I know what that number is. Ruth mentioned that Googling for "1-800-444-4444" came up with some phone phreaker stuff. Having "studied" a little phone phreaking and also working for a telecom company in the past, I recognize what this number is for. The number is called an ANI. I can't recall the exact meaning of the acronym tonight, but it's basically a telco way of saying "Caller ID". A phone tech can clip his test set onto an unknown phone line and call a number like this. A computer will read back the calling line's phone number.
Long story shory, yes this appears to be some sort of joke.