In some cases, the caller persuades the mark to break windows, supposedly to silence alarms or because of a nonexistent natural gas leak.
The phone call cost one Arkansas motel $50,000 in damage from a sprinkler system and broken windows. In Nebraska, a man was persuaded to drive his truck through the door of a hotel lobby.
Authorities suspect more than one person is behind the calls, and some could be inspired by Internet sites about phone pranks.
They say felony charges may be filed against whoever is responsible.
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