If it is indeed the gf, what a shame.

I didn't see the post about the girlfriend. Didn't realize this could be something personal. Sorry-that's why I posted about the scam.

I can only imagine how scary this was for you. I'd be filing a police report ASAP to get this on record. If it turns out to be the gf, the cops need to have a chat with her. You have posted in the past about the gf causing problems. I'm sorry, but Michael needs to get his priorities straight and if this recent action by his gf doesn't do it, I don't know what will.

We don't know if it was the gf and I think the problem gf was son Matt's. Why would the gf call your house phone rather than his cell?

Glad they are safe!! Hope you get to the bottom of this.

Sounds like it Is the GF. My first thought was maybe someone wanting to rob the house, but it wasn’t robbed. I hope they can trace the call.

Don't get too worried. It could be another low life student who used its mother's phone to call in the scam. Wait until the number is traced to see whose phone made the call. I bet the call was not authorized by the owner, but if the owner did make the call and is caught, the owner will likely blame it someone else. Lat's see how this plays out.

OK this gave me chills! How odd and frightening. Thank God every one is OK. If it does turn out to be the gf. She may soon realize she made a huge mistake. That type of thing is taken very seriously and can carry jail time with it. It's not just a silly joke! It's involving the school district and violation of the laws.

Please keep us posted!

We used to have a special code phrase which we had in case there was ever a time when we had an emergency and had to ask a non family member to collect our daughter from school- we had no family closer than 90 minutes away. Even if it was someone she knew, they had to use the code phrase.

I think we only had to use it once, but she knew that we would never ask anyone to just show up and say, “Mommy and Daddy asked me to come get you”.

In this scenario, it seems that Mamp is the one targeted. The boys were safe at school but confused over a possible change in after-school plans.

I am wondering if this school would have passed the boys on to someone who "the grandmother" said was going to pick them up? How does the school handle last minute changes, and who is allowed access to the students?

It sounds from Mamapinky's last comment that yes, the school has good procedures in place -- but it wouldn't hurt to stress to the principal and office staff that the procedures must be followed to the letter, no exceptions.

Also I agree with those saying keep looking into it and press charges however the law allows. Someone went way too far. They meant harm, not just a prank -- my opinion.

Everything else aside, I’m surprised that the school accepts verbal changes. I worked at my children’s elementary school from 2001-2008. When I first started they would accept written notes and faxes from parents regarding transportation changes. Then they quit accepting faxes, just written notes that were always confirmed with a phone call to the parent using a phone number in the official database. Additionally, you had to show id to check out a child. People would frequently bristle at these precautions and get pretty riled about having to go back to their cars to get their id. I remember one mom trying to tell me over the phone just to let her son ride home with a neighbor and I had to stand my ground while she cursed me out on the phone.

The year before I started working there, my daughter suffered a compound fracture on the playground. Even in my frazzled state I knew to bring in my wallet!

Eld. At the beginning of the year a emergency card is sent home where I had to list names, phone number and addresses of people allowed to pick up the boys. ONLY these people can pick the boys up with legal identification. If anyone else tries even if I call into the school the boys will NOT be released. I tried to add my son to this list once over the phone...I had to go into the school show ID and fill out the paperwork.

I think it was my other son Matt whose gf I spoke about in the past.

If this is Michaels gf that did this I have no doubt this relationship will end.

Ava the gf calls my phone because Michael does not have a cell.

I find it very odd that Michael was here for hours last night and this woman never once called here..this is a first.

As most of you know I'm a hermit so I don't know people. This woman is my only suspect. She resents me and the boys. Shes very possessive of Michael. Usually when Chip is admitted to hospital with his asthma unless Michael is himself in hospital or a convalescent facility(severe lung disease) he stays at hospital with Chip...this woman once said to me during one of Chips stays in hospital when Michael was with him...** you agreed to taking custody of the boys so you should be at the hospital not involving Michael** another time. ** Michael should not be at your house every day he should be where he belongs with me** she's never said these things in front of Michael and I haven't told Michael because I don't want blamed for interfering, but I'm pretty darned sure if its found out this woman made the call Michael will be furious and she will have broke up the relationship all on her own.

I hope they find out who and prosecute. If it is the girlfriend, I hope he knows nothing good can ever come from someone who would do something like that and gets away. Now. Post haste. If someone didn't love my son as much as I did and found time with him "interfering" I'd boot them so far away, they'd no longer be on this planet. Love me, love my boy.

If it isn’t her, it could be a student angry with one of the boys wanting to mess up his day? I can’t think of any other reason someone would want to do that to you. They would have done something worse such as say the bus was in an accident. I think your instincts are right on. I just hope the call can actually be traced. There have been so many bomb threats to schools recently and no one has been caught making the threats as far as I know, so I’m thinking they cant trace the calls. I hope they can and you get to the bottom of this.

