Telephone Harrassment
Q: What is telephone harrassment? and how should i respond?
A: Phone harassment is a general term used to describe any kind of unwanted telephone call that's intended to cause upset, grief and alarm. It's an invasion of privacy, and a form of bullying. The caller might know the victim, or it could be the result of a random dial. It may be a one-off call, or a campaign of abuse. Whatever the case, it's unacceptable in any shape or form, and has to be stopped. In almost every case, your best bet is to say nothing. If you can deny them the pleasure of a response, you're effectively taking away their reason to harass you. The government's crime reduction website offers this advice: "If you receive an abusive or threatening phone call, put the receiver down beside the phone, and walk away. Come back a few minutes later and replace the receiver."