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How to Protect Yourself from a Stalker. Stay one step ahead of your stalker with these
safety precautions. You will need A police report A stalking record Evidence of stalking
A post office box Fraud alerts and an address confidentiality program (optional). Step 1.
Ask your local police if the harassment meets the legal definition of stalking, which varies
from state to state. If it does, file a police report so the stalking is on record. In any
event, keep records of the harassment and save all evidence of it. Step 2. If the stalker
is threatening to harm you or has tried to, weigh the pros and cons of getting an order
of protection. Most stalkers violate them, but if they do, it will give police a reason
to arrest them. Taking out an order of protection may provoke your stalker to more aggressive
behavior, so have a safety plan in place before you get one. Step 3. Ignore your stalker.
If they call, hang up, or set the phone down and let them talk until they hang up. Do not
answer their e-mails, texts, or letters. Do not try to reason with them. Assume that any
attention you give them will encourage them, and the more you engage with a stalker, the
more they'll stalk you. Step 4. Get a post office box for your mail. If you move, don't
file a change of address with the post office; tell loved ones directly. If your state has
an address confidentiality program, join it. It allows stalking victims to set up a fictitious
address to prevent a stalker from gaining access to their address via public records.
Step 5. Put a fraud alert on your credit reports by contacting the fraud department of each
of the three main credit bureaus – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. This will help prevent
your stalker from harassing you via identify theft because you'll be asked to verify any
attempt to take out credit in your name. Step 6. Tell everyone in your life – friends,
relatives, neighbors, and co-workers – that you are being stalked so they are not tricked
into divulging information about you. Step 7. For more information, contact the Stalking
Resource Center at 1-800-FYI-CALL or check out their web site at ncvc.org/src. Did you
know Men are more likely to stalk their exes, while women tend to stalk acquaintances with
whom they'd like to have a relationship.