Just now reading about this. What a mean thing to do! I hope the person is identified and your fears put to rest pronto. The doer should be reported to the law.

What has the school said about their security policy now? Surely the boys told them that you do not drive and that they had no Dr. appointment that day. Shouldn't that have raised suspicion in the staff? Of course, MamaP, I know you have taught the children well about not going anywhere with strangers.

This was a horrible thing for the caller to do and they deserve to be prosecuted!

That's really weird about the manipulative phone call.

I know for certain our schools around here do not always stick to their security policies about who to let in the building and who to pick up kids. I know because I've been sent to pick up a neighbor's kids from more than one school, and to deliver a home-cooked banquet for the teachers (home-cooked food supposedly not allowed either), and I am not on any kind of list. They just buzz me right in. If I'm picking up a kid, I just say so at the front desk, they get on the PA and call the kid, who appears, and we leave.

So, yeah, you've got to be careful, your kids have got to be careful, and some schools need to be more careful.

All of our schools ID us when we come in. We have to show our driver's license or other legitimate ID.

For the elementary school, the school may accept a phone call to change plans particularly if the front office knows the parent/guardian, but MP would still have had her ID checked when she picked them up. The teachers help the kids get in the car for drive through pick up. An unauthorized person may be caught at that time. Usually, they ask "Who is that driving?" if they don't recognize the parent. They also have matching tags for kids and parents. The kids have one on a backpack and the parent has one on the car. Whoever made the call didn't follow through with pickup so she didn't trigger all of the safeguards the school had in place. Whoever she is, MP and family don't need her in their life.

Is Michael the boys’ father or is it your other son? If it’s Michael and his girlfriend resents you and the boys so much he should kick her to the curb, anyway. IMO. no way should a father accept that attitude about his children (or about his mother, frankly). (Regardless of whether this phone call was her or not).

You're too kind, MP. I would have told my son what his girlfriend said as soon as I saw him. That kind of behavior to me is manipulative, and I wouldn't want my son involved with someone like that.

Wow, how scary that must have been for you, Mama. My first thought was that it was the boys' mother, but the gf makes perfect sense. She sounds verrrrry unstable to me.

Whether this moron is behind the incident or not, your son needs to get a pair of cojones and upgrade his circle of friends. Pronto.

I use a one strike and you're out policy, no second chances, for people causing unnecessary drama. It sounds like she's well beyond that even if not involved with this school matter. Which isn't a scam, by the way, that involves some kind of swindle.

"Upgrade his circle." I've got to agree with that, Elmer. You mess with my kids like that and you are gone.

Well, it is not 100% confirmed that she did this. Most importantly, the school must follow through with tracing the origin of this call. In some states you have to go through the police to initiate it. I would demand it be done and would not hesitate to take the inquires up to the next level or the next after that.

When the person was identified. There would be consequences.

How upsetting! I am glad that the boys were safe!

I know nothing yet. School was cancelled today do to the snow and no one answered the schools phone. Hopefully I know something tomorrow but were to get another 4 inches of snow tonight. I do know as soon as my boys get on the bus in the morning I'll be on the phone calling. I also want to stress to them that I want every precaution taken with the safety of my boys. As I said I highly suspect Michaels gf just causing trouble...BUT...what if its some other wacked out nut and they try in some way to get to the boys...

I did talk with Tim and Chip today. I ask them what would you do if someone we know but don't know real well came to school to pick you up saying I sent them... would you go with them....Tim said no I would tell the school grandma would never send (insert name) to get us please call grandma. Chip agreed. I than told them that you know the three people that is allowed to pick you up in an emergency and those three are the only ones you are allowed to leave with no matter what they say.

Michael stopped by today and ask me if there's anyone I suspect..I turned it on him and ask do you suspect someone. ..he thought about it a moment and named his gf. I ask why he suspects her and he said...mom the person called the school at 3....between 2&2.30 I called XXX and we argued about me visiting the boys for the evening she hung up after saying why don't you just stay with your family who you obviously want to be with more than me** so yes mom I think its XXX. He than said we have to get to the bottom of this as it is a threat or at least feels like a threat. I ask Michael if it was your gf do you understand she could be in a lot of trouble and he said if it was her she needs locked up.

I'll report back when I have info. Thank You

MP, I am glad you and your son had that conversation. You were rational, let him take the lead, and he has realized his gf may have done something way beyond a petty prank.

Elmer, I agree with the ‘upgrade’ to the circle of friends. But MP used the word ‘scam’ when she probably hadn’t really thought through who might have done this when she used the word, so cut a little slack.

