Craigslist Prank: Either place a joke ad on Craigslist or prank call someone who includes their phone number on an ad. 3-Way Calls: Set up a 3-way call with 2 random numbers and stay silent on your end of the line. The other callers will be super confused about how the call got set up. SFX: Pull up a silly soundboard and play funny SFX and voice lines into your phone when the other person picks up.

Try to get your laughs out of your system before you dial any numbers.

Some people might interpret a serious tone of voice as a threat, even if you’re just pulling a prank. Keeping your voice light, silly, and fun helps prevent any miscommunication.

Boomerang JokesPhone Pranky (iOS only) Some apps might ask you to include a phone number to send the prank call from. Pick a number that the person is likely to answer—just don’t use your own!

Example: If the person’s phone number is 123-555-6789, you’d type *671235556789 into your phone.

Google Voice (free) Burner (free trial) Hushed (free trial)

You can always steal your friend’s phone when they aren’t looking—just be ready to deal with the consequences!

Burner phones aren’t super expensive, but they can add up over time. If you’re a frequent prankster, they aren’t an ideal solution.

Don’t prank emergency hotlines, either. Calling a hotline when you’re not in a crisis causes major stress and frustration for volunteers trying to help legitimate callers.

Never report a fake crime or emergency at someone else’s home. This is known as “swatting,” and can get you arrested or even thrown in jail. [15] X Research source Don’t ask for people’s personal information (like their credit card info), even as a joke. People might assume that you’re trying to scam them and get the police involved.

If you do record your prank call, don’t post it on social media or send it on blast to a bunch of people. This qualifies as an “invasion of privacy,” and you could be sued in civil court. [18] X Research source