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Is it illegal to make a prank phone call in the united states?

Is it illegal to make a prank call to someone in the united states?

Public Comments

1. Depends on what kind. 911 -yes Anything else is ok I think as long as you dont go into stalker mode.
2. technically, but no one cares and you wont get in trouble. just *69 it!
3. Depends on the nature of the prank and how it's perceived by the reciever. But generally when there's malicious intent, YES. Having gone through this, I can tell you the police told me that after 5 calls from the same source you can have them arrested.
4. If someone reports you, you could be charged with terroristic threatening.
5. In the United States, the Telecommunications Act of 1996 makes some prank calls a felony with penalties of up to two years in prison, and possible fines (depending on severity). However, such penalties are rarely carried out. As an example, the Chicago shock jock Erich "Mancow" Muller, after being criticized for the extensive use of prank calls on his radio show, broadcasted the sarcastic remark: "Reality check for you people: Chicago's the murder capital of America. The police don't care if you get a prank call." 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.
6. hahaha let me handle this one because of... personal experiences... Yes, laws are so broad that a police officer can really make anything you do illegal... But back to the point, the police showed up at my friends house after a prank call and I was informed I would be charged with harassment (i actually had gotten away, but my friends ratted on me hahah some friends...) it turns out I had called a bunch of asian immigrants who thought that i had threatened them, so when they found out i had not threatened them in any way, they dropped the charges lol so yes, i believe that they can charge you with harassment, because harassment has such a broad definition and a police officer could really attach it to anything...
7. Making a prank call is not illegal. Exercising your 1st Amendment rights is never illegal, but they way you exercise those rights can be. - You cannot use foul or indecent language on the telephone - You cannot make threats - You cannot harrass - You cannot slander or defame - But you can ask "Is your freezer running? Well you better go catch it!"
8. I don't think that is per se illegal, but i do know there are laws that prevent "harassing communications." It would probably fall under that.