Related psychiatric terms (such as coprophilia) were coined in Australia, the United States, and Germany; most of the pertinent literature is North American.
[5] In the United Kingdom, obscene phone calls are punishable by a fine of up to £5,000 or up to six months in prison under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.
Even when Caller ID is not shown, calls are logged by the telephone company, so the perpetrator's phone number can be discovered.
The prevalence of internet telephony, and sophisticated international operations have also stymied the investigation of nuisance phone calls.
Often, people who make obscene phone calls are emotionally or behaviorally maladjusted adolescent boys who have shown previous signs of sexual abuse, as well as having already committed sexual abuse.