Phone harassment: repeated calls or messages and what to do

Phone harassment: repeated calls or messages and what to do

The phone rings again. And again. Sometimes no one speaks, sometimes it is insults, threats or sexual comments, and sometimes it is a stream of messages at all hours from numbers that keep changing. It may be an ex-partner, someone you had a dispute with, a stranger, or people chasing someone else's debt. Whatever the source, you do not have to put up with it. In Singapore, harassment, including by phone and online, can be an offence under the Protection from Harassment Act (POHA), and you can get protection. The key is to document, block and report.

When is it harassment and not just a nuisance?

A one-off wrong number or a marketing call is annoying but not harassment. It starts to become harassment when there is:

• Repetition: many calls or messages, especially after you have asked them to stop.
• Threats of violence, of publishing private information or images, or against your family.
• Abusive, insulting or sexual content.
• Intimidation: calls at night, to your workplace, or to people around you.
• Stalking behaviour: tracking where you are, contacting you from new numbers each time you block one.

If you feel alarmed, distressed or afraid, that matters, and it is worth acting.

What do I do right now?

1. If you are in immediate danger, call 999.
2. Do not engage. Responding, arguing or pleading usually encourages the harasser.
3. Keep evidence before blocking: screenshots of messages, call logs with dates and times, voicemails, and the numbers used. Back them up somewhere safe, such as email or cloud storage.
4. Keep a log: a simple diary of each incident, with date, time, number and what happened.
5. Block the numbers on your phone and in WhatsApp, Telegram and social media. On iPhone, you can also silence unknown callers; many Android phones have similar settings.
6. Tell someone you trust about what is happening.

How do I report it?

• Make a police report through SPF e-services or at a Neighbourhood Police Centre, bringing your evidence and log. Threats of violence or harm should be reported to the police promptly.
• Seek a protection order. Under POHA, you can apply to the courts for protection orders, such as an order requiring the person to stop the harassing behaviour. The Singapore Courts explain the process on their protection from harassment page. You may wish to get legal advice first.
• Report accounts to the platform: WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram and other apps allow you to report abusive accounts.
• If the harassment is linked to a scam (for example, threats from a fake debt collector or a sextortion attempt), report the number through ScamShield as well.
• If it is linked to a loan shark (calls about someone else's debt), report it to the police; do not pay.

What about marketing calls that will not stop?

If the repeated calls come from businesses selling you something, register your number on the Do Not Call Registry run by the Personal Data Protection Commission. Organisations generally must check the registry before sending marketing calls or messages to Singapore numbers. It does not stop scammers or personal harassers.

What if I already answered or played along?

That is completely understandable. You are not responsible for the harasser's behaviour.

• Stop engaging from now on, without announcing it.
• If you shared personal information, such as your address or workplace, consider telling your employer's security or building management, and tell the police.
• If you sent money or private images because of threats, do not send more; keep the evidence and report it to the police.
• Review your privacy settings on social media and messaging apps, and limit who can see your profile photo, last seen and status.

Frequently asked questions

The calls come from hidden or ever-changing numbers. Can anything be done? Yes. Keep a log of every call. The police can investigate and obtain information from operators as part of an investigation.

Is it harassment if it's an ex-partner who just wants to talk? If you have asked them to stop and they keep calling or messaging, especially in a way that distresses you, it can be harassment. If there is family violence involved, the police and the courts can help.

Should I change my number? It can bring relief, but it is not required, and changing it can make it harder to gather evidence. Report first, then decide.

Do I need a lawyer to get a protection order? Not necessarily, but legal advice can help. The courts' website explains the steps.

In short

Repeated, threatening or abusive calls and messages are not something you have to tolerate. Keep evidence, keep a log, block and do not engage, then report to the police and consider a protection order under POHA. In danger, call 999. And if the number is a scammer or spammer, report it in the NoCall spam numbers directory.