# Threatening calls from a number I can't trace. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 22, 2012, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/threatening-calls-from-a-number-i-cant-trace/632294 "2012-08-22T18:43:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/threatening-calls-from-a-number-i-cant-trace/632294/1 "2012-08-22T18:43:47Z")
I’ve been getting threatening calls from [this](http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-760-705-8888) number. They’ve been saying; “We know where you live.” “We’ve been following you.” and all this other stuff. I don’t know how to block calls on my cell, but I’ve been wondering if I should call the cops. They used my first name the second time they called… if I heard right. They called **LATE** last night, and keep calling today. Any tips? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_Kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@Capt\_Kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt_Kirk)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/threatening-calls-from-a-number-i-cant-trace/632294/2 "2012-08-22T19:08:05Z")
Call the cops ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/threatening-calls-from-a-number-i-cant-trace/632294/3 "2012-08-22T19:16:09Z")
You’ve been threatened. Why are you asking random strangers for advice? Go straight to the police. ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/threatening-calls-from-a-number-i-cant-trace/632294/4 "2012-08-22T19:24:35Z")
People I know are telling me to ignore them for a while… see if they stop. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/threatening-calls-from-a-number-i-cant-trace/632294/5 "2012-08-22T19:29:04Z")
> [@MyFootsZZZ](#): > > People I know are telling me to ignore them for a while… see if they stop. Then why did you ask us for advice? ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/threatening-calls-from-a-number-i-cant-trace/632294/6 "2012-08-22T19:30:01Z")
> [@MyFootsZZZ](#): > > People I know are telling me to ignore them for a while… see if they stop. Why are you asking us if you’re not going to listen? Do you live alone? I’d definitely call the cops, and I’d start keeping a notepad near the phone - right down every time they call and what they say. ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/threatening-calls-from-a-number-i-cant-trace/632294/7 "2012-08-22T19:37:11Z")
I don’t know… I don’t have time to go to the cops tonight. I guess I wanted to know if anyone had any info on the link I put up. like can anyone use that number? Or is it the same people that are calling those other people and harassing them? And I wanted to rant a bit too, as it’s annoying. Like I said, I THINK they used my first name but I couldn’t hear them well as they were disguising their voice. If it keeps up, I’m going to the cops tomorrow I guess… on the advice of you guys. Sorry, this all has me pissed off. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/threatening-calls-from-a-number-i-cant-trace/632294/8 "2012-08-22T19:41:12Z")
Based upon the number and link, it appears to be a general google voice # that is shown as the number coming from, but could really be anybody. Not sure what the police could do to trace that. Have you pissed anybody off lately? I mean in real life…not around here. If your phone will let you assign ring tones to specific contacts, you could put the number in your contacts list and assign a silent ring tone to it…so it won’t disturb you if they keep calling. ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/threatening-calls-from-a-number-i-cant-trace/632294/9 "2012-08-22T19:44:59Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Based upon the number and link, it appears to be a general google voice # that is shown as the number coming from, but could really be anybody. Not sure what the police could do to trace that. > > Have you pissed anybody off lately? I mean in real life…not around here. > > If your phone will let you assign ring tones to specific contacts, you could put the number in your contacts list and assign a silent ring tone to it…so it won’t disturb you if they keep calling. That’s what I was thinking… can the cops do anything. I don’t know anyone I pissed off… I’ve contacted those who I \*\*might \*\*suspect, just in case. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/threatening-calls-from-a-number-i-cant-trace/632294/10 "2012-08-22T19:47:30Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > If your phone will let you assign ring tones to specific contacts, you could put the number in your contacts list and assign a silent ring tone to it…so it won’t disturb you if they keep calling. Or at the very least don’t answer it. ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/threatening-calls-from-a-number-i-cant-trace/632294/11 "2012-08-22T19:57:22Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Or at the very least don’t answer it. I don’t anymore. I’m going to the cops. I just got off the phone with them. They said I better come in. Damnit, I don’t have time for this. And like what has been said, I doubt they can trace it. BTW, thanks for the help. I know it seems like a pointless thread… I’ll keep you updated. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/threatening-calls-from-a-number-i-cant-trace/632294/12 "2012-08-22T20:01:26Z")
> [@MyFootsZZZ](#): > > I don’t know… I don’t have time to go to the cops tonight. You clearly do. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/threatening-calls-from-a-number-i-cant-trace/632294/13 "2012-08-22T20:03:28Z")
You already know what the cops are going to say… _“It’s coming from inside your house!”_ ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/threatening-calls-from-a-number-i-cant-trace/632294/14 "2012-08-22T20:27:27Z")
Have the callers demanded money? That might be the scam – convince you that someone is after you, then demand payment to call off the imaginary goons. That one goes around on email sometimes, and I assume people do it over the phone as well. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/threatening-calls-from-a-number-i-cant-trace/632294/15 "2012-08-22T21:06:50Z")
I predict this is going to involve ordering something off the internet to trace the calls, then waiting for it to arrive. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/threatening-calls-from-a-number-i-cant-trace/632294/16 "2012-08-22T21:11:58Z")
“This is the police. We’ve traced the call … and it’s coming from _inside your house!_” (cue cheap horror movie music) ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/threatening-calls-from-a-number-i-cant-trace/632294/17 "2012-08-22T21:17:09Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > “This is the police. We’ve traced the call … and it’s coming from _inside your house!_” > (cue cheap horror movie music) Only 68 minutes late with that one. ---
**Author:** ![Shark\_Sandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Shark\_Sandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shark_Sandwich)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/threatening-calls-from-a-number-i-cant-trace/632294/18 "2012-08-22T21:27:16Z")
Why would someone call from an anonymous number and disguise their voice? If they’re disguising their voice, it’s probably someone you know. And if people you know are telling you to ignore it for a while? Sounds like you may have already talked to your culprits, and they’re possibly pranking you. Start mentioning to “the people you know” that you’ve contacted the police and they’re taking it seriously and are contacting your ISP to start peeling open VoIP packets. Say they mentioned “domestic terrorism.” Seem like you’re really pissed what a pain in the ass this is becoming for you. And then see if it stops. Or maybe that’s a crappy idea. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/threatening-calls-from-a-number-i-cant-trace/632294/19 "2012-08-22T21:29:58Z")
> [@MyFootsZZZ](#): > > I’m going to the cops. I just got off the phone with them. They said I better come in. Must be a slow day around the office…Otis must have already left and Barney needs something to do. ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/threatening-calls-from-a-number-i-cant-trace/632294/20 "2012-08-22T22:42:56Z")
The cops didn’t do anything. They filed a report and asked me to call them if I find out who it was. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/threatening-calls-from-a-number-i-cant-trace/632294.md?page=2)