Harassing Text Messages from across the border - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

RedMileDJ · 10-06-2011, 03:00 PM

<sigh> I was really hoping that it would not come to this, but I'm hoping to get some advice from the CP community. Particularly the people that may have experienced this or have some sort of knowledge in the law and what can be done.

I'm not going to bore you all with the details, but here is the basic summary:

I WAS part of an online community. Online gaming, if you will. I decided to leave the community (quit the game) for my own personal reasons. During my time with the community many of us swapped cell phone numbers, so we could keep in touch when we were online and such.

So now, one month since leaving, I am getting text messages from 3 of people I used to play with online. I have text'd the people back asking them to leave me alone, but they aren't stopping.

Before anyone suggests it, no...I can not just change my cell number. I need to keep this number for business. Changing it is not an option.

So...I've done a little reading online, but I can't seem to find information about what to do in the case of the text messages coming from the US. The people sending me these messages are in Texas and North Dakota. I'm in Calgary.

So CP...any advice? Just go to the RCMP? ? ?

wooohooo · 10-06-2011, 03:02 PM

Can't you just call your provider to block those numbers?

malcolmk14 · 10-06-2011, 03:03 PM

Try sending a message back that says, "We're sorry, the number you have tried to contact has been removed from the ROGERS/Bell/Telus network. Please contact this person for a forwarding number and update your records."

Might work if they're real stupid.

RedMileDJ · 10-06-2011, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wooohooo

Can't you just call your provider to block those numbers?

I've called Telus and they say they can't block single numbers, or blocks of numbers for that matter.

They have offered me a free number change, but like I said...I can't do that.

Ozy_Flame · 10-06-2011, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red-Mile-DJ

I've called Telus and they say they can't block single numbers, or blocks of numbers for that matter.

They have offered me a free number change, but like I said...I can't do that.

Well it may be the lesser of two evils then.

rd_aaron · 10-06-2011, 03:10 PM

You could either do what malcolmk14 mentioned or text them back pretending you're somebody else who just got a new number and have no idea who they are.

Or just ignore them. If they're not getting a reaction out of you, they'll eventually quit.

Hockeyguy15 · 10-06-2011, 03:12 PM

rd_aaron beat me to both ideas.

FlamesAddiction · 10-06-2011, 03:23 PM

I was going to say just ignore them. They are just pixels on a screen. If they are harassing you in real life because of a game, then they are losers who really aren't worth your time.

But there must be a way to block them somewhow.

RedMileDJ · 10-06-2011, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by malcolmk14

Try sending a message back that says, "We're sorry, the number you have tried to contact has been removed from the ROGERS/Bell/Telus network. Please contact this person for a forwarding number and update your records."

Might work if they're real stupid.

I wish I had done this initially. But like I said, I've already replied to them asking them to leave me alone. I guess I was just trying to take the "high road" and hoping they would be mature about that.

Since then, I have received around 10 to 15 text messages a day from these people. I haven't responded to any of them. They're all saved on my phone.

It's more annoying than anything else. But some of the messages have been quite graphic with some mean intentions.

THE SCUD · 10-06-2011, 03:26 PM

hahaha WoW revenge!

Raekwon · 10-06-2011, 03:28 PM

Sounds like someone cleared out a guild bank

RedMileDJ · 10-06-2011, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I was going to say just ignore them. They are just pixels on a screen. If they are harassing you in real life because of a game, then they are losers who really aren't worth your time.

But there must be a way to block them somewhow.

The thing is, these aren't "kids" doing this. These 3 people are like 25, 28 and 32 in age. One of them has a kid and is married.

I don't know. I'm just surprised how they're getting all worked up.

Like i said: I left the game. Said my goodbyes. Everyone, including these 3 people, wished me luck and "thanks." So I don't understand the motivations behind this.

It's all very sad.

Ashartus · 10-06-2011, 03:30 PM

Maybe you could forward the messages to 7726 (Telus spam reporting); I don't know what action (if any) they actually take though or whether it is just to make sure you don't get charged for spam if you don't have a text plan.

RedMileDJ · 10-06-2011, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raekwon

Sounds like someone cleared out a guild bank

Quite the opposite. I divided up all the contents, including currency, before I left...among everyone. This included the people bothering me.

RedMileDJ · 10-06-2011, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ashartus

Maybe you could forward the messages to 7726 (Telus spam reporting); I don't know what action (if any) they actually take though or whether it is just to make sure you don't get charged for spam if you don't have a text plan.

I had no idea they had this. I don't see anything on their website about this service. Do you have a link?

jar_e · 10-06-2011, 03:32 PM

Police won't be able to do anything so save yourself the time on phoning it in.

THE SCUD · 10-06-2011, 03:34 PM

I certainly wouldn't call the RCMP on this - they will

1) laugh at you

2) Tell you to change your number, like Telus already has.

I think you just constantly reply with the "this number is cancelled" comment someone made earlier - eventually they will think their harassment worked and think you changed your number.

Ashartus · 10-06-2011, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red-Mile-DJ

I had no idea they had this. I don't see anything on their website about this service. Do you have a link?

I found out about it when I contacted customer service about some spam texts (since I don't normally text I don't have a plan and was getting charged for them), but I found a link here:
http://about.telus.com/cgi-bin/media..._id=938&mode=2

You do need to include the word "SPAM" in the body of the forwarded message. It looks like it's mostly for getting credit for any charges you incur though, so they probably don't do anything else with them.

Bring_Back_Shantz · 10-06-2011, 03:36 PM

I'm kind of curious as to what the community was.

You said "Online gaming if you will".....why so vauge?

It was some sort of weird swinggers club wasn't it?

tvp2003 · 10-06-2011, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red-Mile-DJ

Since then, I have received around 10 to 15 text messages a day from these people. I haven't responded to any of them. They're all saved on my phone.

It's more annoying than anything else. But some of the messages have been quite graphic with some mean intentions.

Weird. Suddenly I'm in the mood for some mango mousse cake