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Cyber Stalking
Cyberstalking is also being used as a tool to harass, intimidate, violate and scare victims as well as perpetrate GBV and violence against women and men. The numbers are rising.
Is a pattern of obsessive behaviour which is repeated, intrusive and causes fear of violence in the life and mind of the victim.
Cyberstalking is not just limited to cyberstalking, cyberstalking can evolve into physical stalking.
Most stalking cases the stalker is known to the victim but online, the stalker could be anyone who is fixated on the victim.
Cyberstalking can have a severely negative impact on the victim and the victims life. A victim could land up changing their entire life, routine and roads travelled to avoid being stalked. The traumatic response to this is to also cut off family and friends because they don't know who to trust or who is involved. Sometimes the stalker employs many people to harass the victim.
Online, the victim will find themselves deleting social media accounts, being more anxious as the months pass because initially they will not know what is going on.
Cyberstalking can include information gathering, tools to intimidate the victim, unsolicited messages, emails, calls, surveillance, unauthorised access to online accounts (hacking) and spreading lies and misinformation about the victim to their circle of friends and family via email or text message. It is usually done via an alias name and account so the perpetrator can hide their identity.
If you know who the stalker is (sometimes it could be an ex boyfriend or someone that came into your life and things deteriorated fast), do not engage with this person.
A pattern will emerge and by this pattern you will probably learn the identity of this person. They don't hide away long. If they are spreading misinformation about you, some people may even come forward and tell you the source of the information or the stalker will become over confident and slip up revealing their identity.
Do not engage with the stalker
Do not delete any online accounts (logout if the harassment is severe)
Do not delete any messages and keep screenshots of the evidence. Send the data to someone you trust because sometimes if the stalker is in your device they do delete evidence so you cannot prove anything.
Go to SAPS immediately.
Keep a record of everything - like a journal. When you are under stress you will forget a lot of what is taking place.
Focus on your online security and purchase a good antivirus.
Work through a cyberstalking "action plan" (I will create one today and post it)
What else can you do?
Tell people who are close to you what is taking place.
Consider real life security (home security, locking doors and maybe getting an alarm etc, make sure you are not being followed etc)
Reduce online blueprints (Accounts that are redundant and not being used, shut them down. Change your Facebook settings from public to friends only, check who has logged into your accounts, most accounts offer IP address information, remove people off your social media that you do not know)
Stay alert and keep a factual journal (time, date, event and who was involved or what took place on your devices or online)
Cyberstalking is a very traumatic ordeal. Be patient with victims but mostly believe them. If you are a victim of cyberstalking please reach out, we will do everything we can to help you.
I was personally cyberstalked and harassed, this topic means something to me. I have overcome it, but it was not easy to prove. I had to involve private investigators and SAPS to assist me.
Just because someone is sitting behind a computer screen does not mean you cannot catch them, it just means it is going to be a lot more difficult to do so.
Stalking risk red flags to consider:
Are you always scared?
Why are you always scared? Write down the reasons.
Do you know who the stalker is?
Is there a history or domestic abuse or harassment?
Have they told you the only way to get rid of them is with a restraining order and SAPS?
Have they damaged your property (car, windows, smashed your devices or damaged your clothing)
Have they come to your home or office more than twice a week unannounced or un-invited?
Have they followed you home after work or from an event?
Are they always online when you open up your social media or messaging platforms and message you as you appear online?
Have they made any form of threat to your life in person or online?
Do you know of any other person affiliated to them that has had a very similar issue to what you are having?
Are people you were initially close with suddenly making weird remarks or statements about you?
Are people accusing you of things you have never done or will never do?
Have you been exploited online?
Has the stalker ever been in trouble in the past or caused damage to someone's life that they have mentioned to you?
Has the stalker admitted to doing bad things to people?
Does the stalker boast about how they harasses other people or invade their privacy without their consent?
Please remember, abuse does not have a gender.
If you feel you are in danger or are being stalked, please get to your nearest Police Station or call 10111.
Cyberstalking is also being used as a tool to harass, intimidate, violate and scare victims as well as perpetrate GBV and violence against women and men. The numbers are rising.
Is a pattern of obsessive behaviour which is repeated, intrusive and causes fear of violence in the life and mind of the victim.
Cyberstalking is not just limited to cyberstalking, cyberstalking can evolve into physical stalking.
Most stalking cases the stalker is known to the victim but online, the stalker could be anyone who is fixated on the victim.
Cyberstalking can have a severely negative impact on the victim and the victims life. A victim could land up changing their entire life, routine and roads travelled to avoid being stalked. The traumatic response to this is to also cut off family and friends because they don't know who to trust or who is involved. Sometimes the stalker employs many people to harass the victim.
Online, the victim will find themselves deleting social media accounts, being more anxious as the months pass because initially they will not know what is going on.
Cyberstalking can include information gathering, tools to intimidate the victim, unsolicited messages, emails, calls, surveillance, unauthorised access to online accounts (hacking) and spreading lies and misinformation about the victim to their circle of friends and family via email or text message. It is usually done via an alias name and account so the perpetrator can hide their identity.
