If you are in immediate danger or fear a threat of harm, calling 911 in the U.S., 999 in the U.K., or your local emergency agency is the best option. If you can safely do so, get to a public, well-lit place and ask for help.
If you are experiencing stalking and don't feel safe, see the resources below:
We started Stop Stalking Us because there was not enough guidance on where and how to get help. This is what we want to change. While that change is happening, we are sharing the best advice available from experts, while acknowledging that not all options are available to everyone in an equitable way. This needs to change, too.
If you are being stalked, we recommend you begin talking with law enforcement to create a log of evidence. Stalking laws and definitions differ from state to state, and local law enforcement can help you determine your next steps. For statistics to be accurate, we need stalking to be reported.
You can also begin your own incident log by downloading this form or using this digital template.
If you plan to keep a log digitally, please ensure that your email and other accounts are as secure as possible by using a free password manager, such as LastPass, that can create and store complex, unique passwords for each of your accounts. We also recommend setting up two-factor authentication for any sensitive accounts such as your email, iCloud or other cloud-based storage, banking, and social media.
If your friend or family member is being stalked, visit our Friends and Family Support guide for information on how to support your loved one.
Stop Stalking Us does not provide direct services and recommends the following organizations. Even when stalking is not related directly to these situations, the service providers here are trained to help.
UNITED STATES
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Victim Connect: 1-855-4VICTIM
(1-855-484-2846) -
National Domestic Violence Hotline
1−800−799−7233
TTY 1−800−787−3224 En Español -
The National Sexual Assault Hotline
1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
Other Resources
UNITED KINGDOM
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Report stalker
The UK Government asks that people contact the police if being stalked -
Aurora New Dawn
This is a feminist-led charity that ensures victims of stalking are protected, safe, and aware of their rights under the law -
Suzy Lamplugh Trust
Set up to reduce the risk of violence and aggression through campaigning, education and support this organisation has a free helpline at 0808 802 0300
MORE RESOURCES
Search By Region.
MAKE MOVES
Create A Safety Plan.
A safety plan is a combination of practices that can keep you and your loved ones safe. To ensure that your safety plan accounts for your personal situation, we highly recommend working with a local victim advocacy group.
START PLANNING
Your safety plan should be kept private as much as possible except from your victim advocate, law enforcement, a lawyer, or a close, trusted family member or friend. Your safety plan should change over time to meet the evolving needs of your situation and to avoid creating new patterns.
Below are some general, informational suggestions for you to reference. While there are patterns and similarities between stalkers, every story and situation is different and your safety plan should be crafted with the support of an expert who can address your unique circumstances and available resources.
SAFETY PLAN IDEAS
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Changing your daily routines
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Changing locks or adding cameras to your home
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Changing passwords on your electronic devices
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Telling your family and friends
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Telling your workplace or school and/or providing a picture to their security
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Seeking an Order of Protection
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Disengaging completely with the stalker. Never respond, even if silence feels like defeat. Any response - even “no” or “stop” - is considered an invitation to continue contacting you.
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Pack an emergency bag if you need to leave immediately
LILY'S SAFETY PLAN*
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An app on her phone to scramble her IP address so that her posts and emails will not give her location
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Asking friends not to geotag her on social media
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When traveling, rent hotels or apartments under other names
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Never having her name on her apartment’s mailbox
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Keeping an incident log
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Keeping emails or voicemails; ask a friend to help manage this or save them for you if they are upsetting to see. You can set up email filters to automatically forward emails to your contact and archive them in a folder so that you don’t have to see the messages.
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Contacting her local police station to report the pattern of behavior and stalking so that they have it on file and can more quickly help in an emergency; for those who don’t feel safe engaging law enforcement, contact a victim advocacy organization. Don’t be alone with this - there are people who understand.
*This is only a portion of Lily’s safety plan that can be shared publicly.
