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How should I handle repeated prank calls from a young child?

98 replies

BrighterDaysAhead2026 · 05/09/2026 22:49

This is a really strange situation. But basically a kid started calling me last night on a private number as a prank 'Is Ben Dover there?' I just laughed, played along a little and hung up. I thought it was one of my DD's teenage friends. Kid phoned a few times then started calling again today numerous times. I didn't always answer and put my phone on dnd for a bit but as a private number it could have been someone needing to get hold of me. Anyway, it then turned into this kid who judging by their voice (They were putting on silly voices to start with so I couldn't tell) is only about 10/11, telling me I was kind and just phoning wanting to chat with me. Obviously I realise this is wildy inapropriate and have nicely told them to stop calling, that I'm too busy to talk or I've suggested they find something else to do to entertain them. They still keep calling. And I'm having thoughts of why do they want to speak to a stranger...are they ok, is something going on in their home life? Which obviously nothing I can do as I don't know their details and obviously wouldn't ask. They phoned me again about half an hour ago and I asked where their parents were and they said in bed.

What is the best way to deal with this? I'm hoping after the weekend they'll be busy at school and stop. Should I ask to talk to his parents? Should I be more firm in telling him not to call? Should I do something else??

OP posts:
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MNLurker1345 · Yesterday 20:13

Ilovelurchers · Yesterday 16:14

OP, I really think you need to stop engaging with this young person. It's not appropriate. You also insist that they are cute and sweet and that "Ben Dover" is a "silly kiddy joke" you played along with - you do realise it's a pretty explicit sexual comment, don't you? This kid decided to phone an adult woman and say this to her - and you engaged as if it was funny. And continue engaging with them now.

I am NOT saying this to be unkind, honestly. I just want you to see the facts, so that you don't put yourself in a massively compromised position.

Think what you would feel about another adult doing and saying these things please. I am assuming you are a good person with honest intentions - but you are risking crossing some very serious lines here .....

This! I find this thread a bit concerning. And if it was me, I would be quite frightened.

I have been exposed to text messages of a stalker a while back.

There are many ways these people can continue their contacts. It is not as easy as ‘block’ and somewhere in the dark regions of my phone, those blocked, changed, many different ways of messaging are still in my phone memory. You can’t get rid of them.

WallaceinAnderland · Yesterday 20:01

BrighterDaysAhead2026 · Yesterday 14:10

I just looked him up. To me he sounds nothing like a child nor does he say things the way a child would - so I think I can safely say it's not him!

I'm not suggesting it's actually him, I'm saying that adults can and do pretend to be children. So what you think it 'sweet' could a 40 year old man or woman with mental health problems, or worse. Just stop engaging with them.

BrezhnevsLuxuriantEyebrows · Yesterday 19:02

For me, apart from anything else, knowing about the function of - let alone going to the trouble of - withholding your number would instantly rule out it being a child.

It's phenomenally easy for anybody to change their phone voice with easily-available tools/apps. There's a brilliant young-ish American bloke on YouTube who wastes the time of scammers and hacks into their computers to delete all their files whilst they're on the phone to him - and he always pretends to be a confused elderly lady, both to buy himself more time and to make them think that she (he) is more vulnerable for them to steal from.

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · Yesterday 18:04

AuntieBiotics · Yesterday 13:59

MNetters like to think everything is a scam. Without really thinking it through and wondering what the end game is. As other posters have said they have played similar games in the past and without the intention of scamming or anything else, just because they were bored.

What's more likely - a bored child playing pranks, or a dedicated scammer who has managed to pull off sounding like a 10 year old and has made 20 calls without trying to extort money?

OP all you need to do is say "Please stop calling me. I have told the Police". Even if you haven't.

With the supposed 'child' who called me (who later confessed to be a university student), it wasn't a scam it was the intention to subject me to sudden sexual talk for his own satisfaction.

Error404FucksNotFound · Yesterday 17:27

This is not appropriate. You should hang up as soon as he speaks.

scalt · Yesterday 17:20

I’m glad to see people remember the whistle trick! It probably used to be the official advice for nuisance calls, before health and safety took hold.

More seriously, though, I wouldn’t do the whistle for a child, or even a scammer, but a persistent sexual predator might be fair game.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · Yesterday 17:06

dreamingofgoodhair · Yesterday 14:45

you can only block a number if you have it , she doesn’t have it.

Ah yes, I misunderstood the term 'private' I was thinking it meant a domestic number versus a business number.