If you know who the stalker is (sometimes it could be an ex boyfriend or someone that came into your life and things deteriorated fast), do not engage with this person.
A pattern will emerge and by this pattern you will probably learn the identity of this person. They don't hide away long. If they are spreading misinformation about you, some people may even come forward and tell you the source of the information or the stalker will become over confident and slip up revealing their identity.
Do not engage with the stalker
Do not delete any online accounts (logout if the harassment is severe)
Do not delete any messages and keep screenshots of the evidence. Send the data to someone you trust because sometimes if the stalker is in your device they do delete evidence so you cannot prove anything.
Go to SAPS immediately.
Keep a record of everything - like a journal. When you are under stress you will forget a lot of what is taking place.
Focus on your online security and purchase a good antivirus.
Work through a cyberstalking "action plan" (I will create one today and post it)
What else can you do?
Tell people who are close to you what is taking place.
Consider real life security (home security, locking doors and maybe getting an alarm etc, make sure you are not being followed etc)
Reduce online blueprints (Accounts that are redundant and not being used, shut them down. Change your Facebook settings from public to friends only, check who has logged into your accounts, most accounts offer IP address information, remove people off your social media that you do not know)
Stay alert and keep a factual journal (time, date, event and who was involved or what took place on your devices or online)
Cyberstalking is a very traumatic ordeal. Be patient with victims but mostly believe them. If you are a victim of cyberstalking please reach out, we will do everything we can to help you.
I was personally cyberstalked and harassed, this topic means something to me. I have overcome it, but it was not easy to prove. I had to involve private investigators and SAPS to assist me.
Just because someone is sitting behind a computer screen does not mean you cannot catch them, it just means it is going to be a lot more difficult to do so.
Stalking risk red flags to consider:
Are you always scared?
Why are you always scared? Write down the reasons.
Do you know who the stalker is?
Is there a history or domestic abuse or harassment?
Have they told you the only way to get rid of them is with a restraining order and SAPS?
Have they damaged your property (car, windows, smashed your devices or damaged your clothing)
Have they come to your home or office more than twice a week unannounced or un-invited?
Have they followed you home after work or from an event?
Are they always online when you open up your social media or messaging platforms and message you as you appear online?
Have they made any form of threat to your life in person or online?
Do you know of any other person affiliated to them that has had a very similar issue to what you are having?
Are people you were initially close with suddenly making weird remarks or statements about you?
Are people accusing you of things you have never done or will never do?
Have you been exploited online?
Has the stalker ever been in trouble in the past or caused damage to someone's life that they have mentioned to you?
Has the stalker admitted to doing bad things to people?
Does the stalker boast about how they harasses other people or invade their privacy without their consent?
Please remember, abuse does not have a gender.
If you feel you are in danger or are being stalked, please get to your nearest Police Station or call 10111.
Electronic Communications Act: Communications and Transactions Amendment Bill
ect_amendment_bill_2012.pdf (Download Here)
ect_amendment_bill_2012.pdf (Download Here)
Reporting Cybercrime:
cybercrime.org.za/reporting
SAPS Crime Stop – Tip-off line – 0860010111
Useful Links:
www.bullying.co.uk/cyberbullying/what-is-cyberbullying
www.commonsensemedia.org/cyberbullying
www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/cyberbullying-what-teachers-and-schools-can-do/
Choose a good anti-virus – Do a bit of a research and choose an antivirus that you trust.
Paid is better than free - Depending on your need, using a paid antivirus software is better than using a free one. This is for the obvious reason that paid one’s come with more added security features.
Protects you from consuming viruses – An antivirus is still very useful, so don’t skip it, It will protect you from a lot of computer viruses.
Maintain antivirus software – Make sure to keep your antivirus software up to date.
How do I report a number in South Africa?
If you are still contacted after registering, you can lay a complaint with the National Consumer Commission on 012 428 7000 or complaints@thencc.org.za.
cybercrime.org.za/reporting
SAPS Crime Stop – Tip-off line – 0860010111
Useful Links:
www.bullying.co.uk/cyberbullying/what-is-cyberbullying
www.commonsensemedia.org/cyberbullying
www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/cyberbullying-what-teachers-and-schools-can-do/
Choose a good anti-virus – Do a bit of a research and choose an antivirus that you trust.
Paid is better than free - Depending on your need, using a paid antivirus software is better than using a free one. This is for the obvious reason that paid one’s come with more added security features.
Protects you from consuming viruses – An antivirus is still very useful, so don’t skip it, It will protect you from a lot of computer viruses.
Maintain antivirus software – Make sure to keep your antivirus software up to date.
How do I report a number in South Africa?
If you are still contacted after registering, you can lay a complaint with the National Consumer Commission on 012 428 7000 or complaints@thencc.org.za.
CYBERCRIMES AND CYBERSECURITY BILL (Draft)
cybercrimes_and_cybersecurity_bill_2015.pdf (Download Here)
cybercrimes_and_cybersecurity_bill_2015.pdf (Download Here)
