Prank calls can be harmless fun between friends, but can also be considered harassment and lead to prosecution. Some radio and TV shows have gained popularity with publicized pranks. Pranksters often hide their voice and create hypothetical situations. Prank calls to law enforcement, emergency services, and government agencies are never a good idea.
A prank call is a phone call made with the intention of perpetrating a prank call. Some prank phone calls are innocent, silly, and pleasurable for both parties. Others are not and could be considered harassment. Depending on the nature of a prank call, the caller runs the risk of prosecution for their actions, and people considering a prank call may want to think about how it will be received before dialing the number.
As a general rule, people perform prank calls for their own personal pleasure, and in some cases people may record their prank calls and circulate the recordings among friends or website readers. Some radio stations and television shows have gained quite a following with their publicized pranks, some of which have involved elaborate hoaxes. Queen Elizabeth II, for example, was once the victim of a phone prank.
The prankster generally has a good idea of how the call is going to go before dialing the number. He or she may tell a joke that involves a response from the victim, such as, “What if your refrigerator works?” If the answer is “yes,” the caller says “well, you better get it!” The prankster can also create a hypothetical situation or pretend to be another person or organization. Some people use techniques to hide or obscure their voice during a prank call, especially when the victim knows the person performing the prank call.
Prank calls can also be reversed, with the caller being the victim rather than the person being called. For example, someone might answer the phone and pretend to be someone else, or a company, or a prankster might post a phone number to incite people to call and then play a prank when they call.
A prank call can cross the line into law enforcement or the victim becomes seriously distressed. Prank calls such as bomb threats and calls to 911 tend to be severely punished, as they waste resources and alienate 911 personnel from people who may need them. If the victim feels threatened by a prank call or becomes concerned about the scenario proposed in the call, the victim may call the police to report the incident, resulting in general confusion and often anger once the situation is resolved.
As a general rule, pranks between friends are acceptable and sometimes highly regarded, with some groups of friends regularly upping the ante on entertainment value. Pranking random people or people you don’t know can be harmless and fun, but care must be taken when making such calls to ensure that the prankster has as much fun as the prankster. Prank calls to law enforcement, emergency services, and government agencies are never a good idea, unless you enjoy paying fines and spending time in jail.
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