I am being stalked

[proud2BlibKansan]

(And before I go any farther, I need to say :hi: to my stalker)

He is a freeper from another board. He is tracking my internet surfing and knows what sites I go to and what I post. He has followed me to three discussion boards. When I quit posting, he stops also. But as soon as I log back on, within 5 minutes, he is there responding to me (and rather hatefully I might add). I can stay away from a discussion board for months and so does he. But as soon as I log on, he is there.

He followed me here but got TSed almost immediately. So now he just lurks and copies my posts here to post on another board, including the link. I have thought about changing my DU screen name, but he would probably find me again right away.

I am running spyware and my computer expert friends are helping me figure out how he is tracking me on the internet.

But here is why I posted this - is this illegal? Is internet stalking a crime? Any attorneys out there willing to give me some free legal advice? I am willing to take this as far as I have to to get him off my back.

[johnnie]

1. Cyber stalking is illegal in a lot of cases

Check this out
http://www.cybercrimes.net/Persons/Stalking/stalking.html

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. Thanks I will check that link out.

[Texasgal]

2. Wow...

This is not cool at all. I do believe that internet stlaking is infact illegal, although I am not sure about the criteria.

I am so sorry that you are having to deal with this, it's really scary. Good luck and I hope this gets resolved soon.

Here's a message to your stalker:

FUCK OFF ASSHAT!

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. Love that message.

He really is an asshat. He is on multiple discussion boards and spends his time bullying women he meets on the internet. He generally leaves the men alone. I know about all the boards because he talks about them and posts links. It's like the guy has no life and surfs the net 24/7.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

33. I wonder if he's any relation to the guy who followed me off a blog

to my regular e-mail address AND published my personal information on the blog. Fortunately, the blog owner deleted the personal info, but not before Freepr Boye had written diatribes to my personal e-mail address.

I went back onto the blog, announced that I refused to be stalked (he responded that I was a "typical cowardly liberal"), and then, I sent a message back to Freeper Boy saying that all his correspondence would be filtered straight into my junk mail file, so he might as well not bother.

I never heard from him again. :evilgrin:

[ScreamingMeemie]

3. Yes it is...If you can prove it is constant harrassment.

Good luck. :hi:

[proud2BlibKansan]

8. So how do I prove that?

[gordianot]

5. Also google your DU "ID" name see what comes up.

Can be a very interesting exersize can give you an idea who is watching.

[proud2BlibKansan]

9. Yeah I have done that a couple times.

Problem is he refers to me by the name I had on the first board where I met him. But last time I googled that name, I found a post on yet another board where he was listing my names and links to the sites I frequented at that time. So I quit posting at those boards and then he followed me to yet another board.

It is really creepy. I can't figure out what motivates him to stalk lil ole me.

[gordianot]

13. I would bet he is doing it to others.

Cross check other people he is responding to on a regular basis.

[proud2BlibKansan]

22. Yes, I am sure he is doing that

Others have sent me PMs to tell me what he is doing to them.

[cornermouse]

15. I don't understand.

How does this indicate anything?

[proud2BlibKansan]

23. Try it

see what happens. If others are talking about you, it will come up on a google search.

[trof]

6. That sucks. Had similar experience here.

I used to have my e-mail address in my profile or whatever it is. Figured what-the-hell, if somebody wants to get in touch...

I posted something fairly innocuous and this b*tch chewed me out for some self-perceived insult or something. I was nice at first and she kept on and on. It's the only time I've ever put anyone on ignore.
She was a totally combative drama queen and eventually was tombstoned.

Anyway, she continued the "fight"(?) in my e-mail inbox.
That really pissed me off. I felt violated.
That's why my address isn't in my profile anymore.

[proud2BlibKansan]

12. I changed my email address because of this guy

but I guess it doesn't matter since he already had whatever he needed to stalk me. I am wondering if I change my internet provider - will he still be able to track me?

And the really creepy thing is that he is right here in my city. So I am sure he has my address and phone by now. If I lived alone, I would be scared about a personal visit from this guy.

[trof]

16. Uh oh. I think I'd call the cops.

Does KC have a cyber crime unit or something like that?
Don't mean to scare you, but this doesn't sound good.

[proud2BlibKansan]

25. I don't know

I am trying to figure that out. One complication is that we live in different states. I am not sure which jurisdiction would apply here.

[AngryAmish]

36. If interstate FBI

I think. I'm no expert.

[Omphaloskepsis]

17. Do you see my sig?

I just got your IP addy.. Sure it might be hard to do.. But I could. But I won't.

[proud2BlibKansan]

26. I knew it was easy

and this guy used to be an IT tech.

[youspeakmylanguage]

10. I think I know what happened...

If you posted to a right-wing political board, blog, or website with a less-than-scrupulous webmaster or moderator, they probably supplied your IP address to your stalker. Using your IP address the stalker installed spyware, either by himself or through a more technically-proficient associate. If that is indeed what happened (and it's the only way I can think of someone stalking you to the extent that you say they are), then they are not only guilty of stalking but also of cracking your computer.

The best course of action is this...

1) Clean up your PC. Have a professional remove all spyware, malware, etc. and then look over the hard drive to make sure you have it completely cleaned. Have him make records of the programs he finds.

2) Have your ISP change your IP address and then purchase or download anonymizer software. It will most likely be a violation of your ISP's Terms of Service, so don't mention it to them. Also have your friend help you install a strong firewall.

3) Lastly, and most painfully, you'll probably need to change your handles, avatars, etc. Have your online friends drop your old handle completely and stop posting at the RW sites!

