How to Block Harassing Callers From a Cell Phone

Receiving a harassing call on your cell phone is an upsetting experience that you should not tolerate. Although you cannot have a number blocked on your cell phone like you can with the traditional land line phone, you can still protect yourself from cell phone harassment through the proper legal channels.

Instructions

1. Notify your local police department that you are receiving harassing cell phone calls. Give them all the relevant information you have such as any recorded messages left by the harasser on your voicemail, dates, times, background noise, any distinguishing characteristics of the caller and a full description of each call. Harassing callers sometimes use multiple numbers so you will also need to document each number if that is the case.

2. File a report with your local police department to request a subpoena. Even if your subpoena is ignored, it is a necessary step before contacting a cell phone carrier regarding information about the harassing phone calls. Without a subpoena, most phone companies will not cooperate in turning over call records citing customer privacy rights.

3. Call your cell phone provider and inquire if they have a security division that you can contact about the harassing phone calls. If your provider does not have a security division or if they are not willing to cooperate without a subpoena for the call records then you can proceed to file a civil suit that includes the subpoena in your complaint against the harasser.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider changing your cell phone number to avoid harassing phone calls.

• Utilize your cell phone caller ID and don't answer calls whose numbers you do not recognize.

References

• Privacy Rights Clearinghouse
• Consumer Fraud Reporting

Resources

• Stalking & Harassing Phone Calls