Abduction - Phone Home

So when an alien phones home, do they have to dial 9 for an outside line? What number do they actually call? Most importantly do the people on the other end the line think it's a wind up?

"Hey, Brrpitel, I've crashed on Earth, I need you to come pick me up." "Give over Krktel, you know it's my anniversary so I'm out with the other halves, go bother someone else."