crank call

(Newser) - Well, this is embarrassing: The British hospital treating Kate Middleton admitted it was victimized by a crank call in which information on the Duchess of Cambridge's condition was given to a woman impersonating Queen Elizabeth II. An Australian radio station made a hoax call to King Edward VII's...

(Newser) - Representatives claim this has nothing whatsoever to do with the recent Koch-related prank call to Gov. Scott Walker, but the timing sure is odd: Wisconsin is considering a bill that would make such prank calls illegal. Two Republican state legislators authored the bill, which would ban any caller from pretending...

(Newser) - Using VoIP Internet-calling services, pranksters are easily duping outdated 911 call centers to disastrous consequences, Ars Technica reports. Using easy-access online services, callers can cover up their real locations, make up stories, and mobilize emergency teams anywhere. Updating call-center systems could fix the problem, but most such places can’t...

(Newser) - David Beckham called LA county and sheriff’s offices last week, offering to host kids’ charity events. At least the authorities thought it was the transplanted British soccer star. Instead, it was a crank caller, who made lofty claims about everything from charity work to a black Mercedes in about...