10 Funny Numbers to Call to for Pranks or When You’re Bored (2024)

FAQs

Is it illegal to call random numbers? ›

Prank calling can be illegal in some situations. While each state is different, most states prohibit making prank calls to annoy or harass someone. All states make it illegal to prank call 911. Recording a prank call can constitute illegal wiretapping in many states, including in California.

Some states, including California, have criminal statutes designed to punish perpetrators of prank phone call crimes. For example, California's prank phone call law is spelled out under Penal Code 653m, a criminal statute that prohibits: Threatening injury to the recipient or their family or property.

Contact the police.

Contact your local police department to make a report if the call is threatening. Harassing calls to a cell phone may also be covered by electronic communications harassment laws in your state.

Usually, these jokes are completely legal and it's not bad to prank call them. But if you make such calls several times, the restaurant has the right to call the police for harassment. And also if you record and post it in public. The police will treat this as a misdemeanor and you will get off with a fine.

Prank phone calls and other electronic communications are charged as a misdemeanor. If you are charged, you can face fines. These fines can be as high as $1,000. It's also possible to face jail time which can extend up to six months.

Is cold calling illegal? Cold calling is not illegal. However, any trader that ignores a sticker or notice on your door stating that you do not wish to receive cold calls may be committing a criminal offence. Also, any trader that ignores any requests by you to leave and not return is committing a criminal offence.

Under the TCPA, the Federal Communications Commission can assess a penalty for intentional violations of up to $10,000 per call. FCC adopts one-to-one consent rule to protect consumers from robocalls. The TCPA requires prior express written consent to initiate a marketing call to a consumer using automated technology.

If the caller used an Internet line, investigators could trace the call to learn its IP address. Detectives can then serve warrants to appropriate Internet providers for subscriber information.

California Penal Code 653m makes it illegal to prank call if the call harrasses someone, uses obscene language, or if there are repeated calls.

You can register your numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry at no cost by calling 1-888-382- 1222 (voice) or 1-866-290-4236 (TTY). You must call from the phone number you wish to register. You can also register at donotcall.gov.

What is the code for unwanted calls? ›

The star code *60 is used by many network providers to help block spam calls. Simply dial *60 and follow the instructions to block either the most recent number or a specific number. Check with your provider to see if they offer this service. The star code *77 automatically rejects blocked or unidentified numbers.

If you do not have the call display service, you can attempt to learn the number through the "Last Call Return" method by punching in *69 on your phone, directly after the prankster makes their call. You will be told the time the call was made and given the phone number of the caller.

For example, a person who calls another person an insulting name… it is just a name and not a crime. Although you may feel the name is hateful and offensive… it is considered freedom of speech.

Thousands of restaurants across the country, as well as breweries and pharmacies, are all using waitlist apps, many of which collect data on you and track you to varying degrees.

Making annoying phone calls in described under California Penal Code Section 653m. This statute makes it a crime to make repeated or harassing phone calls, or phone calls that use obscene or threatening language.

If you return a call from a scammer, you could be dialing a costly number, such as an international or pay-per-call area code. In these schemes, the fraudster tries to keep you on the line as long as possible to rack up your phone service charges. Scammers could hack your online accounts.

Companies that illegally call numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry or place an illegal robocall can currently be fined up to $50,120 per call.

When is spoofing illegal? Under the Truth in Caller ID Act, FCC rules prohibit anyone from transmitting misleading or inaccurate caller ID information with the intent to defraud, cause harm or wrongly obtain anything of value. Anyone who is illegally spoofing can face penalties of up to $10,000 for each violation.

If you answer the phone and hear a recorded message instead of a live person, it's a robocall. If the recording is a sales message and you haven't given your written permission to get calls from the company on the other end, the call is illegal period. So when you get an illegal robocall, here's what to do.