How to protect yourself from telephone harassment

Telephone harassment is something that thousands if not millions of people have to deal with every month. Whether it is an angry ex, an annoying fraudster or other unwanted calls, you should know about the possible course of action. There are a few ways, tips, tricks and techniques that you can use to protect yourself from telephone harassment.

Begin by identifying (or trying to) the caller

If you personally or officially know the caller, the next course of action gets much more straightforward.

How to identify them? Well, if you have saved the number in your contact list, it is a no-brainer.

However, if the number is unknown or private, try *69 to obtain the number and/or go to a reverse phone number online lookup and insert the number.

Maybe the community has some information on the people or organisation behind this number.

Next, try to block the number or warn them never to call you again or inform (not threaten, but inform) about the possibility of using legal action.

If reasoning does not work

Resort to legal measures. One thing you could do is go directly to your carrier or the carrier of the person that keeps harassing you with calls and ask about the possible actions. Changing your telephone number is also possible. This could provide the so much needed breathing room.

If changing the number is not possible or does not help, contact an attorney or go directly to the police. They are the only legal entities that could pursue legal action or impose preventative measures against the organisations or individuals that conduct harassment against you.

Additionally, weigh the severity of the harassment. If the person or organisation behind it are capable and willing to resort to vandalism, violence, criminal activities, do not hesitate to contact the police and ensure your own safety in other matters.

Tools that can help fight or prevent

Just as the reverse phone search services which help locate and identify the caller, there are other applications, software, tools and other measures which could help fight or prevent harassment.

Call blocking devices work with landlines while third party or dedicated apps could stop unwanted calls on mobile phones. The latter is usually free.

Finally, do not get involved with those scammers. Simply drop the phone if you know it is an unwanted call and do not pick up again. Do not give in to the temptation, and stay away. If the harassment persists and the caller still wants to get in touch, take the measures described on the paragraph above this one.