People value their homes and private sanctuaries so much. That is why even just a small intrusion or violation of our private space would make us feel stressful, frightful, and even mad. A woman, in the comfort of her own home, apartment or office, will really feel frightened, distressed and angry if she receives harassing phone calls from men, particularly those that she does not know personally. Once you receive such type of phone calls, you will never feel safe again, knowing that someone somewhere has access to your personal number and might do something bad to you anytime, anywhere.
Before you can stop someone from making harassing phone calls, you first need to know what constitutes a harassing phone call. If someone threatens, intimidates, or uses foul and obscene language over the phone, you can consider that as a harassing call. Sometimes, heavy breathing or creepy silence can already be considered as harassment.
Although receiving just one call like this could already be considered harassment, phone companies or authorities usually act only when a person receives frequent and persistent harassing calls. However, do not hesitate to immediately report a phone call that explicitly threatens to harm you, any member of your family or any person that is related to you in some way. Telephone companies and even cops will surely take such threats seriously.
Below are the things you need to do to help stop receiving harassing calls:
Do not list your number on the telephone directory.
One step in preventing you from receiving harassing phone calls is by not listing your number in the directory. Such an action might minimize such calls, but it will not ultimately prevent you from receiving them. Desperate people are good at getting phone numbers of women they want to stalk or harass.
Do not entertain harassing phone calls.
If you receive a harassing call, be sure to hang up immediately. Do not strike a conversation because this will only encourage the person on the other line. If they sense fright or slight interest from you, they will surely continue to call you and harass you just for their sheer enjoyment. Do not attempt to change them or talk them out of harassing you. No matter what you say, they will only feel empowered once you give them even an iota of your time.
Inform the phone company or cops immediately.
If someone calls you and threatens that he will physically harm you or the people you love, immediately report it to the authorities. You might be endangering yourself or your loved one if you just dismiss such calls. However, if the person calling you is just intimidating and annoying you, without really expressing threats or harmful actions, you can observe and determine if this is just a one-time prank call or a palpable menace. If you receive two or three of such calls, you should already inform authorities because this is no longer just a simple or random prank. Such calls already pose danger to you or your family.
Request for a call trap or call trace.
Phone companies have call traps or trace capabilities. If you are receiving harassing phone calls, especially from men, you need to ask your phone company’s help in determining where the call originated from. You are lucky if the person calling you is using his personal or private line because the phone company and the authorities will surely determine the address and location of the person harassing you. As a result, the cops could warn your harasser or even arrest him for his threatening calls to you.
Coordinate with law enforcement officer.
If the call trace or trap is unsuccessful because the personal calling you uses a public phone, you already need to coordinate closely with law enforcement. If your caller is careful enough to remain undetected, he might be planning a more serious action in the future. Therefore, you need the help of cops to trace or gather evidence against your harasser.
Take harassing calls seriously. Act upon it immediately so that you can determine who your harasser is and can take appropriate action. Many serial killers, rapists or sex offenders start their modus operandi by calling their victims fist. Be careful and always be alert.
