Cyberstalking is one of the unfortunate consequences of the digital age. It can cause extreme emotional harm and sometimes escalate into more dangerous crimes. 7.5 million people are victims of cyberstalking every year, and there are no signs of that number slowing down. Anyone using online platforms is at risk of falling victim to a cyberstalker. Fortunately, we have created a guide that addresses what to do if you are being stalked online and how to protect yourself from being targeted.
What Cyberstalking Looks Like
Learning what to do if you are being stalked online starts with understanding what it looks like. Cyberstalking can manifest in many different ways. Stalkers will make persistent, unwelcome contact with potential victims. In the modern age, technology also offers multiple methods of making contact. Here is how cyberstalking can occur online.
- Unwanted messages. The stalker sends a barrage of unwanted messages. These can be aggressive, disturbing, or obsessive.
- Harassing comments. Victims may see recurring inappropriate comments made under their status updates from stalkers.
- Fake profiles and impersonation. Perpetrators will create fake online profiles to impersonate people or organizations. They do this to gain trust and communicate with the victim secretly.
- Spreading false information. The stalker may seek to cause emotional harm and will spread lies about the victim online.
- Location tracking. Tech-savvy stalkers may hack into the victim’s GPS devices to track their real-life movements.
- Computer or account hacking. Perpetrators may hack into the victim’s social accounts or devices to gain access to their sensitive data. This could lead to demands for money in exchange for keeping the information private.
The Dangers of Cyberstalking
Cyberstalkers have common traits that drive their behavior. They often want control and power over their victims. It’s also common for stalkers to be acting out of jealousy and insecurity. Other traits that stalkers tend to share are instability and obsessiveness, making them dangerous and unpredictable individuals. What begins as only online stalking can escalate into physical crimes, doxxing, or damage to the victim’s personal life.
The Emotional Toll of Being Stalked
Being stalked online can be traumatizing. It can last anywhere from months to years, and unfortunately, law enforcement often fails to handle the harassment seriously. This can lead to feelings of helplessness and constant fear for your safety. As stalking progresses, victims may even feel compelled to leave social media for protection. Victims of cyberstalking should always confide in someone they trust about their experience. This helps with emotional support and ensures that someone else is aware of your ongoing situation.
What To Do If You Are Being Stalked Online
Stalkers are often persistent and unpredictable. That’s why it’s critical that you act fast to protect yourself from these harmful individuals. However, there are key steps you should take to secure your online presence. If you are unsure what to do if you are being stalked online, take note of the following recommended practices.
- Stop engaging. Stalkers desire any response from their targets. Ceasing any engagement with the online stalker avoids escalating the situation.
- Document everything. Victims should document all instances of cyberstalking or harassment. This can serve as evidence to support future legal actions or investigations. You can take screenshots of messages and profiles, print out emails, save messages, etc.
- Report the stalker on the platform. Online platforms typically allow users to anonymously notify the administrators of any behavior that violates their policies. Victims of cyberstalking or harassment should immediately report the incident to the platform. This could result in the removal of the perpetrator’s account, saving others from experiencing similar harm.
- Report to law enforcement. Local law enforcement can play a vital role when it comes to bringing cyberstalkers to justice. They can also help you file an official report and create a timeline of events, which can also support future legal actions like a restraining order. Furthermore, report the stalking to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). The IC3 is the national hub for reporting cybercrimes, and federal agents often use it to discover cases to investigate.
- Seek help from cybersecurity experts. When it comes to what to do if you are being stalked online, you can also turn to a private cybersecurity firm. These firms have teams of digital forensic experts who can trace the stalker’s digital footprint and unmask their identity. They can also work with online platforms to get certain harmful profiles removed and aid law enforcement investigations.
An Online Stalking Cautionary Tale
In June 2015, Kassandra Cruz was a college student who became fixated on a woman she found on an adult website. She tracked down the woman’s social media accounts and created fake profiles to gain access to them. The victim was 18 years old at the time the explicit content was created, and it was 15 years later when Cruz rediscovered the content. Cruz then created a fake online profile posing as an attractive male U.S. marine and sent the woman a friend request. The victim accepted and Cruz immediately liked and commented on almost every picture the woman shared.
The victim found the behavior particularly suspicious when the fake profile sent friend requests to her friends as well. As a result, the victim blocked Cruz’s fake account. However, the situation only escalated when Cruz sent a barrage of messages to the victim from multiple other fake accounts. These messages included an attempt to coerce her into paying $100,000 in exchange for Cruz keeping her history with adult content a secret.
The relentless messages, emails, phone calls, and letters continued for months until the FBI stepped in. The FBI lured Cruz into an in-person meeting with the victim, which led to the perpetrator’s arrest. In August 2016, Cruz was sentenced to 22 months in prison for cyberstalking. Many victims seek guidance on what to do if you are being stalked online. However, this case serves as a reminder of just how essential it is to involve law enforcement.
Warning Signs That You Are Being Cyberstalked
Knowing what to do if you are being stalked online is important, but recognizing the red flags of cyberstalking early can prevent the situation entirely. Online stalkers can sometimes use subtle techniques to follow your activity. It’s common for victims to not notice cyberstalkers until things have progressed to an extreme point. Always stay vigilant and cautious of cyberstalkers when you are online, accepting friend or follow requests, and responding to messages. Here are some warning signs that may indicate you are being stalked.
- Unsolicited contact. One of the first signs you should look for is any reoccurring unsolicited messages from multiple fake profiles. It’s rare for strangers to message you out of the blue, especially multiple times in a short span.
- Invasive and inappropriate comments. Look out for constant comments under your status updates and published content. You should also look at the content of the comments. It can also be a red flag if they are inappropriate or inauthentic.
- Aggressive language. Stalkers typically use aggressive language immediately or eventually when the victim resists their attempts at making contact.
- Fake profiles or impersonating someone you know. Perpetrators may impersonate family members or friends to get close to you. It’s a warning sign to receive messages from people you know through unfamiliar accounts. Make sure to verify the owner of the account before engaging.
- Knowing personal details about you. If an online user mentions personal information that you did not share, it’s a clear indication that they have looked deeply into you — which can be a warning sign.
How to Protect Yourself from Stalkers Online
Many online platforms provide a variety of different tools for users to protect themselves from malicious behavior. It’s important for users to review all the settings available to make sure their profiles are as secure as possible. Here are some practical ways to protect yourself from being targeted by online stalkers.
- Update your privacy settings. Set all your social accounts to private to limit your exposure to malicious users. Many online platforms will allow users to control who can message you, see your status updates, or add you to groups.
- Vet your friends or follower list. Cybercriminals are known to create fake profiles to trick you into accepting their friend or follow request. You should always verify the identity of profiles befriending you and also review your current friends list.
- Strengthen your security settings. Stalkers are unpredictable and if you are targeted, you should protect yourself as much as possible. For one, you should update your security settings. Make sure your passwords are strong and secure. You should also enable two-factor authentication when available.
- Limit publicly sharing personal information. Bad actors will look through profile bios and status updates for personal information about their targets. You should always limit what information is shared online to prevent stalkers from learning too much about you.
How Cyber Investigation Helps Victims Reclaim Their Online Safety
Our cybersecurity firm is dedicated to helping victims of cyberstalking reclaim control over their digital lives. We specialize in removing what perpetrators value most — their anonymity. Our team can track the data left behind by the stalker to uncover their geolocation and, in many cases, identity. Our investigation can also be used to apply strategic pressure onto the criminal, discouraging them from continuing their abuse.
At Cyber Investigation, we know exactly what to do if you are being stalked online, and make your online safety our top priority. Contact us today to speak to one of our experts.