Very disturbing, indeed, MP. Interesting that your son thinks the same. I suspect that the relationship will end; he can't think that and let it go.

MP.....any progress?

Sigh the school and police were unable to trace the call. I will never have proof of who did this. I wonder why with all the technology now days and all the crimes committed in schools with our children a call can not be traced. I spoke with the Principal and made it clear that since I consider this call threatening I want all safety procedures followed to a T. He assured me that my boys will be safe while in the schools custody.

I just can't believe calls to a school can't be traced.

I also find that hard to believe.

That is so disappointing for you. Hope you get some closure.

I find that very hard to believe. It sounds like they consider it a domestic matter and don't want to get involved.

Anyway your son would have access to the GF's phone or phone bill/account to see if there is call to the school at that time from her cell? Assuming she used her cell phone to call the school. I would think you can keep your number from showing using your cell phone too when making a call like a landline.

It's one thing trace a call at the time of the call or if it is the last call received. Quite another once other calls have been received. If you have a number you can triangulate the position of the phone. But that isn't of much use when what you want is the number.

Cell phone companies will not release calls made to other unless there is a criminal investigation which there is not. The only way son would find out via the GF's phone would be if she was stupid enough to not delete her call list. Ifshe is the one who called in.

How old are the boys? Could be a stupid prank from schoolmates too.

Yes, it seems clearly to be an unkind prank from an unknown source. I understand getting rattled, maybe that was the person's intent. Whoever it was.

I can't imagine such a prank violates any law so there's nothing to investigate, nothing to prosecute, nothing to file a claim for, nothing to obtain "proof" for from third parties. Nothing further for the school or the police to concern themselves with. It sounds like the school has adequate policies to protect the kids from unauthorized pickups.

Are you sure what was said was "there's no way to identify the call" or maybe it was "there's no way to identify the call in these circumstances"? There's a big difference and it could very well be the second.

Yes, it appears to be a case of their deciding not to trace the call, considering it just a prank. If it was linked to a serious crime, they could have traced it back to a registered phone and it's approximate location at the time of the call. They do not spend the time or resources for prank calls.

About tracing a call...A high school in Hernando County Fl has had 5 Bomb threats this week. Schools evacuated, kids not attending classes. The threats were called in to the county's 911 service. So far, the calls have not been able to be traced.

Tracing calls is not always as easy as it appears on TV.

The school doesn't want to get into a domestic dispute. It looks like the ball is in Michael's court, and I hope he doesn't just ignore dealing with the gf.

It appears this was a prank by an unknown person and not a scam which is entirely different. It may or may not be the gf ..... it serves no purpose to conclude she is the guilty one. Has anyone talked to her about your suspicions?

I thought most 911 systems could trace landline calls immediately and cell phone calls approximately, or does it take the help of the carrier? Maybe not all locations have the necessary software and equipment.

Some over the counter phones....paid by pre-purchased cards.....cannot be traced as they are not registered in the owner's name. ( burner phones )

Even if you have your Caller ID blocked, your number WILL show up on the screen of the 911 operator when the call is answered. The number of a burner phone will show up, but as ElizabethA pointed out, burner phones can only rarely be traced to the purchaser (for example, when someone buys one with a credit or debit card that can be traced).

If you call from a landline, your address will also show up. Cell phones do not have an address, as they are mobile (duh). Emergency 911 systems are supposed to be updated so that a GPS location (approximate to within 30 feet or so) will show up, but not all systems nationwide have been upgraded.

Has anyone spoken to the girlfriend about this?

Mama, I can see how upsetting this must be. But there may be a silver lining here. All of us love our children, but at some point, they are on their own. Difficulties as they grow up strengthen them so when they are finally on their own, they are able to better handle challenging events.. From this event, they have learned some critical thinking skills which may serve them well in the future.

I think the next family talk would be, what to do if someone shows up to pick them up (not just at school, but anywhere) saying that you sent them. The challenge to a parent or grandparent is to tailor these talks so they inform the children and get them to think, but do not scare them.

Since the tracing of the phone call is out, do you intend to speak with the gf? She appears to be a likely suspect but it is impossible to know for certain. I would be inclined to have a talk with her and see how it goes.

If anyone is going to talk to the GF, it should be the boys' father. If the GF is innocent, mamapinky will become the bad guy for making a false accusation. But why anyone would want to continue dating a woman who resents their children is beyond me.

I don't understand why Michael continues a relationship with the gf, knowing how she feels about his children. Unfortunately, it's not that uncommon. Very sad.

Do we know that Michael is the boys' father or is it Mama's other son? I'm still not sure. Either way, from what Mama has told us about Michael's girlfriend in the past, she sounds like a beaut.