Just about everyone has wished they could stop prank calls, but for some people, these calls can become far more than annoying. Harassing calls come in a variety of forms from common teenage prank calls to actual threats. Sometimes annoyance callers remain silent, simply breathing into the phone. Whatever the form, you can help stop prank calls by using resources available to find out more information about the person or company that is calling.

The first thing to know about harassing callers is that they care about your reaction, and they usually are trying to get you to react in a certain way, such as fear or anger. If you receive such a call, it is important to speak in a calm and logical manner. If you don't react, the caller will more than likely get bored and quit bothering you. However, if using an even tone is not enough to stop prank calls, there are ways to find out more about the caller.

While the first and most obvious resource is Caller ID, it is easy for someone who knows how to block their number from being captured. For this reason, a lot of prank calls are from unknown or anonymous numbers, and in these cases, it is necessary to do a little more detective work to find out who is calling. Most people who want to stop prank calls are being repeatedly harassed; if this is the case, you can ask your phone company to place a trace or trap on your line, so that when the caller dials your number again, you will be able to get some basic information such as phone number and the name attached to that number. From here, internet resources like reverse phone lookups can provide a valuable service.