Stalking Hotline: Who to Call in the United States

Is There a National Stalking Hotline?

People often ask for a "national stalking hotline" or "24-hour stalking helpline." Here is the honest answer: we are not aware of a government-operated national hotline that is dedicated only to stalking. Help for stalking is spread across several systems, and the right one depends on what you need.

• Immediate danger: 911.
• Emotional distress or crisis: 988.
• Reporting a crime: your local police or sheriff, and for internet crimes, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
• Victim services and compensation: your state's victim assistance programs, listed in a federal directory.
• Unwanted calls and texts: your phone carrier, the police, and the Federal Communications Commission.
• Safety planning and evidence: Stalking.org's free tools and your state's guide.

It can feel frustrating that there is no single number. Think of it as a short list of numbers and websites, each with a specific job. Save the ones you might need in a safe place.

If You Are in Danger Right Now: 911

Call 911 if the person is near you, is following you, is trying to get into your home, is threatening you, or you believe you are in immediate danger. You do not need proof, and you do not need to be certain it is stalking.

When you call:

• Stay as calm as you can and speak clearly. The dispatcher will guide you.
• Say where you are first. Give your address or the nearest cross streets or landmark.
• Say what is happening. "Someone who has been stalking me is outside my home."
• Describe the person and any vehicle. Include what they are wearing and which way they are heading.
• Say if weapons are involved or if the person has threatened you.
• Stay on the line until the dispatcher says you can hang up.

If you can't speak safely, call anyway and stay on the line, or text 911 where the service is available. Text-to-911 is not offered everywhere, so find out whether it works in your area before you need it.

If You Are in Distress: 988

Being stalked can cause fear, exhaustion, and despair. If you are in emotional distress or thinking about harming yourself, you can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at any hour. You do not have to be in a suicidal crisis to reach out. The line is for people who are struggling.

988 can help you talk through what you are feeling and connect you with local support. It does not investigate stalking and is not a replacement for police. Use it alongside the other steps on this page.

If you would like longer-term mental health support, use FindTreatment.gov to find providers near you, and read coping after being stalked.

To Report Stalking: Police and Sheriffs

Stalking is a crime in every state, and the place to report it is usually the police department or sheriff's office where you live, work, or where the incidents happened.

• Call the non-emergency number if you are not in immediate danger. You can look it up on your city or county website. Our State Reporting Guide links to state-level contacts.
• Visit in person if you prefer. Bring a timeline and your evidence.
• Ask for a report number and the officer's name and contact information.
• Ask about protective orders and victim services.

Read how to report stalking and how to report a stalker to the police for step-by-step guidance and a sample statement.

Victim Services Programs

Most states have government-run or government-funded programs that help crime victims. They can explain your rights, help with paperwork, connect you to compensation for costs such as medical bills and counseling, and provide a victim advocate or coordinator.

• Prosecutor victim-witness units support victims in criminal cases and can tell you what to expect in court.
• Police and sheriff victim advocates, where available, can help you through the reporting process.
• State attorney general and public safety victim services often run compensation programs and information lines.
• Courts often have self-help centers for protective order forms.

The Office for Victims of Crime keeps a Help in Your State directory of these programs. Each of our state guides also lists the main statewide agencies for that state, for example California, Texas, Florida, and New York. Ask each program about confidentiality before you share details, because rules differ.

Federal Options

Some stalking crosses state lines or happens online. Federal agencies can be involved in those cases.

• FBI. You can submit information through the FBI's tips site or contact your local FBI field office.
• Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). File online if the stalking involves internet crime or conduct across state lines. See how to report online stalking.
• Federal Trade Commission. If someone is using your identity, report it at IdentityTheft.gov.
• Federal Communications Commission. If calls or texts are spoofed or harassing, learn about caller ID spoofing and how to file a complaint.

Federal law covers stalking that crosses state lines or uses electronic communication. Read federal stalking laws explained.