[AndyTiedye]

19. BEFORE You Clean Up Your Computer

You might want to run some monitoring stuff from another machine
and find out WHERE his spyware is sending your data TO. That could
be useful evidence for tracking this person down and proving that he
hacked into your machine.

[proud2BlibKansan]

27. I have a Mac

does that make any difference?

[Omphaloskepsis]

30. If you down with the terminal on OS X..

run:

netstat

lsof

top

or a app called Little Snitch can alert you of when a app calls outside..

http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/17642

I think he is using other means to gather your info..

[proud2BlibKansan]

32. What other means?

[Omphaloskepsis]

35. social engineering..

He might play friend (under a different name) to get info to use as an enemy.. I just doubt he hacked your computer. I have seen a person who did IT at an ISP and used his job to get personal info. I assume that is rare. But, it could happen. That was at Comcast..

[proud2BlibKansan]

40. I have met him in real life

He did play friend when we first chatted online and offered to fix a computer for me. So we did meet. My hubby was even planning on doing some business with him. Right after that, he became hostile and insulting online. (So he lost my hubby as a potential customer) I heard nothing from him for several months. Then he appeared on a discussion board I frequent. And then about 3 months ago, I noticed he was stalking me.

[Megahurtz]

42. Eeew!

:yoiks: Creepy!

[proud2BlibKansan]

31. Thank you

That is great advice.

[Kraklen]

11. Have you confronted the guy?

[proud2BlibKansan]

20. Yes when he showed up recently at a site where I post

and have been posting there for a couple years, I asked him why he was stalking me. He said it is a local board, he has every right to be there and it was just a coincidence that I post there too. Then he launched right back in to his abusive posts to me. He asked if he should share with the members of that board some of the things I have posted on other boards. And he did. But he changed my posts to make me look like a raving lunatic.

Then he contacted the moderator of that board and accused me of threatening to post personal identifying info about him. And I had NEVER done that. When I told the moderator that and that they should ask him to prove it, the mod apologized and said they would watch him. A few weeks later, he was banned for a week for insulting me. The mod emailed me and told me he had called the TV station (it is a TV station discussion board) and talked to the general manager of the station and talked him in to letting him back on the discussion board. Since then, he has continued to insult me and the moderator has done nothing to stop him. So I rarely post there anymore. But every single time I log on to that board, even if I post nothing, he logs on within 5 minutes. That is how I am sure he is stalking me.

I want to email the TV station board moderator. But I wanted some advice from DUers first before I do that.

[Iris]

14. Geez. He must have NO life!

[proud2BlibKansan]

21. Oh I have reminded him of that a couple times

He runs his own business. It is a colossal failure because he is online 24/7.

[Iris]

24. I hope he followed you to this thread so he can see what a loser he is!

[proud2BlibKansan]

28. You are one smart cookie, Iris

That is part of the reason I posted this thread. :)

But mainly, I want to know if this is illegal. If it is, I am going to demand that he be permanently removed from the board where he is currently harrassing me.

[amazona]

34. how can it be illegal?

It's weird but I'm not sure that it is illegal to be a jerk. I was stalked in real life and I couldn't get any help from the police so I can't imagine they'd be real excited about a guy who goes around and makes nasty posts about you under your internet aliases. :shrug:

I'd talk to a local attorney and see if I had any options for a criminal or civil case but it sounds like to me that he is all talk.

You may be giving him power just by posting your concerns if you really think he's reading them.

Do you know who it is? Why not cause him a hassle in real life? Get a restraining order or file a civil suit (if possible) or something. Make it real and drag him out from behind his screen. But don't do anything to put yourself in the wrong legally.

[proud2BlibKansan]

38. My friend mentioned a restraining order

but he has not contacted me in the real world. So can I restrain him from contacting me in cyber space?

[flaminbats]

18. I never include my personal email address, location, or gender.

Any wacko can trace my internet service provider or stalk me on the internet. But as long as my identity remains unknown, this person can do what he wants..and I can always add him to my ignore list.

[proud2BlibKansan]

29. I don't anymore

But I first encountered this freak a couple years ago when I had an email address that included my real name.

Oh well, live and learn. :argh:

[jonnyblitz]

37. why do SO MANY right wingers do this,stalk and harass?

fucking WIERDOS...

[proud2BlibKansan]

39. He is a wierdo for sure

His wife had a baby 4 or 5 months ago and he was online while she was in labor and while she was in the hospital and when she came home with that brand new baby. Can you imagine? He was more interested in bothering folks like me on the internet than in taking care of that baby.

He also posts all the time about how successful his business is but there is no way it could be going anywhere since he is on the internet 24/7.

[xmas74]

41. I believe that KCPD has a cyber crimes division.

You might want to contact your local department and find out if they could work in conjunction w/ them(mentioned them since they might be the closest department that has one).

[proud2BlibKansan]

43. I have a cop friend on the kcpd

but I haven't said anything to her because I am kind of embarrassed about this. I feel stupid about it. But even my hubby was taken in by this guy. He really seemed like a decent guy.

[iconoclastic cat]

44. Do you know how to use a proxy server?

[proud2BlibKansan]

48. No

what's that?

[Merrick]

45. Boy, and I thought my neighbor was a no life loser

and he never leaves his apartment, and judging by the noises I hear through the wall spends half his life in the bathroom running the faucet and rooting through his medicine cabinet.

[lateo]

46. That has happened to me before...

Except I had plural freeper stalkers. They even signed up here and harrassed me for a while...that was back in DU 1.0 days though.

[goodboy]

47. join the club...If you want to talk, PM me! (nt)