Harassing and Obscene Telephone Calls

HOW TO HANDLE MALICIOUS TELEPHONE CALLS:

The Rehoboth Beach Police Department is very concerned any time you receive a malicious telephone call. We know that abusive, annoying, harassing, obscene, or threatening telephone calls are an unwarranted invasion of your privacy. In some instances, they may also be unlawful.

UNWANTED TELEPHONE CALLS USUALLY FALL INTO ONE OF SEVERAL CATEGORIES:

Sales or Survey Calls: Telephone sales solicitations or surveys conducted by telephone can be valuable and interesting in cases where the companies placing the calls have screened their prospects and know that you may be interested.

Some groups, however, are not particular about whom they call. Using automatic devices that dial every number in a prefix group, these calls are frequently accomplished without human supervision, and you may find yourself talking to a computer. Some persons are annoyed or offended by such calls. Telephone services are available to anyone for legitimate use, but you are not required to listen to thoughtless or indiscriminate sales or survey calls. If you choose not to respond, simply say so and hang up. Be sure to leave the handset hung up for at least 30 seconds to ensure the caller is disconnected.

If you are interested but are skeptical about the offer, state that you will return the call or ask the caller to try again later after you've had a chance to check the organization with the Better Business Bureau. Or ask the caller to send you some information on the product or service so you can look it over before making a decision.

If you would like to remove your name and telephone number from calling lists for national advertisers, write to Telephone Preference Service, Direct Marketing Association, 6 East 43rd Street, new York, NY. 10017. Include your name, address, and telephone number with area code in your letter. There is no charge for this service, which can reduce calls from national advertisers but is unlikely to affect sales calls from local businesses.

Calls for Collection of Debts: If you receive collection calls that are harassing or threatening (those placed at a time when the caller knows the debtor is normally asleep or calls placed repeatedly without good reason), record the dates and times the calls were placed. Notify your telephone company, and report how the calls were abusive or harassing. You may also choose to make an official complaint to the state Consumer Credit Department.

Malicious Telephone Calls: Anyone can be the victim of harassing, annoying, obscene, or threatening telephone calls. These may include random calls by pranksters, calls at hours when you are sleeping, frequent pointless, call or those where the caller says nothing, obscene calls, calls from former romantic interests, or calls where some threat is made against you, those with whom you live, or your property.

These calls are intended to upset you, either for revenge or to gratify the caller's personal urges. Most can be prevented or avoided by learning and using some simple techniques to decrease your potential for victimization.

• Your telephone is for your use and service; always use it on your own terms. If the caller doesn't speak or if you simply don't feel comfortable talking to the caller, hang up. Remember that the telephone is under your control and you are not obligated to speak to anyone.

• Ask for the caller's identity or affiliation. If the caller makes an improper response or does not respond immediately, hang up. Some "silent" callers are looking for a response and may want you to become scared or angry. Don't give them the satisfaction. If the caller asks, "who is this?" or "What number have I reached," don't give an answer. Instead ask, "Whom do you want?", or "What number were you calling?" If the call is not legitimate, that will probably end it.

• Don't give out any information to anyone you don't positively recognize or who fails to give satisfactory identification or affiliation. If the caller asks for another member of your family, simply say that you'll be glad to take a message and have the call returned as promptly as possible. Under no circumstances should you give the names of others living with you to someone who doesn't already know them.

• If you have children, instruct them not to talk to strangers on the telephone. Burglars or other criminals will sometimes attempt to obtain useful information from unsuspecting children. Teach your children to ask for the caller's name and number so someone can return the call later.

• If a caller persists after you've made it clear you do not wish to talk, the simplest response is to hang up.

• Remember, don't speak unless you want to , don't give out any information, and don't respond to questions.

THREATENING CALLS:

Occasionally, a caller may make threats against you, those with whom you live, or your property. These are unusual and extreme incidents and should not be handled with the routine methods we've described above.

Notify the Rehoboth Beach Police Department immediately. They'll work with the telephone company to put a stop to the calls.

IF YOU SHOULD BECOME A VICTIM:

In spite of your best efforts, it is still possible that you could be the victim of a series of malicious telephone calls. If this should happen, it is important that you do several things to assist the police in resolving the problem.

• Notify the Rehoboth Beach Police Department immediately. Although subsequent actions must be coordinated with the telephone company, your initial point of contact is your local police department.

• Write information down. Keep a record of the calls. This information can be invaluable in bringing your case to a prompt and successful resolution.

• Notify others living with you of the problem. Avoid mentioning the calls to casual friends or in a public place, as the caller may receive gratification from your public distress. In addition, the caller may be put on guard by becoming aware that you have notified the police.

ARE THERE PRECAUTIONS I CAN TAKE IN ADVANCE?

As a matter of personal safety and security, we recommend that you consider listing your first name by initial only. If yours is a common surname, you may consider listing it by both your first and middle initials. It is possible to request that your number be unlisted, but this may not be effective if others who live with you have their names listed and may inconvenience callers legitimately trying to reach you. Electronic answering devices are available that serve as a buffer, permitting you to hear the caller's voice and message in response to a tape-recorded greeting before you choose whether to override the device and answer the caller directly.

If you are the victim of malicious telephone calls, contact the Rehoboth Beach Police Department at (302) 227-2577.

Last Updated: November 10, 2006