Prank called my boyfriend with an app and a woman answered… nearly 10pm. Feeling confused.

[PeaceOverChaos]

Okay, I feel a bit silly even writing this but I need to get it off my chest.

Earlier tonight, I used one of those prank call apps to call my boyfriend — just messing around, nothing serious. We’ve done dumb stuff like this before, but this time when the call went through… a woman answered. It was nearly 10pm.

He lives at home with his dad and little sister (who’s quite young), and I don’t live with him. So there shouldn’t be any other women around that I know of, especially not answering his phone late at night.

I didn’t say anything — I just hung up, completely thrown. And honestly, part of the reason I haven’t brought it up is because it’s kind of embarrassing to admit I prank called him in the first place 🙈 But now I’m stuck wondering what the hell that was about.

Could there be a normal explanation? Or is this a red flag I shouldn’t ignore? I really don’t want to jump to conclusions but it’s eating away at me a bit.

Anyone had something like this happen?

😂👏🏼👏🏼

Someone I know, once you’ve had one they’re really easy to recognise. They’re prerecorded, for example saying they’ve had a missed call from you, saying you’ve missed your appointment with AA/STI clinic etc. I didn’t respond so they’ve given up now! Some people love pranks, I don’t get it myself!

A landline is shared. A mobile phone is personal. You’d be able to see any notifications that came up, including emails and WhatsApp messages.

it’s simply inappropriate.

Tbf if I’ve picked up someone’s call they have always asked me to do it first.

That sounds tedious. I was expecting them to be something funny. Or clever..

What does the person doing it get from it? Can they hear you answering and how you respond?

Edit - oh, of course they must or OP wouldn’t have heard the woman answering,

I would hate this. I rarely answer my phone when someone calls so if someone else answered on my behalf, I would be furious as then I'd have to speak to the caller!

Yes, the call records your response too. I think they’d run out of people to prank, I was last on the list!

What's a prank call app, sounds like something you would use if you were at school

Never seen such a thorough derail of a thread. Three pages of protocols for answering other peoples phones. Meanwhile OP has given up and left due to lack of interest !

I think this is an "only on mumsnet" thing! If a phone is ringing and the owner is not nearby, I'll say "hello, John's phone, he's just out with the dog, can I take a message?" (Obviosly name and absence can change)

I’m surprised you need this explaining to you, but

landlines were you multiple people to share, therefore someone had to answer to ascertain who the caller needed.

mobile phones are personal to the person, it’s your very own number, for you alone.

Therefore the caller wants to speak to you, not your mum, your sister, your dad or anyone else.

Therefore, if you don’t answer, they can leave a message for you on your personal voicemail.

I believe you’re just being obtuse, but that’s the difference in case you’re not.

HTH.

All the phone answers suggests

a) lots of people don't leave their phone on silent as a rule
b) people are getting calls from unknown numbers (would you really pick up the call from 'Bob (Work)' unless specifically asked to? Feels oddly personal)
c) those unknown numbers are not spam

Mind boggling, how different this reality is to everyone I know. Is it an age thing? I am not going, by the way, but perhaps gen X and boomers do this?

...telling you not to speak until the PIP.

If you have both done this type of stuff before then weres the embarrassment in just asking him who it was? I mean it could be any relative would he really have another woman over if his dad and sister are at home and I assume they know and have met about u id think not

It’s a different situation though.

If a landline rang we had no idea who was calling or who they wanted to speak to - so we would answer and find out, either hand it over or take a message (voicemail wasn’t always a thing). If you didn’t answer there wasn’t always (in the early days) a way of finding out the last number to call them back either and it was accepted that if you rang someone’s landline they may not be available in that moment.

With mobile phones none of that applies.

You know they are calling to speak to the phone owner and 9/10 you will know who is calling as the name appears. If it’s not a saved contact the phone owner can still see the number and call them back at a convenient time to them. Most people also have their voicemail activated so there’s no need for you to take a message.

Also, people carry their mobile phones on them, if they’ve left it near you and they aren’t in the vicinity it’s more than likely because they are busy doing something. If you answer you are effectively forcing them to stop what they’re doing when you hand the phone over. That’s the issue people have. Most people would prefer to deal with the call in their own time.

It’s not really about touching their property.

You haven't been specific about what you suspect - ONS? Bigamy? Regardless, I can't imagine that an OW has been introduced to Dad & little sister, let alone has her feet under the table sufficiently to be answering the phone.

Relax.

I think its generational. I'm older and find people my age are sometimes OK with this, as we are more inclined to see a phone as, well, a phone, like a landline. Whereas the younger you are the more it's like a part of you, and very private. My 20s DS recently told me (nicely) that I was being very rude holding out my hand to take a phone if people were showing me something on it, as the correct thing is to let them hold it in your line of vision, and you NEVER touch anyone else's phone.

How for the APP work? Is there a chance that the numbers got switched or it’s an APP that pranks the person using it.

Call him around the same time from your phone and see what happens.

Personally I think it’s unusual, especially a woman. But I found out I was being cheated on in a similar way (I called around 10pm, he didn’t answer and the next day some woman messaged me because she saw me calling) so I’m extra suspicious about these things.

Your having a seizure and he stops for a chat with your parents, surely he should of been more concerned with you 🤔

Just ask him
“ who answered your phone yesterday? I had this super prank lined up but then boom ‘female voice’ and thought it best not to proceed, so who was it?”

see his reaction

could be a friend, could be.another girlfriend, he could’ve been out, so not at home

does he let people answer his phone? Some people do some don’t - so hard to know familiarity to someone else answering his phone

I think it's this. The voice you heard was the first part of the prank call

It’s bizarre and out of order. What if the person doesn’t want to answer for that caller? I probably only choose to answer 25% of people that call me, and I certainly don’t want someone else choosing to answer on my behalf!

Just ask him. Could be his dad's girlfriend?

He got on the phone instead of helping you?