subject: 0800 Prank Calls – Hilarious Or Harmful? [print this page] 0800 Prank Calls Hilarious Or Harmful? 0800 Prank Calls Hilarious Or Harmful?
Many prank callers activate the withheld facility which is provided by service providers to maintain their anonymity. Therefore, one way of avoiding receiving these calls is to avoid answering withheld numbers, although this comes with disadvantages. You may dismiss a withheld call and accidentally ignore a potential customer, so it is important you understand the risks involved when choosing not to answer a telephone call.
One way of avoiding this problemis by having a CID (caller ID) display which will show the exact number that is calling your 0800 number before you answer the phone. If it is a one off prank caller, answering a withheld number may not having massive financial implications, although, if it is a serial caller, rejecting or ignoring a withheld number can avoid costly, unproductive monthly bills.
If prank phone calls become harassing or threatening, it can be worthwhile involving the police. Although it is possible to track a withheld call, more often than not you may need police authorisation to do this as they decide on how severe the matter is. Consider the seriousness of the case before deciding to call the police so that you don't waste their time as well as your own.
Although prank calls may be funny to the caller, they can have negative repercussions such as financial or personal ones to the recipient. So if you ever consider making a prank call, always think twice, you can be traced and even end up in the hands of the police.
