# 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:** 6\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2012, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/threatening-calls-from-a-number-i-cant-trace/632294/61 "2012-10-06T04:21:57Z")
> [@edwards\_beard](#): > > Do you know what happens if you impersonate a police officer? 😃 Yeah, it’s illegal. Of course, someone has to complain about it, and who’s going to complain? ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2012, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/threatening-calls-from-a-number-i-cant-trace/632294/62 "2012-10-06T04:53:49Z")
I wonder if showing the caller you’re enjoying it more than him will make him stop. Maybe heavy breathing, “oh yeah…” ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2012, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/threatening-calls-from-a-number-i-cant-trace/632294/63 "2012-10-06T05:27:13Z")
Ha. I had a prank caller in college once. He started with “I’m going to kill you,” and I replied with “Oh, yeah? How you gonna do it.” And proceeded to detail different ways he could gore me with a knife. I’m pretty sure I scared the bejeezus out of him. He hung up in short order after he interrupted me and said he had changed his mind! ---
**Author:** ![FlyByNight512](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/82dd89/32.png) [@FlyByNight512](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyByNight512)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2012, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/threatening-calls-from-a-number-i-cant-trace/632294/64 "2012-10-08T16:20:03Z")
Second recommendation for reading The Gift of Fear. It’s the bible for dealing with stalker situations, as well as the bible for trusting your instincts and recognizing when ‘being polite’ is putting you in danger. At least read through the section in the first few chapters where the author (who was a private security specialist for a long time) explains how stalking victims usually tell him who the stalker is, even if they’re not consciously aware of it. (He does have the gross opinion that DV victims who don’t leave immediately are ‘volunteering for’ the abuse. He doesn’t seem to get that there are Reasons why people stay, usually Reasons that the abuser has worked hard to put in place. So ignore that part.) Seriously, go read it. ---
**Author:** ![Grestarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grestarian/32/3227_2.png) [@Grestarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grestarian)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2012, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/threatening-calls-from-a-number-i-cant-trace/632294/65 "2012-10-11T23:55:35Z")
> [@edwards\_beard](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > …and announced, “This is Lieutenant Frank Stone of the San–” > > ``` > Do you know what happens if you impersonate a police officer? :D > > ``` “–ta Claus Toy Brigade, recruiting you for…” :dubious: Well…okay, touche! But, you know, really…what Lynn said. 🙂 —G! ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/threatening-calls-from-a-number-i-cant-trace/632294/66 "2012-10-12T06:53:28Z")
Actually, I’ve heard stories of idiots who CALLED THE COPS to complain about getting ripped off by drug dealers or drug buyers. So it’s conceivable that someone might complain about their target impersonating a cop. However, the sort of people who prank call are usually extremely immature and extremely stupid, so it might not dawn on them that the “cop” is a fake. In fact, I’d love to see a report where someone whined about a target impersonating a cop. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/threatening-calls-from-a-number-i-cant-trace/632294.md?page=3)