Is it illegal to make prank phone calls? Could you actually get arrested?

Answer 1

Yes, it is illegal. If they catch you, they might not "bother with you", and instead give you a warning, but you certainly could be arrested and charged.

Answer 2

No, the Government allows this. Only you need to categorize the type of phone call you make. It not a prank call but a phone solicitation. Heck they even start to Text Cell phone now at your Expense, you think the government do anything about that. So, the calls are legal as long as they not obscene. BUT, if you do first clarify the call is an obscene phone call before you start you "Sales Pitch" then that to is legal as the Receiving party can hang up if they not want to hear, just like they can hang up on a phone solicitation. If these things are illegal the Government would stop Phone Solicitors and Spam on Cell Phones. To me they a prank call to as I not ask them to call me.

Answer 3

Yes - it is illegal to make prank phone calls. It is called harassment, and it is illegal. They state this in the phone books that are published (usually in the beginning of the book with all of the misc. info.). They also let you know that you can report that activity to the phone company or the police when you initially get your phone service (comes in the packet of info).

I don't know the penalty - if you can get arrested, but I do know it is illegal, and you can get into trouble for it.

Answer 4

It depends on who you call, if its like, McDonalds go for it(I prank call there all the time ;D) if it's the President of the United States, then, probably no. Also if you dont want to get in trouble because some places have caller ID, type in *67 then dial the number. If your willing to take the risk, 'cause some of these other comments, I now see, say that it's illegal.

Answer 5

"Telephone Harassment" is against the law, but making a phone call, especially calling a public business is not. Recording phone calls is legal in most states (One party must know it, meaning no phone taps). Its a good idea to protect people's privacy by always bleeping phone numbers, full names, and in some cases the name of the business. Call-in radio and television are most certainly not illegal as they are inviting you to call. Claiming to be someone you're not, making threats, and accusing people of serious things all toe the line and you should be careful if you do this kind of thing. Impersonating law enforcement authorities is definitely dangerous ground.

Answer 6

If you have an interest in finding out more, beyond the references and advice above, then the next time you go to your public library, drop by the reference section and pull out the Penal Code for your state laws. Look in the index under "annoying phone calls" and it will give you a few sections you can read to satisfy your curiosity. Sometimes a person wants to actually see the section and read it, in addition to someone telling them that it exists.

Answer 7

Yes it is illegal. You could be charged with stalking my means of phone. You can also be charged by the phone company. They can run a trace on the calls. If you are doing this I suggest you stop while you on the out side of prison bars.

Answer 8

yes, myself and a few of my friends had to go to the police station when we were in middle school, and they arrested us for makeing to many prank phone calls. It was more to scare us because only one of the other people got tickets, we where just relesed to deal with are parents.

Answer 9

If you prank called 911, then yes. Possibly with a law enforecment agency as well.

Answer 10

Yes it is illegal and Yes you could get arrested, especially if you crank call 911 or the fire dept. or make a fake bomb threat.