Ilovelurchers · Yesterday 16:14

OP, I really think you need to stop engaging with this young person. It's not appropriate. You also insist that they are cute and sweet and that "Ben Dover" is a "silly kiddy joke" you played along with - you do realise it's a pretty explicit sexual comment, don't you? This kid decided to phone an adult woman and say this to her - and you engaged as if it was funny. And continue engaging with them now.

I am NOT saying this to be unkind, honestly. I just want you to see the facts, so that you don't put yourself in a massively compromised position.

Think what you would feel about another adult doing and saying these things please. I am assuming you are a good person with honest intentions - but you are risking crossing some very serious lines here .....

TroysMammy · Yesterday 15:46

When I say stage name he's a pornographic actor.

TroysMammy · Yesterday 15:45

To totally derail the thread did you know Ben Dover is the stage name of Simon Honey who is the father of Tyger Drew-Honey who is the actor who played Jake in Outnumbered?

FannybygaslightinGovan · Yesterday 15:18

MissMoneyFairy · Yesterday 15:13

The phone provider can block the calls

They can't block a single number that is private or withheld.

MissMoneyFairy · Yesterday 15:13

FannybygaslightinGovan · Yesterday 15:05

FFS IT'S A PRIVATE NUMBER PEOPLE.

YOU CANNOT BLOCK IT BECAUSE THERE IS NO NUMBER TO BLOCK!!!

OP has also said that she cannot block all unknown or private callers as she needs to be contactable.

The phone provider can block the calls

FannybygaslightinGovan · Yesterday 15:05

FFS IT'S A PRIVATE NUMBER PEOPLE.

YOU CANNOT BLOCK IT BECAUSE THERE IS NO NUMBER TO BLOCK!!!

OP has also said that she cannot block all unknown or private callers as she needs to be contactable.

Dollymylove · Yesterday 14:54

Why not just ignore the calls .They will get fed up eventually

dreamingofgoodhair · Yesterday 14:45

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · Yesterday 09:17

You can block any specific number (on a mobile phone).
Although the process might differ on different phones.

you can only block a number if you have it , she doesn’t have it.

dreamingofgoodhair · Yesterday 14:43

MissMoneyFairy · Yesterday 13:50

Can you trace the number yourself, is it possible to access last number who called you

She’s said about 20 times it’s a private number.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · Yesterday 14:27

BrighterDaysAhead2026 · Yesterday 13:35

I don't have the specific number so I can't block

So I am assuming they are calling you on your mobile, and they have withheld their number. I don't answer any calls unless it is one of my contacts as it will show their number. The only drawback is that doctors withhold their numbers!

AndrewPreview · Yesterday 14:15

It might be worth contacting your phone provider. I had issues with nuisance calls years ago (on the landline) that were from a private number, even though I couldn't identify it BT could still see the number it originated from.

I don't know whether that's the case with mobiles though.

BrighterDaysAhead2026 · Yesterday 14:10

WallaceinAnderland · Yesterday 13:49

Look up Tim Bradbury 'Tiny Tim' to see how an adult can sound like a child.

I just looked him up. To me he sounds nothing like a child nor does he say things the way a child would - so I think I can safely say it's not him!

OP posts:
BrighterDaysAhead2026 · Yesterday 14:02

Daftapath · Yesterday 13:58

Do any recent callers, that have called you, have children around that age?

I wonder whether the child has just pressed redial on the phone and your number was the most recently called?

Not that I can think of. Also I doubt it is the parent's phone as he is using it so much and late at night.

OP posts:
AuntieBiotics · Yesterday 13:59

MNetters like to think everything is a scam. Without really thinking it through and wondering what the end game is. As other posters have said they have played similar games in the past and without the intention of scamming or anything else, just because they were bored.

What's more likely - a bored child playing pranks, or a dedicated scammer who has managed to pull off sounding like a 10 year old and has made 20 calls without trying to extort money?

OP all you need to do is say "Please stop calling me. I have told the Police". Even if you haven't.

rainbowstardrops · Yesterday 13:58

I wouldn’t be encouraging this and I wouldn’t be thinking that they are sweet either.

Daftapath · Yesterday 13:58

Do any recent callers, that have called you, have children around that age?

I wonder whether the child has just pressed redial on the phone and your number was the most recently called?

BrighterDaysAhead2026 · Yesterday 13:56

MissMoneyFairy · Yesterday 13:50

Can you trace the number yourself, is it possible to access last number who called you

No as it's a private number

OP posts:
BrighterDaysAhead2026 · Yesterday 13:55

WallaceinAnderland · Yesterday 13:49

Look up Tim Bradbury 'Tiny Tim' to see how an adult can sound like a child.

Will do

OP posts: