Prank calls may not harm but can often be considered an offense. So here is what you need to know about prank calls and their legality.

A prank call is quite common nowadays. Everybody is guilty of making prank calls, and we do prank calls with our friends and family. Sometimes it seems funny and annoying, and it does not get serious if prank calls are harmless.

If you make a call to your local grocery shop, it sounds funny. But it could be an offense if the person takes legal action against you. As some prank calls are hurtful to other people, or they can even make a person not feel safe, depending on the kind of prank call. A wrong prank call can lead you into trouble or may drag you to jail. In this article, we will find the answer to is prank calling illegal.

 

It is also called a crank call or a phone call. It can be said when a caller calls another person for fun or makes a joke. Most of the time, it is a nuisance call, which makes no sense. 

For example - There have been many well-known sufferers of prank calls. Queen Elizabeth the second got pranked by a Canadian person named Pierre Brassard. He posed as the Canadian Prime Minister and asked her to record a speech supporting Canadian unity.

Many types of prank calls are considered an offense:

1)If somebody is threatening to harm the other person over the call.

2)If somebody is threatening to kill the other person over the call.

3)If your call leads another person into trouble.

4)If your words harass another person.

Many people think that every prank call is illegal. Well, we can say that some of them are illegal. It depends on the intention of the person calling, and it also depends on the level of hurt and harassment the receiver achieves. So, we can say that some prank calls are illegal and that one is under legal jurisdiction.

Some of the prank-calling may be charged and instructed to appear in court. And the severity of the case will decide the punishment.

Harassments - The most probable crime you can get arrested for is harassment. It may be annoying for some people, and for others, it is not an offense. Some people may think that your prank has crossed the limits of harassment.

 For example - A person makes a prank call at 10 pm to a friend. It is discourteous, specifically if that person is an early dozer, but they may let it slide. However, if a person calls several times a day, makes threatening remarks, and has been explicitly targeting one person, they have a right to call the police. A person could be tracked and charged with harassment.

Hate crimes - These are not limited to differentiating people on race, gender, or religion. It can also be seen through prank calling.

 For example - A person calls a stranger randomly, and another person is of a different demographic. Callers learn it through the call. If you start teasing or offending these things about a person, you can be charged with committing a hate crime if they choose to report you to the police.

Wiretapping - Have anyone ever noticed when you call an organization, they always tell you that your call is getting recorded for some purpose? This message is because it is illegal to record a call without informing the other person.

911 is the emergency number only. If you make up the line with a prank call, you could be hindering those who genuinely require help from reaching an operator. So, some states make it a severe offense to prank call 911 or call for non-emergencies.

Now everybody knows the answer to the question is prank calling illegal? It remains fun until it doesn't cross the boundaries. Prank calls might be fun for one, but for others, it can be a life-changing incident. Always draw a line regarding other people's emotions, as a prank can lead to imprisonment and a fine.