Prank calling: is it legal?

[TheCleverOne]

Im wondering because i want to prank call a walmart and inquire about there sling shots, and tell them about "My black bear problem" about the black bears eating all of my children

[Samen]

Its not, unless you call the police of Government

[Hebacheba]

At 8/13/07 03:45 AM, Samen wrote: Its not, unless you call the police of Government

Really?!? Wootage!!

[iMini]

The police of government...

It's legal, but it's illegal to call the police, or important people...

[Regor1396]

As long as its not a death threat or something and you dont call the police

[TheCleverOne]

At 8/13/07 03:46 AM, H-A-X-O-R-Z wrote: The police of government...

It's legal, but it's illegal to call the police, or important people...

do its completely cool to prank walmart?

[HTID]

If it isn't legal, every teenager globally should wave goodbye to their childhood and pack for prison.

[TITROTU]

You can certainly be arrested for multiple offences, but I don't believe it's illegal in general.

[Deadring2]

At 8/13/07 03:47 AM, Regor1396 wrote: As long as its not a death threat or something and you dont call the police

Who would call the police with a prank call, anyway. :s
And I think it isn't a problem if you prank call someone. If it was illegal, then they would need a lot more jails.

[7384-9809]

As long as you don't prank call any government related services/people (e.g. ambulance, police, etc.) then you'll be alright.

They can trace your phone number.

[Gunter45]

At 8/13/07 04:30 AM, Deadring2 wrote: Who would call the police with a prank call, anyway. :s

I've known a few stupid kids who've done it.

[OCDrummer]

It's not illegal, but for multiple offenses or abusive behavior to the same person is probably illegal, so you would probably be warned for that.

If you prank call the police, then yes, It's illegal.

[B1LlYPL6C380]

god I love pranks ! go for it !

[candidate-zero]

Jack you fucky!

[mariobro42]

At 8/13/07 04:30 AM, Deadring2 wrote:

At 8/13/07 03:47 AM, Regor1396 wrote: As long as its not a death threat or something and you dont call the police

Who would call the police with a prank call, anyway. :s

Someone stupid.

And I think it isn't a problem if you prank call someone. If it was illegal, then they would need a lot more jails.

And much bigger jails too, unless they're going to do what they've done in Britan and let all the other criminals leave prison so that the criminals can return to commiting crime and raping 10% of the population.

[Socrates]

At 8/13/07 03:43 AM, TheCleverOne wrote: Im wondering because i want to prank call a walmart and inquire about there sling shots, and tell them about "My black bear problem" about the black bears eating all of my children

It's legal. I think. It is. In the Netherlands.

[VideoGamesRule]

Remember the Jerky Boys? ;)

Their stuff was so funny! Just don't let others (especially parents) hear it because of the language..

The Jerky Boys movie was alright..

So long ago..back from 1993 or so to 1997.

They've disappeared since then.

[Zerok]

At 8/13/07 05:22 AM, simple-but-sandy wrote: All prank calling is harassment.

Harassment is illegal.

Yup. But it's sort of illegal inthe way jaywalking is illegal... no one's REALLY going to care unless you're horribly stupid about it.

[masterguy-1243]

At 8/13/07 04:30 AM, Deadring2 wrote:

At 8/13/07 03:47 AM, Regor1396 wrote: As long as its not a death threat or something and you dont call the police

Who would call the police with a prank call, anyway. :s

I knew someone who did.

[dididu915]

Haha pranks are SOOOO funny!!!!! Who's heard of the Asda prank? Oh,and prank calls = legal = good.

[Ronald-McDonald-LoL]

At 8/13/07 09:52 AM, Zerok wrote:

At 8/13/07 05:22 AM, simple-but-sandy wrote: All prank calling is harassment.

Harassment is illegal.

Yup. But it's sort of illegal inthe way jaywalking is illegal... no one's REALLY going to care unless you're horribly stupid about it.

So, in that case, its legal untill you get caught.

[Dark-Knight]

its ilegal if you make threating phone calls or if you phone the person multiply times it would be " Harrasing"

[Mawxter]

its not illegal if you dont get caught

[bbs-addict]

Moreover, to make a prank call that falls afoul of the Telecommunications Act, 47 U.S.C. § 223 (a)(1), the call must be done with the intent to "annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass". Arguably then, if the intent of the call is to amuse, confuse, or simply to engage the call's recipient, there is no violation of the Telecommunications Act.

taken straight from Wikipedia.

:hope this answers your question.

[skreetch]

It should be fine

[niaR]

cant the police trace your phone call if they wanted to? You better do it from a payphone..... I myself only prank call numbers that also make funny phrases (like (773) SUCK-YOU) or something like that, and its never a porno service because I use my local area code, so I get calls like this:

"Hello?'
Yeah?
"Did you know your phone number is (773) EAT-DICK?"
.......No, actually, I didnt.
"Ok then. Now you know, sir"
Who is this?
"Some idiot calling stupid numbers randomly."

[Spite]

I've prank called Wal-Mart a few times and didn't get in trouble. Go for it.

[DenEmiel]

At 8/13/07 10:01 AM, Mawxter wrote: its not illegal if you dont get caught

Seconded

[UltimateAxl]

I prank called McDonalds, it was fun and it's legal. But dont prank call anything that has to do with the Goverment.

[Crue]

everybody is saying that prank calling the police is illegal, but its actually anyone you would get by calling 911. Police, fire, ambulance. Or if you prank call government people/places.