Receiving really nasty phone calls and just accused the wrong person

Yorkie1

This is not trivial and it is a criminal offence.

Please contact the police.

There_Goes_Trouble

You should contact the Police with the evidence that you have, and also your provider to try and trace the calls.

However, I would also start switching off the answerphone at night and leave the phone to just ring and ring. People who do this sort of thing are often attention seekers, and if they have no way of leaving a message then they're not getting any attention.

Janey7

If they are threatening phone calls I would really go to the police - you never know for example you might find that you are not the only person in your area who is being targeted, and it might help in pinpointing the individual involved. At the very least, I suggest you call your phone company to report the incidents and ask for their nuisance phone call team, as you may then be able to sort out anonymous call rejection.

Personally I would also suggest keeping a rape alarm next to the phone - and if you choose to answer the phone when this horrible person calls again, put it next to the handset for 30 seconds to give them a bit of a shock! Of course, make sure you know it is definitely them before you do so ...

ukjoel

The police and phone companies can trace these a lot easier than people think.

Even if the caller withholds their number BT can trace it back.

If they have used a fire and forget sim card then then could also trace that back to a specific phone, or a credit card if used to purchase it.

Whether they will go to these lengths depends on the seriousness of the crime but bear in mind that last year a lot of rioters were jailed based on evidence based on their mobile phone signal showing where they were, and their oyster cards.

I would definately report it and take copies of the recordings with you. Next time they phone dont try and keep them on the line.

These days only an idiot would think about making a crank call. Its highly tracable and likely to result in a serious punishment.

yvonne13_2

OP can you confirm if the phone calls have now stopped? If they have then the person your first thought it was may well have been the culprit.
It wouldn't be the first time people have used crocodile tears to get away with things.
P.s Just because someone cries and is nice means nothing when they are guilty.

Mara69

I agree you should report the calls. I also have a great facility on my phone that can block phone numbers. Check to make sure your phone doesn't do the same.

Katgrit

OP I've been there in your shoes with an ex. I'd been going out for drinks with him with a view to us getting back together, he'd been texting me sweet little messages and I was so happy things were looking up for us. He'd been my first love in my teens and now as mature adults we thought we'd make another go of it. Little did I realise it was him who was responsible for the anonymous calls I'd been getting on and off for the previous TWO years. So trust me, this is from experience!

There is a distinct different between nuisance phone calls and MALICIOUS calls. These are malicious calls, please report them asap.

There is little point in changing your number as this person knows you, so we assume they'd know your new number too.

The BT "choose to refuse" facility you mention that blocks 10 numbers is worth every penny. I'm not convinced you have to answer the call though, you just dial a code into your phone and it blocks the last number that called regardless of whether that number is withheld or available. You'd probably only have to block a couple of times on each phone number they have access to and they'd give up.

Please don't get BT to block all withheld numbers automatically - as another posted said this stops calls coming through from hospitals. I work in a hospital and it's horrid trying to contact patients who's results indicate they need urgent medical treatment immediately and we can't get through. On the other side of the coin my Dad has cancer and I'd dread the thought of missing it if i ever needed a call about him.

Jox

I used to get calls when I was a teenager and the guy would say he would get me in an alleyway, in the end we kept a whistle by the phone and would make sure he got a piercing shriek in his earhole every time he called. We didn't have an answering machine.

duchy

You don't need to get a call from a number to block it you can block it by entering a code into your phone followed by the number-with some providers you need this service set up on your phone first (takes 2 minutes) and you pay a monthly fee of around £2.50 (price may vary by provider)

maplegirl2011

you are better just to block witheld numbers as suggested or change your number. we have been getting phonecalls for 18 months now. we know who it is and the police are involved but have told us they wont trace the calls as its not serious enough and it costs too much money.
they reckon its hard to prove on phonecalls/texts because if they say they had other people in their house when call was made etc and had access to the phone, then the police cant prove who definately did the calls.
they even threatened to rape my child and all the police said was what someone says and does are two different things.
our calls have stopped since we blocked witheld numbers.