How to Answer the Phone when You're Home Alone

You're home alone and not used to answering the phone by yourself. Or you're afraid to answer the phone when nobody else is in the house. How do you take the call while staying safe and ensuring whoever needs it gets the message? With these steps, you will be able to ensure your safety when answering the phone, whether you are a child or an adult.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

For Children

If you're caught in a dangerous situation or feel unsafe, you'll be able to call someone for help. Emergency numbers include parent's cell phone number, a trusted neighbor, a nearby relative, etc. It's best to memorize them, but you should also write them down and post them near the phone or on the refrigerator for quick access. If you need to, call these numbers. If you're scared, call these numbers. Be safe, not sorry. You should also learn to dial 911 in case a serious emergency occurs.
In order to stay out of trouble, follow their orders and don't answer the phone if they instruct you not to. This will prevent you from getting into danger, as some people may try to extract important information from you. Giving away any personal details, such as your address, age, etc. is dangerous and unwise. Follow your parents' wishes for the sake of your safety.
3
Check the caller ID. If your phone has one, it's wise to check it before making any decisions. A caller ID shows you who is calling, which can help you decide whether to answer the phone or not. You should not answer the phone if you don't recognize the caller ID. However, if you do answer the phone, just check and say "Hello, who is this?". If they say something weird or creepy, then get off of the phone right away and notify your parents immediately. Always keep calm and do not sound scared, because they will notice. If your phone shows the number of the person calling, make sure to write it down somewhere so that the person can be reported.
- Avoid answering any 1-800 numbers. These are most likely scams calling and attempting to convince you to purchase one of their products. They may ask for personal information, so it's better to leave their calls unanswered. If you must, you can tell them not to call you again or you will call the cops because some are persistent to the point where it can be considered harassment. If you answer, remember not to tell you are home alone, that is never a good idea!
4
Answer the phone. If you choose to take the call, press the "talk" button or pick up the handset, which will connect you to the caller. Be sure to answer with a polite tone. You can greet the caller using a phrase an adult has instructed you to say (e.g. "Hello? This is (your name)."). However, if you don't recognize the caller ID, avoid giving away your name or information when you first answer the phone. Simply answer with "Hello?" to protect your privacy. It is always important to know who is calling so that you can tell your parents or report them. Hello, who is this? is always a good answer.
- Other phrases you could greet callers with are "(Last name) Residence, (your name) speaking" or "Good afternoon, (your name) speaking." Be sure to talk to an adult about which one is best to use.
- If the caller informs you that they're coming over to fix something, tell them, "Mr./Mrs. (last name) will have to call you back about that." Then, hang up and immediately call one of the emergency numbers. Tell them that someone called and said they were coming over.
If they ask to talk to your parents, don't tell them that you're home alone, as this puts you at risk. Instead, tell them, "I'm sorry, it is inconvenient for Mr./Mrs.(insert last name) to speak with you at this time. May I take a message?"
Even if you recognize the number that is calling, it is important to be aware of who you are speaking with. The response of the caller should directly impact how you reply, whether to carry out a conversation, or to hang up. If they refuse to give their name or sound suspicious in any way, you may want to hang up and ignore their calls. Although it may seem like you're being paranoid, your safety should come first.
That way, before disconnecting the call, you can take down information or messages that they would like to share with you. You might say, "May I take a message?". Write down all the details you can, including the caller ID and phone number if possible. You can give it to your parents once they return home.
Avoid giving out any personal details about being home alone, your age, where you hang out, where your parents work, or any other identifiable information. This puts you and your family at risk, and you're only supplying the caller with information that they may take advantage of. You can, however, say, "I'm sorry, but the person you are looking for isn't available to take your call. Can I take a message and have them call you back later?"
9
Hang up if the other person is rude or persistent. If the caller continues demanding that you hand the phone to your parents, tell them, "Okay, one moment; I'll get them." Then, hang up and ignore any further calls from them. Although, If your parents are gone call them if you have their phone number. When your parents arrive home, inform them about the situation. There may be a way for them to check the phone, and if they know the caller, they can call back and talk to them. Also hang up the phone if the caller keeps asking you personal questions. If they continue pursuing answers despite your protests, immediately disconnect the call and don't answer if they call back.
- It's best to hang up if you feel unsafe or suspicious about the caller.
If a wrong number calls, don't hang up without saying anything, as they may call back. Say, "Hello?" and they may tell you who they are looking for. If you don't recognize the name of the person they're looking for, say, "I'm sorry but I think you have the wrong number" and hang up.
Simply let it go to voicemail. Then, when you have the chance, check your voicemail to see what they want. If it is a true emergency, call them back; if not, wait until someone else is at home with you.
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Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

