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Contact Information

911 Emergency
(920) 424-1212
(920) 424-0128

Location:
Lower level of Radford Hall
777 Algoma Blvd
Oshkosh, WI 54901

Mailing Address:
800 Algoma Blvd.
Oshkosh, WI 54901

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Phone Harassment

How to handle annoying, harassing or obscene telephone calls.

These types of calls are made for any number of reasons — broken relationships, an unhappy co-worker, residence hall dispute and people who simply hang up when someone else besides the person they wanted to speak to answers the phone.

The key to handling these calls is not to react to them. Reacting could encourage the caller. You should also be sure to:

  • Hang up when you realize that the call is intended to harass you.
  • Keep track of the date and time of any nuisance calls you receive.

You can also causally tell the caller that your phone/cell phone company is tracing your calls. Then push the star (*) and pound (#) keys at the same time and say “operator, please trace this call.” Hang up immediately. This procedure is very similar to an actual trace scenario and the caller will not know if in fact the line has been “captured” by the phone company or not. This usually discourages repeat calls.

If the calls are threatening in nature or the techniques listed above do not work, contact the University Police Department at (920) 424-1212. An officer will meet with you and take a report. Make sure to give the officer all the information you have including the date and time of the calls and the nature of the calls.

University Police will investigate the complaint with the intent of identifying the offender and prosecution for the crime. Two of the options available during the investigation are:

  1. The University Police contacting the number in question in an effort to identify the offender or requesting a subpoena from the District Attorney’s office to forward to the phone/cell phone company of the offending number in an effort to identify the caller.
  2. The officer taking your report will explain to you in detail each option. No matter which option you choose remember that you must consent to assist in the prosecution of the person responsible for the calls when they are identified.

For more information on this topic or any other crime prevention information please call the University Police at (920) 424-1212.