Telephone Tips

  • Do not list your address in the phone book.
  • Use your first initial and last name in the phone book.
  • When you are not home, use an answering machine. Have the message say that you cannot come to the phone, not that you are not home.
  • Do not give any personal information to anyone over the phone.
  • Never give information to "wrong number" callers. If they ask which number they reached, ask them which number they attempted to dial.
  • Always give the impression that you are not alone.
  • If a call is harassing or obscene, hang up immediately. Do not listen to them or show any type of emotional response. Report continual harassment to the police and the phone company.
  • Blow a whistle into the phone to discourage obscene or harassing phone calls.
  • Consider changing to an unlisted phone number.