Phone harassment: repeated calls or messages and what to do

Phone harassment: repeated calls or messages and what to do

The phone rings again. It is the same number, or a new one, or a withheld one. Or the messages keep coming on SMS, WhatsApp or Instagram, even after you have said clearly that you want no contact. Sometimes it is an ex, sometimes a stranger, sometimes a loan app or a business that will not take no for an answer. Whatever the source, persistent, unwanted contact is not something you have to put up with. In Nigeria, the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act covers cyberstalking and threatening messages, and you can report it. Here is how to protect yourself and build a solid case.

When is it harassment and not just a nuisance?

Look at the pattern, not just one call:

• Persistence. Repeated calls or messages, many times a day or over weeks, even when you do not answer.
• You have said no and it continues. You asked them to stop, or your silence is clear, and it goes on.
• They switch numbers to get round your block. Withheld numbers, new lines, other apps, fake profiles.
• Intrusive timing. Calls in the middle of the night or at moments chosen to disturb you.
• Intimidating content. Insults, threats, comments about where you are or who you are with, long silences, breathing.
• Impact on your life. You are afraid to pick up, you change routines or switch your phone off to get peace.

What do I do right now?

1. Do not take the bait. Do not reply with insults or negotiate. If you want to put on record that you want no contact, send one single, calm message ("Do not call or message me again"), then stop replying.
2. Start a log today. Record every call and message: date, time, number (or "withheld"), duration and what was said. An organised log turns "they call me a lot" into a pattern anyone can see.
3. Take screenshots of your call log and messages, with the date and number visible. Keep voicemails and voice notes.
4. Back up the evidence. Export the chats and save the screenshots off your phone, on a computer or in the cloud.
5. Do not delete anything, even if it is painful to read. Evidence first, blocking after.
6. Block the number. Android and iPhone let you block a number from the call log. On iPhone you can turn on "Silence Unknown Callers"; many Android phones can block unknown or withheld numbers. On WhatsApp, Instagram and others, block and report the account.
7. Tell someone you trust. You do not have to carry this alone. Someone who knows can go with you to report it and confirm how it is affecting you.

How do I report it?

1. If there is immediate danger, call 112, Nigeria's toll-free emergency number. If they threaten to hurt you, say they are near your house or you fear for your safety, do not wait.
2. Report it to the police, at a police station or through the Nigeria Police Force's National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) e-reporting portal. Bring the printed log, the screenshots and any voice recordings, and ask for a record of your complaint.
3. If the harassment comes from a partner or ex-partner, it may be part of domestic violence. Many states have domestic and sexual violence response teams and NGOs that support survivors; the police can direct you, and you can ask for help in confidence.
4. Ask your network for help. It can advise on blocking options and, with a police request, assist an investigation. If your complaint to the network is not resolved, you can escalate to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on 622, following the NCC complaint procedure.
5. If it is a business (an aggressive loan app or a company that keeps calling after you asked it to stop), you can also complain to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and, if your personal data or contacts are being misused, to the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC).

What if I already answered or played along?

• Stop replying and follow the steps above. Each reply tells them the channel works.
• If you gave them information (address, schedule, workplace), mention it in your report and consider telling your workplace, your estate security or your landlord.
• If they demanded money or data with threats, do not send it: that is extortion. If you already paid, keep the receipts and call your bank on its official number.
• Secure your accounts: change passwords, turn on two-step verification and lock down your social media privacy so they cannot follow your movements.

Frequently asked questions

It's always a withheld number and I don't know who it is. Can I still report it? Yes. Your log and screenshots show the pattern, and investigators can request records from the network as part of a case.

Should I change my number? It is a last resort and you lose evidence continuity. Try blocking, reporting and filtering first. If you do change, share the new number only with people you trust.

Can I record the calls? Recording calls you take part in can help you document what happens, but the rules depend on the situation. Keep recordings private and hand them to the police rather than sharing them publicly.

What about silent calls, with nobody on the other end? They can be harassment if they are repeated and targeted, or they can be automated systems checking for active numbers. Log them anyway; the pattern will show which.

In short

Repeated unwanted calls or messages are not something to endure in silence. Do not engage, log everything, back up the evidence, block, tell someone you trust and report it to the police. Call 112 if you are in danger. And if the calls come from unknown numbers, report them in the NoCall spam numbers directory so others are warned.