Is prank calling a crime?
by 
HERMAN CISNEROS
ANSWERS: 13
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I'm speaking of California law... I'm pretty sure most states have similar laws on the books. Yes. If you call somebody with the intent to annoy or harass them, it's a misdemeanor violation. Punishable by up to 6 months in the county jail and/or $1,000 fine. [reference: California Penal Code section 653m]
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Yes, I am an ex-law enforcement agent, Prank calling is a misdemeanor punishable by law. That being said it is almost never prosecuted
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In addition to the other answers I'd like to add: Phonebooks used to have a page about bad language and / or obscenity over the phone being illegal according to FCC standards. So it was "against the law" to curse at someone on the phone. I don't know when it changed, or if it ever has, it's just done without a thought anymore. Maybe with the popularity of "phone sex" where it's expected to talk dirty! Also, hanging up on a real live person, without saying anything is harassment, an illegal offense. Best to say something, "sorry, wrong number" if it is, as a courtesy anyway. BUT hanging up on an answering machine is okay, as long as it's not numerous times, which would be harassing.
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I guess it is in New York, based on this: My friend told me this story. She and her other friend were sitting at home. They got bored, so they decided to prank call someone. My friend dialed a random number, and said some stupid things to the lady. Next, it was her friend's turn. She did the same as my friend, but before the person on the other line hung up, he said, "I'm calling the police." My friend and her friend, scared, started watching TV and tried to brush it off, thinking the person was bluffing, until the doorbell rang. My friend went to the door, and seeing a cop, screamed. She opened it, and the cop said, "I've been informed that you've prank called someone...blahblahblahyattayattayatta.....this is a warning. Next time you're in trouble." I guess he let them off with a warning because they're 13 (so am I)....I guess there might be a fine involved.
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At one time or another, we have all pranked someone on the phone. its done all the time. today, having caller i.d., has been a deterrent to most prank calls. although it is a misdemeanor, prank calls are just a nuisance and its prosecution ranks very low on the police priority list.
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LOL it may or may not be illegal but we all know its gr8 fun :D ...especially when the dude your pranking is like a super gangster that will kill you with no hesitation :| lol dnt worry tho its all good in the hood.. I say why worry about the law the law should be worrying about more important stuff like thieving donkeys! or actually doin their jobs! (which in the UK they don't :|) do what you all do best and av fun!!!
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Yes; it's called mischief.
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well she me and my friend love pranks it fun you know what i mean but i never threaten or sexually harassing anyone but i heard many stories about people paying fines and go to jail for a while so let me ask you this is your life or your parents life really worth the risk of put u or your parents in jail for a stupid prank. i really learned by lesson when the cops came to my house. they let me off with a warning so plz dont prank call.
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If the call is made with the intent to "annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass", it is in violation of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (U.S.). If the intent of the call is to amuse, confuse, or simply to engage the call's recipient, it would be possible to argue there is no violation of that Act.
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Yes, in regards to bomb threats, and harrassment
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Yes it very much is . you can get 6 months in jail and or 1,000 dollar fine. its only illegal though if you threaten or harass someone which includes calling more than once or saying rude or threatening things .I recently had someone call me from the internet where you can put any name and number in and it shows up as whatever you want it to say. He used 911 which is extremely illegal and stupid . Im 16 years old and i have done a lot of prank calls in my life but taking it this far is just plain moronic.
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well then is it illegal to prank call hookers off craigslist? cuz prostitution is illegal nd what the hell r they gonna say to the cops? "im a hooker nd ppl keep prank calling me"
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it was offisally banned in California 2 weeks ago. although when i was a kid no one really carred. prank calling is kinda cool. once when i was 12 i prank called my next door neighbor and she actully thought it was real so she said she called the cops but they never came. the next day when i came came back from school she was gone i went to the police to file a missing persons report and they said they had never herd of her. and i never herd from her again. so i think prank calling should be banned for ever.
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