For Adults

This section is especially important for persons living alone who may be elderly, unwell, socially anxious, afraid, or uncomfortable with using the telephone.

1
Determine who is calling. If you have caller ID, this is your first indication. If not, listen for the caller's identification. You may have to prompt the caller and ask for their name in order to make sure you know who you're speaking with.
- If the caller does not identify themselves, consider hanging up. If it really matters, they'll call back and identify themselves because they'll realize that they didn't come across properly with the first call.
Have a line that makes it sound as if you're not the only person at home. For example, you could say, "Hello, to whom do you wish to speak?" if you don't know who is calling you. You can determine from their response whether or not the call is worth proceeding with.
You also have the power to reveal nothing at all, so don't be persuaded to say things to this caller that you don't feel comfortable sharing or explaining. If you don't know them, then it's none of their business. It's best to keep personal information to yourself, especially if you're uncertain of their identity or intentions.
When answering the phone, simply greet them with a "Hello?". With this introduction, you can keep your identity a secret and require them to tell you theirs. Sometimes, you may get a caller who won't tell you who they are until you identify yourself. Understand that the person who called - and not the person who answers the phone - must identify themselves first. You may want to consider hanging up if they refuse to tell you who they are.
5
Decide how to proceed. This depends on your comfort level after getting the information. After the caller has identified themselves, you have the option to (a) acknowledge yourself, (b) gather more information about the caller without identifying yourself, or (c) just hang up.
- For information on avoiding being scammed, read further How to Avoid Phone Scams.
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What should I do if the the person on the phone threatens to murder me?
Huda Al Safu
Community Answer
Call the police. Never answer the phone again unless you know who it is. Block their number. Death threats are serious and should be reported.
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I have the phone number of a person who called three times in five minutes after 10 PM last night and again this morning while we were at church. How can I stop this?
Community Answer
Answer the call or call them back and see who it is or what they need. It might be important. If you already know who they are, though, or you want the calling to stop, you should block the caller.
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What should I do if the person on the phone threatens to murder me?
Community Answer
First of all, that's extremely unlikely to happen. But if it does, and you have caller ID, call the police and report the threat. Then call your parents and tell them what happened.
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Tips

If anxiety or a fear of answering the phone is your issue, it may help to have some practice conversations with a friend or family member over the phone. Have them call you and then talk to them.
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Remember you don't have to answer the phone; you can always wait for it to stop ringing and see if the caller leaves a message. Make use of the answering machine as a form of a call screener. If the call is important, then the person calling will most likely either call back or leave a message.
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While answering the call, act like you are talking to your friend or relative who is nearby, as this implies that you aren't home alone. For example: "Mom! Can you please switch off the television?".
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Warnings

If you happen to get a call from a suspicious number, and the people are saying that something bad has happened and that you need to give them money, research the number and then if it is a fake, hang up.
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Don't answer the phone if you have a bad feeling about it.
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If you are worried about someone selling you something, making you take a survey, or asking for bills to be paid, it is strongly recommended to answer suspicious calls and be as quiet as possible. They usually do the same thing and say hello after too long of a time.
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Remember that scams are very common. Even if you think that they will never happen, there is always a possibility it will. This is why personal information of any kind, from your name to your address, should never be given out to a caller you don't know.
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If you pick up the phone and there is a pause before it starts ringing, it's almost a guarantee that it is a telemarketer or an appointment reminder.
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Never tell the caller you are home alone. Even if it is a family member, they can still talk to your parents about you being home alone.
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If it is a number your parents tell you to ignore or report, listen to them and check the number when the phone rings.
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