New Mexico Hospital Investigates Prank Calls

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Some pranksters claiming to be from Albuquerque's Presbyterian Hospital caused confusion and heartbreak.

They called Duke City residents and told them a loved one was in the hospital.

For the victims of the pranks, it's been a nightmarish experience.

In the past few weeks, nine people were tricked by the calls.

The caller told them their loved one was in an accident, or had a medical emergency, and they needed to get to Presbyterian quick.

Luckily for the victims, none of what the prankster said was true, but it caused quite a bit of anxiety and frustration.

Most of the victims said the person who called them had a calm voice and seemed to know what they were talking about.

In some cases they even used the actual family or friend's names.

An investigation revealed the number showing up on people's caller I.D. is from Presbyterian Hospital.

The director of Emergency Services for Presbyterian said that a full scale investigation is under way to find out who's making these calls.

Diane Cassell, with Presbyterian, said, "We deal with emergencies and tragedies on a daily basis in the emergency department. It's bad enough when we have to make those calls and they're real. But the thought of someone doing that as a prank is absolutely unacceptable."

Callers can make a fake number appear on the caller I.D.

It's called spoofing and Target 7 uncovered the dangers of it earlier this year.

It's when people use routers to make the fake number.

So it's possible the person behind the Presbyterian calls may not be within the hospital or even the state.

Presbyterian said if people receiving such calls should call back and make sure a loved one is in fact in the hospital.

To do that, call Presbyterian at 841-1404.

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