Prank call

A prank call is a telephone call made by the caller as a practical joke on the person who answers. Many prank calls are simple nuisance calls with no legal consequence, but calling becomes criminal in many jurisdictions once it is made with intent to abuse, threaten, or harass, as covered in the United States under the Telecommunications Act, or once it targets emergency services, includes a bomb threat, involves impersonation, or causes property damage or physical harm. Some jurisdictions, including Australia, also restrict broadcasting a recorded prank call without the consent of the person recorded. Where a prank call causes genuine fear, disruption, or loss, it is prosecuted as harassment, mischief, or a related offense rather than treated as protected speech.