If a Phone Number Keeps Calling You

Many people searching for a "stalker phone number" or "stalking phone number" are dealing with calls from a number they don't recognize, or from many numbers. Handle it this way.

1. Don't call back or reply. Responding can encourage more contact.
2. Document first. Screenshot your call log and save voicemails and texts, with dates and numbers visible.
3. Block the number after documenting. If new numbers keep appearing, note the pattern, which can matter as evidence of a course of conduct.
4. Tell your phone carrier. Many carriers can help with harassing calls and may have tools for filtering or reporting.
5. Report to police, especially if the calls are frightening or continue after you have asked for them to stop.
6. Report spoofing to the FCC if calls appear to come from your own number or a number that isn't real.
7. Don't try to identify or confront the caller yourself. Investigators can request records you cannot.

Our guide on when unwanted contact becomes stalking explains how repeated calls fit the legal definition.

What to Say When You Call

Having a few sentences ready makes it easier to speak when you are frightened.

To 911: "I'm at [address]. A person who has been stalking me is outside. He's wearing [description] and is in a [vehicle]. I'm afraid for my safety."

To the police non-emergency line: "I want to report stalking. This has been going on since [month], and I have messages and a timeline. I'd like to make a report and learn about protective orders."

To a victim services program: "I'm being stalked and I'm trying to understand my options. Can you tell me what you can help with, and whether what I tell you is confidential?"

To a phone carrier: "I'm receiving harassing calls from unknown numbers. What tools do you have to block them, and how can I report the harassment?"

You don't have to tell the whole story on the first call. Start with the facts and ask for what you need.

How to Call Safely

If the stalker may be watching your phone, your accounts, or your bill, take precautions.

• Use a safe phone, such as a friend's phone, a prepaid phone the stalker doesn't know about, or a phone at a library or workplace.
• Remember call logs and bills. Calls from your own phone may show up in logs and on shared accounts.
• Know your quick exit. If you are reading on a shared device, use the Quick Escape button on Stalking.org and clear your browsing history.
• Agree on a code word with a trusted person so they know when you need help without saying so.
• Don't save sensitive notes to shared cloud accounts.

If you suspect spyware, read electronic stalking and stalkerware before you change settings, so you don't alert the stalker.

Why Stalking.org Is Not a Hotline

We are asked about this often, so we want to be direct. Stalking.org is not a crisis hotline, and we cannot respond to emergencies. What we offer is a set of free tools and guides, all of which run in your browser, that help you assess risk, make a safety plan, organize evidence, prepare a police report, and find official contacts in your state. Start with the Risk Assessment, then explore the Stalking Resource Center guide.

If No One Answers or You Are Put on Hold

Hold times and voicemail are frustrating when you are afraid. A few strategies help.

• For emergencies, hang up and call 911 again, or try a different number.
• For non-emergency lines, try again at a different time of day, or visit in person.
• For victim services, leave a clear message with a safe way to reach you, and ask whether it is safe to leave details.
• Try more than one channel. Police, prosecutors, and victim services all handle stalking, so if one is slow, contact another.
• Keep a log of your attempts, including dates and who you spoke with. It helps if you need to follow up or escalate.

Language, Hearing, and Accessibility Needs

You have the right to ask for help in a way that works for you. When you contact a government agency or victim service program, you can ask for an interpreter, ask about text or relay options, and ask for accommodations. If you have trouble reaching a service, say what you need, and ask what alternatives exist. Our site is designed to be readable on a phone and includes a quick exit.

Related Hotlines for Related Problems

Stalking often overlaps with other situations that have their own reporting lines.

• Child abuse or neglect and adult abuse, neglect, or exploitation are reported to state agencies. Each of our state guides lists the relevant government hotlines.
• Thoughts of suicide or self-harm should be directed to 988 or 911.
• Identity theft goes to the Federal Trade Commission.
• Internet crime goes to the FBI's IC3.

