Tips on How to Handle Harassing Phone Calls

Harassing or prank phone calls are a fairly common occurrence and most people think nothing of them because they happen once in a great while. Often these calls do not usually constitute a threat to your personal safety; however, you should contact the Yale Police Department at 203-432-4400 any time you receive a telephone call of questionable intent or origin. The Yale Police Department is very concerned any time you receive a malicious telephone call. We understand that abusive, annoying, harassing, obscene, or threatening telephone calls are an unwarranted invasion of your privacy and in some instances, they may also be unlawful. There is usually a way to stop the calls, and we will be happy to assist you.

Below are a few ideas to help prevent a repeat caller and they are followed by a log you can use to track a repeated and harassing phone calls.

• Hang up. As soon as you hear an obscenity, improper questions or no response to your "Hello?" hang up immediately.
• Don't talk to strangers. 
• Be careful when the caller says he/she is taking a survey. If you have any concern about the legitimacy of the survey ask the person for his/her firm name and phone number and tell them that you will call them back to verify the survey.
• Don't play detective. Don't extend the call trying to figure out who is calling. This or any other type of reaction is exactly what the caller wants and needs.
• Keep cool, don't let the caller know you are upset or angry.
• Don't try to be clever. A witty response may be interpreted as a sign of encouragement.
• Don't try to be a counselor. The annoyance or obscene caller certainly needs professional help, but he/she will only be encouraged by your concern and will only continue the late night calls.
• Don't tell everyone about your calls. Many calls of this type are actually made by friends, family members, or even your closest girlfriend or boyfriend.
• Place ads with caution. When placing an ad in the newspaper use a confidential box provided by the paper or a post office box. If you must use your phone number, do not list you address. Crank callers are avid readers of the classified ads.
• Remember, if the caller is a wrong number, they do not need to know your number. Never give your number out to an unknown caller.
• Report obscene or annoying phone calls to the University Police Department at (203) 432-4400 and begin filling out a phone calls log. The information recorded in this log may provide valuable clues as to the identity of a caller and possibly establish a pattern or identify the location, source, or reason for the calls. Keep this log close to your telephone for convenience.