Again, we highly recommend working with a local victim advocacy group to help you build your own unique safety plan. In the United States, you can find a trained professional by contacting Victim Connect at 1-855-4-VICTIM/1-855-484-2846 or visiting their website.
TECHNOLOGY
Online & Physical Security.
Find the online and in-person resources that you need to feel safe. Below are apps and websites that can help.
Featured Resource:
APPS
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Garbo.io
Garbo is a nonprofit that provides an easy-to-use online background check platform, making it simple for individuals to see if someone has a history of violence including arrests, convictions, and sex offender registry information. -
Bsafe
Offers new technologies to prevent and document violence and threats. -
Noonlight
Noonlight uses advanced technology to get emergency help to your exact location with just the release of a button. It can be used in moments where you simply feel unsafe, as well as moments where you need immediate emergency help. -
Circle of 6
Originally designed for college students to prevent sexual violence, we also know it’s handy for teenagers, parents, friends, or all communities seeking to foster healthy relationships and safety. -
Sudo
Create secure digital profiles called Sudos, with phone, handle, email, browser and virtual card. Use your Sudo profile instead of your personal information, online and off. -
VineLink
VINE is the nation’s leading victim notification network. It allows survivors, victims of crime, and other concerned citizens to access timely and reliable information about offenders or criminal cases in U.S. jails and prisons.
DIGITAL SECURITY
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Password Manager
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Use a password manager such as LastPass (free) to create complex, unique passwords for each of your accounts. The password manager will allow you to access them easily when you’re logged in.
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Two-Factor Authentication
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For anywhere you keep personal or sensitive information, set up Two-Factor Authentication. Learn more from www.theverge.com.
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IP Scrambler
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Free IP Blocking Apps: Techlion
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Paid IP Blocking Site: Hide My Ass
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Tech Safety
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Technology Safety for Survivors including information about Technology Safety Plans, Stalkerware, Phone and Computer Safety, and online Privacy
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PHYSICAL SECURITY
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Cameras & Home Security
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Remove Online Information
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Use a reputable site that can protect your online privacy, remove your sensitive personal information, and improve your online reputation such as Brand Yourself or Delete Me
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MENTAL HEALTH & SELF-CARE
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In-person Therapy
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Find a provider that accepts your insurance
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Online Therapy
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What Works For You
MEDITATION & BREATHING EXERCISES
TRAUMA & YOUR PHYSICAL HEALTH
ASK YOUR LOVED ONES FOR HELP
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See if a friend can help you manage any emails, texts, or messages the stalker sends you
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Visit our resources for Friends and Family Members
BOOKS & PODCASTS
Stories From Others.
BOOKS
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The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk M.D.
PODCASTS
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Stories of the Stalked Podcast
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The Trauma Therapist Podcast
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The Online Bodyguard Podcast
Do you have a resource or recommendation you don’t see here?
Share it with our team and we may be able to add it in the future!
SUPPORT
Friends & Family Resources.
SHOW SUPPORT
How you respond when someone tells you they are a victim of stalking can make a difference in how they feel about themselves and if they seek help.
It’s important to acknowledge what they are saying without judgment and thank them for sharing their story with you.
Don’t ask questions about what the victim said or did. Instead, focus on what the offender’s actions were.
Be cautious of telling them how they should handle the situation or what they should do next. Instead, ask how you could help and reassure them that you are there for them. Answer questions if they ask.
Continue to check-in and support them.
WHAT IS STALKING?
Stalking is repeated and unwanted attention, harassment, contact, or any other course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause that person to fear for their safety or the safety of others or suffer substantial emotional distress.
Stalking can take many forms including:
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Making threats against someone, or that person's family or friends
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Non-consensual communication, such as repeated phone calls, emails, text messages, and unwanted gifts
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Repeated physical or visual closeness, like waiting for someone to arrive at certain locations, following someone, or watching someone from a distance
TELL US
Submit A Resource.
Our resources page will continue to expand. Do you have a resource you have found helpful that you don’t see listed here? Let us know so we can consider including it in the next update!