fax machine screeching

[reet]

not really a computer question but thought you may have some suggestions. my father is a lone rep for a company in a three state region and has a home based office. the company provided him with a seperate phone line for a fax machine. has had it numerous years. lately the fax machine will start making the tones as if someone had dialed the number, but the fax does not ring. just starts making the screeching tones but does not receive a fax. it works fine when receiving and sending faxes, rings as it is supposed to do. any suggestions on what would trigger it to start acting as if a fax were coming through

[K A Hall]

<guess>Someone has the wrong number and keeps trying to get through and when they here the fax tones they are not hanging up immediately which causes the fax machine to listen for the fax tones.</guess>

[reet]

but it doesn't ring is what is weird. if he does have someone sending him a fax, it will ring like it should 2 or 3 times and then automatically picks up and accepts the fax. its kinda spooky. just starts making the fax noises for no reason.