A Checklist to Keep Handy

• 911 for danger. 988 for crisis.
• The non-emergency number for your local police.
• The name of your state's victim services agency.
• The web address for your state's guide.
• A safe phone and a code word.
• Your timeline and evidence, in a place the stalker can't reach.

What Happens After You Call 911 About Stalking

Knowing what to expect can make the call less frightening. When you call 911 because of stalking, the dispatcher will ask for your location, what is happening, and whether the person is still nearby. They may stay on the line with you while officers are sent. Officers who arrive will usually separate people if needed, ask you what happened, and look at any evidence you have.

Depending on what they see and what your state's law says, officers may take a report, give the person a warning, arrest the person if a crime has occurred, or provide you with information about protective orders and victim services. Even if no arrest is made, a report creates a record. Ask for the report number and the officer's name before they leave, and write down the date and time.

If you feel the response was not adequate, you can follow up. Ask the department how to request a supervisor's review, and add the incident to your stalking log. A pattern of documented calls strengthens a later request for a protective order.

Questions to Ask a Victim Services Program

When you reach a victim services program, a few questions help you understand what is available and what is private.

• What services do you provide, and are they free?
• Is what I tell you confidential, or could it be shared with police, prosecutors, or the stalker's attorney?
• Can you help me file for a protective order, and do you provide forms or a court accompaniment?
• Am I eligible for victim compensation for counseling, medical care, or lost wages?
• Is there an address confidentiality program I can use?
• Can you explain what will happen if I report, and what I should expect in court?
• Can I get an interpreter, or can we communicate in a way that is safe for me?
• Who should I contact if the stalker contacts me after I've reported?

Take notes, or ask a trusted person to listen in if it is safe. If you feel pressured to decide something quickly, say you need time. You are allowed to think.

Pacing Yourself When You Are Overwhelmed

Calling for help can bring a rush of emotion. You may freeze, forget what you meant to say, or feel embarrassed. All of that is normal.

• Write down three facts before you call: what is happening, when it started, and what you need today.
• Ask the person to slow down or repeat something. It is a reasonable request.
• Say "I need a moment" if you become emotional. Most responders expect it.
• Ask for a callback if you can't talk safely at that moment, and give a safe number and a safe time.
• Don't try to do everything in one call. One good step is enough for today.

If the strain is more than you can handle, call or text 988, and read coping after being stalked.

Planning Your Calls Before an Emergency

You can reduce stress by preparing ahead.

• Save emergency numbers in your phone under neutral names, and make sure the phone is charged.
• Program a trusted contact as an emergency contact on your phone, and agree on a code word.
• Know your address and cross streets well enough to say them quickly, including if you are at work or school.
• Practice what you would say out loud once or twice, so it feels more familiar.
• If children are in your home, teach them age-appropriate steps, such as where to go and how to reach help, as part of your safety plan.
• Keep a printed copy of key numbers and your plan somewhere safe, in case your phone is taken or monitored.

The Safety Plan tool will help you turn these items into a printable plan.

Key Takeaways

• There is no government-run national hotline dedicated only to stalking, so use the right channel for each need.
• Call 911 if you are in danger. Call or text 988 if you are in distress. Both are available around the clock.
• Report stalking to local police, and ask for a report number.
• Use the Office for Victims of Crime directory or your state's guide to find victim services.
• File internet crime complaints with the FBI's IC3, identity misuse with the FTC, and spoofed calls with the FCC.
• Document harassing calls before you block them, and don't call back or engage.
• Use a safe phone if the stalker may see your call logs, bill, or device.

The right number depends on what you need today. You don't have to know everything. You only need the next call.

Sources and further reading

• SAMHSA: In Crisis? Find Help Now (988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline)
• Help in Your State (Office for Victims of Crime)
• FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
• FBI Tips and Public Leads
• Caller ID Spoofing (Federal Communications Commission)
• IdentityTheft.gov (Federal Trade Commission)
• FindTreatment.gov (SAMHSA)