What to Do If You Receive Harassing Phone Calls

Receiving harassing phone calls is both unsettling and intrusive. Whether the calls come from a known person or an anonymous number, they can escalate from an annoyance to a genuine safety threat. Understanding your options for stopping the calls, documenting them properly, and involving the right authorities empowers you to take control of the situation.

Recognizing Harassing Calls

Not every unwanted call qualifies as harassment under the law, but the distinction matters for determining your response.

What Constitutes Harassment

Repeated calls intended to annoy, threaten, or intimidate you
Calls containing threats of violence or harm to you or your family
Obscene or sexually explicit content delivered over the phone
Calls made at unreasonable hours with the intent to disturb
Persistent calling after you have asked the person to stop
Using the phone to stalk someone by tracking their movements or monitoring their activity

Types of Harassing Callers

Known individuals: ex-partners, neighbors, coworkers, or acquaintances with a grievance
Debt collectors who cross the line from persistent to abusive
Scammers who become aggressive when you do not comply
Anonymous callers whose identity is unknown
Robocalls and spoofed numbers that repeatedly target your number

Immediate Steps to Take

When you start receiving harassing calls, take these actions right away.

Do Not Engage

Do not argue, threaten, or provoke the caller — this can escalate the situation
Avoid giving the caller any personal information they do not already have
If you answer and recognize it as harassment, hang up immediately
Silence is often more effective than a response — many harassers are motivated by getting a reaction

Document Everything

Thorough documentation strengthens any legal action or police report you may file later.

Keep a log of every call including the date, time, duration, phone number displayed, and a summary of what was said
Save voicemails — do not delete them, as they serve as evidence
Take screenshots of the call log from your phone
If possible, record the calls — but first check your state's recording laws, as some states require two-party consent (both parties must agree to be recorded)
Note any witnesses who were present when you received a call

Block the Number

Use your phone's built-in call blocking feature to block the harasser's number
Be aware that persistent harassers may call from multiple numbers or spoofed numbers, which limits the effectiveness of blocking
Contact your phone carrier about additional call blocking tools they may offer

Reporting Harassing Calls

Reporting the harassment creates an official record and can lead to enforcement action.

Filing a Police Report

Visit your local police department or call the non-emergency line to file a report
Bring your call log and any saved voicemails as evidence
Provide the caller's phone number and any identifying information you have
Ask for a copy of the report and the case number for your records
If the caller has made direct threats, emphasize this to the officer as it may elevate the priority of your case

Reporting to the FCC

The Federal Communications Commission handles complaints about abusive or illegal phone calls.

File a complaint online at fcc.gov/consumers/guides/stop-unwanted-calls
The FCC can take action against callers who violate telecommunications regulations
This is especially relevant for robocalls and autodialed harassment

Reporting to the FTC

If the harassing calls are from telemarketers or scammers, the Federal Trade Commission handles these complaints.

File a report at reportfraud.ftc.gov
Register your number on the National Do Not Call Registry if you have not already

Reporting Debt Collector Harassment

Debt collectors are governed by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), which prohibits abusive and harassing behavior.

Collectors cannot call you before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. in your time zone
They cannot use obscene language or threaten violence
They must stop calling if you send a written cease-and-desist letter
File complaints with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) at consumerfinance.gov

Legal Options

When reporting alone does not stop the harassment, legal remedies are available.

Restraining Orders and Protection Orders

If the harasser is a known individual, you can petition the court for a restraining order or order of protection
The order legally prohibits the person from contacting you by phone or any other means
Violation of a restraining order is a criminal offense that can lead to arrest
Contact your local courthouse or a domestic violence hotline for guidance on the filing process

Criminal Charges

In most states, telephone harassment is a criminal offense that can result in fines, probation, or jail time.

Work with law enforcement to build a case using your documented evidence
The prosecutor's office will determine whether sufficient evidence exists to file charges
Penalties vary by state and the severity of the harassment

Civil Lawsuits

You may also pursue a civil lawsuit against the harasser for damages.

Consult an attorney who specializes in harassment or personal injury law
Damages can include emotional distress, lost wages, and legal costs
Civil cases have a lower burden of proof than criminal cases

Protecting Yourself Going Forward

Long-term strategies reduce your vulnerability to future harassment.

Use a call screening app that filters unknown or suspicious numbers
Consider changing your phone number as a last resort if blocking and legal action are insufficient
Limit where your phone number appears online — remove it from social media profiles and opt out of people search sites
If the harassment is connected to domestic violence or stalking, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 799-7233

Harassing phone calls are not something you have to tolerate. Document, report, and pursue every available avenue until the harassment stops.