What You Can Do If You Believe You Are Being Stalked

Stalking is a serious crime that can impact your physical and emotional health, and can lead to violence in some cases. It is estimated that 3.4 million people become victims of stalking each year. There are a few things that you can do to protect yourself and regain your sense of safety by making it harder for your stalker to find you.

Change Your Phone Number

If you are receiving threatening phone calls at home or on your cell phone, consider changing your number and making it private, Set your phone to block your phone number whenever you call someone so that you can be sure that your stalker can't contact you. If your employer will allow you to, switch phone extensions and ask your company's receptionist to avoid forwarding calls to you from anyone that you don't know. You may be hesitant to talk to your employer about having a stalker, but being honest with your employer and coworkers helps to keep them safe as well.

Do Some Investigating

It is estimated that 1 in 5 victims are stalked by a complete stranger. If you aren't sure who is stalking you, there are a few ways that you can investigate without the help of the police. Use a reverse phone number lookup after you receive a threatening phone call. You can search people by phone number to determine who is contacting you. This information can then be forwarded to the police to assist with a restraining order or order of protection. You can also use this information to ask your phone company to block any calls coming from that phone number.

Change Your Routine Or Location

Having the same daily routine makes it easier for someone to find you at any point during the day. Switch up your daily routine to make your comings and goings from home more unpredictable. You may even consider switching apartments in your apartment complex or asking for a new assigned parking spot to throw your stalker off your trail a bit, or you may consider relocating to a new city. 

Avoid Posting On Social Media

Social media has given stalkers a new way to find their victims. Even seemingly harmless photos can provide clues as to where you are at any given time. If you do use a social media account, turn locations off so that your posts don't advertise where you are, and avoid posting pictures of your location. Consider limiting the number of people you are connected with and adjusting your privacy settings so that only a few trusted people have access to you. If you have a webcam, disable it or put tape over the lens, as these devices can be operated remotely without your knowledge.

You can protect yourself by keeping your private information off of the internet, switching your phone number and using a reverse number lookup to identify callers who are trying to harass you. Be sure to notify the police if you are a victim of stalking, but don't rely on the police to do all the work for you. You'll need to take action to protect yourself and your family. 

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