Harassment Calls

Any student can be the victim of harassing, annoying, obscene or threatening phone calls. These may include random calls by pranksters, calls at home when you are sleeping, frequent pointless calls or those where the caller says nothing, obscene calls, calls from former romantic interests of calls where some threat is made against you, those you live with 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.

1. Your telephone is for your personal use and service. The telephone is under your control and you are not obligated to talk to anyone. If the caller doesn't speak or if you simply don't feel comfortable talking to the caller, HANG UP.
2. Ask for the caller's identity or affiliation. If the caller makes an improper response or does not respond immediately, HANG UP.
3. Some 'silent' callers are looking for a response and may want you to become angry or scared. Don't give them the satisfaction.
4. If the caller asks, "Who is this?" or "What number have I reached?" DON'T ANSWER. Instead ask, "Whom do you want?" or "What number did you call?" If the call is not legitimate, these recommended responses will probably end it.
5. Don't give out any information to anyone you don't positively recognize or who fails to give you satisfactory ID or affiliation. If the caller asks for your roommate, simply say that you will be happy to take a message. Under no circumstances should you give the names of others living with you to someone who doesn't already know them.
6. If a caller persists after you have made it clear you don't want to talk to them, the simplest response is to hang up. Or you might tap the disconnect button and say, "Operator this is a call I want traced".

Remember, don't speak unless you want to, don't give out any information, and don't respond to questions if you don't know the caller.

Occasionally, a caller may threaten you, your property or those with whom you live. These are unusual and extreme events and should not be handled with the routine methods described earlier. Notify UC Police immediately by calling (510) 642-6760. UC Police will assist you in working with telephone service providers to put a stop to the calls.

In spite of your best efforts, it is possible that you could become the victim of a series of malicious phone calls. If this should happen, it is important you do several things to help the UC Police.

1. Notify the UC Police immediately at 642-6760.
2. State a log. Write down the date, time, and actions of the caller (silent, threatening, obscene, etc.).
3. Notify everyone you live with. Do not mention it in public, as the caller may get satisfaction from hearing you are distressed. Also, the caller may become cautious if she or he hears the police have been notified.

You can avoid or end unwanted malicious phone calls. UC Police will be happy to help you.

1. Following a police report, if obscene, threatening or annoying phone calls continue, it is possible to install a phone trap to identify the telephone(s) where the calls originate.
2. Once the caller is identified, appropriate police intervention and/or criminal prosecution can take place.
3. It is often possible to have your telephone number changed. The new number can remain unlisted.

1. Consider listing your phone number by last name and first initial only.
2. If you want your number unlisted, coordinate that with your roommates.
3. Use an answering machine to screen your calls. Many machines allow you to hear the voice of the caller responding to your message before you pick up the phone.