want you to trace.” The phone companies, of course, are not limited by blocked caller ID’s. This trick may fool them into leaving you alone.