How do I stop harassing calls on my daughter's cell phone?

Question

I have already contacted our cell phone provider and they can not help. They suggested filing a report; but to whom do I do that with -- the local police, the constables, the FBI -- there are so many agencies to deal with. I want to get in touch with the correct one. We believe the person calling is an estranged family member. Does this make it more difficult to stop?

Answer 1

In Texas it is called Harassment. Harassment is by phone or in writing. If you call someone repeatedly, or at times that a normal person would not accept calls (Sleeping Hours), or cause someone to be alarmed by what the harassing caller is saying or doing, it could be considered Harassment by phone. It is a Class B Misdemeanor. Punishable by fine, jail time, or both.

Usually the receiver of the phone calls just want the harassing calls to stop. They want the police to call the person making the harassing calls and let them know that this will not be tolerated. If the calls stop, no further action is taken. If the calls continue, then charges could be filed.

However that's all depending on the person receiving the calls. If the criteria for phone harassment is met with the first call and the receiver wants to file charges, the police do not have to give you a courtesy call to tell you to stop before filing charges.

Do not delete any of the text messages or voice messages left by the caller. Save them for as long as you can. Keep a running log of the times he calls, what he says, and the number he is calling from. If he calls blocked or private list it like that.

When you contact the police, make sure you make your point clear what you want done. If you just want the calls to stop say so. The police will be more than happy to call this guy for you and let him know whats going on and that this needs to stop before further action is taken. If you want to file charges let the officer know.

some phone carriers will let you change your number for free if you are receiving harassing calls, but they will require a police report to be made for the free change of numbers.

As far as who to report it to go to your local police or sheriff department. Phone Harassment can be reported to the agency where the person who is receiving the calls lives or with the agancey where the person making the calls lives.

Good luck and I hope this helps.

Answer 2

There are a lot of variables involved. Who's doing the harassing? If you know, then go to the police. In Texas, that would be the city police if you live in one or the sheriff's office if you live outside a city in the county. The constable's office will not be helpful, they don't have the resources to do much.

I don't know how difficult it is to put a trace on phone calls to and from a cell phone, but I imagine its not easy, to many cell phone companies, none will be local, and out of state companies tend to not want to get involved unless there is a threat of bodily injury or worse. If the calls are being made from a pay phone, then they can't be traced unless the caller uses the same phone and, most likely, calls the same time of day. Should the caller be using a pay as you go plan, you most likely are out of luck. No one is required to give the right name when buying such a plan and there is no way for the cell company to know whether the person lives at a certain location.

The problem with modern communication is that its difficult to track things like harassing calls. If you know the caller, besides the police, there is also the possibility of getting a court order against the person. But, overall, the two best options are, as has been suggested, get another number or have you daughter ignore calls from numbers she does not know.

Answer 3

You might want to contact your cell phone provider and ask them if there is a way to block a particular cell phone number.

You can have your daughter check the phone number before she answers, once she makes note of the number, she doesn't answer the call anymore.

Finally, this might be a last resort, ask the cellphone company if you can change her number (especially if there is no way to block the phone number) - or just get her a new cellphone (if the cell phone company isn't responsive - take your business elsewhere). If you do that - make sure that she is very careful about who she gives out the number to - and to explain to the people she does give the number to - to not pass it onto anybody (you can explain the why if you choose).

You should be able to take the cellphone records into the police and ask about filing harassment claims.

I suppose in a "worse case" scenario, you could see about getting a court order restraining order, and make sure it includes a provision about not calling her (if it comes to that point - I'd definitely change her phone number).

Good luck to you.

Answer 4

Again, file it with your LOCAL POLICE.
The law does not discriminate. He can be a family member or not, if the elements of the offense are met for harassment and the person committing the offense does not have interest in your household such as mutual children, loans, etc, then you'll be OK.

Answer 5

Change the phone number and keep it private or blocked from caller ID. I would agree that the Sheriffs are a good bet to contact and file a report with. Good luck!!

Answer 6

The physical location designates jurisdiction. If she is in a city when she receives them, you report it to the city authorities. If she is in a rural area, it would be the sheriff's office. Cell calls are very difficult to work with, and ultimately it might be best to change your daughter's cell number.

Answer 7

The local police. That would be the place to start. And change the number.

Answer 8

This happened to me every Saturday night at 3am some drunk would call and I knew it wasn't my buddies. I did a revers phone number look up found his address and his name. When it happened again i had his name and since he spoke Spanish I told him "in Spanish" I was going to kill him if it happened again. It didn't. You need to find out who it is and deal with it yourself, you can buy cell phone records online and do a little dective work. Once you know the source you can stop it, Brass knuckles, Baseball bats, how ever you see fit.

Answer 9

change the cell phone number and tell her not to give the number out to people that have contact with that person

Answer 10

Go to the local police. You may have to get a restraining order.