It is a crime under state and federal law for anyone to make obscene or harassing telephone calls. In Ohio, the law imposes penalties of up to five years imprisonment and/or a $2,500 fine. In Indiana, the law imposes penalties of up to six months imprisonment and/or a $500 fine. In Kentucky, the law imposes penalties of imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days and/or a $250 fine.
Dealing with Harassing Calls
- Hang up at the first obscene word. Hang up if the caller remains silent the second time you say hello. Remember, you control your telephone, not the person calling.
- Do not give any information, such as your name or address, until the caller has been properly identified.
- Advise your children and guests not to give out any information. If you are not at home, those answering your telephone should be instructed to say, "They're busy right now, may I take a message?"
- If the calls persist, contact your local police (an incident report is required to trace calls) or call altafiber's Annoyance Call Bureau at 513 397 7366 for more information on the options available to you.
Requirements to Trace Harassing Phone Calls
Victims of these crimes must file a complaint with their local law enforcement agency. The investigating officer will fax a completed copy of the offense report to the Annoyance Call Bureau. Trap and Trace equipment is placed on the victim's phone line for a 21 day period (longer if requested by law enforcement). During the trace period, you must keep track of the dates and times you receive the harassing calls and report each call to our voice mailbox and within 24 hours of the time the call was received. For further instructions, please contact the Annoyance Call Bureau, 513-397-7366. After tracing is complete, the Annoyance Call Bureau will fax all trace results to your investigating officer within two working days. Contact your investigating officer for further information regarding the options available to you.
Silent or Hang Up Calls
Some hang-up or silent calls may come from telemarketers. Telemarketers often use automated dialing systems to place calls at random. When you answer and no representative is immediately available, the system may keep the line open briefly while waiting for someone to respond or may disconnect the call altogether.
To Stop Telemarketing Calls
Have your name added to the National Do Not Call List:
- Telephone Number: 1-888-382-1222
- TTY: 1-866-290-4236
- Website: www.DoNotCall.gov
Provide your full telephone number, including area code, your name, and the names of any other adults in your household. State that you do not want to receive calls from national telemarketers. (This is a free service.)
Kentucky residents may also call 1-866-717-8518 or 1-833-587-0771.
Another Option to Stop Calls
If you have Caller ID, you can subscribe to REVEAL service. This service helps protect you from telemarketing and other unwanted calls. For questions about REVEAL or other available options, contact the Annoyance Call Bureau. Subscriptions can be ordered online through your account.
Caller ID Spoofing
Caller ID spoofing is the practice of manipulating the information displayed on the recipient's caller ID to disguise the true origin of a call. Scammers often use this technique to impersonate trusted sources, such as government agencies or banks, to trick people into answering and revealing personal information or sending money.
What to Do if Your Number is Spoofed
If people tell you they are receiving calls from your number and you did not make the call, it's likely being spoofed. You should:
- Explain that your number is being spoofed and that you did not make the calls.
- Place a message on your voicemail letting callers know your number is being spoofed.
- Report the incident to the FCC and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
- Consider changing your phone number as a last resort.
Fax or Computer Modem Tone Calls
These calls produce beeping or loud squealing sounds when answered. They typically occur when your number has been mistakenly programmed into a fax machine or computer. These systems may continue dialing until the error is corrected.
When you receive one of these calls, try dialing your telephone number twice in a row. This may send a signal to the other system indicating an error. If you have Caller ID and are unable to return the call, contact the Annoyance Call Bureau for assistance.
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