A free 8-chapter safety and awareness guide: what stalking is, how it happens, the warning signs, and the steps that help you document it, report it, and stay safer.
In danger now? Call 911 · National DV Hotline 1-800-799-7233 · Crisis Line 988
You picked up this guide for a reason — trust that. Maybe something has been happening to you. Maybe it's happening to someone you love, or someone you work with. Wherever you're starting from, this guide gives you a clear, calm walk-through of what stalking is, how it shows up, and what steps actually help.
Every chapter ends with something concrete you can do, and every page links back to a free tool at Stalking.org — no account, no cost, no judgment.
Chapter 01
What Stalking Really Means
A plain-language definition and why it's a crime everywhere in the U.S.
Stalking is a pattern of unwanted contact, following, or watching that would make a reasonable person afraid. Those two ideas — pattern and fear — are what separate stalking from a single awkward message.
Stalking is a crime in all 50 states and under federal law. It does not require any physical contact. Courts have upheld convictions built entirely on repeated phone calls, or on a person who never spoke a word but kept appearing wherever the victim went.
Living with the feeling of being watched changes how you sleep, work, and move through the world — long before anyone is ever touched.
~3.4M U.S. adults are stalked annually, per a federal estimate.
"It's not stalking unless he touches me."
Physical contact is never required. Watching and repeated contact are enough on their own.
"He's never said anything threatening."
Many laws don't require a spoken threat — the pattern itself can be the crime.
"We used to date, so it's a grey area."
A past relationship changes nothing about your right to say no now.
Surveillance, following, and hidden GPS trackers explained.
Some of the most frightening cases involve no words at all — the person simply keeps appearing. Courts have consistently ruled that silent surveillance and following can support a stalking charge on their own, because the fear it causes is just as real.
Following & surveillance
Trailing someone on foot or by car
Waiting at places they regularly visit
Repeatedly showing up "by coincidence" at work, church, or the gym
GPS & Bluetooth trackers
Small trackers hidden in a car, bag, or gift let a stalker follow your location in real time
Courts have upheld convictions for exactly this — one appeals court rejected a stalker's claim that using a hidden GPS device "wasn't really surveillance"
Signs you may be tracked
They know where you've been without being told
You keep seeing the same car or person
An unfamiliar device is on your car or in your bag
Your phone battery drains unusually fast
If you find a tracker
Get to a safe, public place first
Photograph it before touching it further
Call police before removing it — it may be evidence
Use a device the stalker has never touched to search for help
Why calls, messages, and cyberstalking are treated just as seriously.
A common myth is that stalking requires following someone in person. Courts disagree — repeated phone calls alone have supported convictions, and cyberstalking laws now cover texts, email, and social media in nearly every state.
Polite or loving messages can still be stalking. Courts look at the pattern, not the tone.
30–60% of stalking victims report receiving at least one direct threat, according to published research summaries.
What counts
Nonstop calls or texts after being told to stop
Emails or messages sent to your boss or coworkers
Fake or monitoring social media accounts
Messages passed through a mutual contact
Unwanted gifts ordered to your address
Documentation habit
Screenshot everything with the date, time, and sender visible
Never delete a message, even upsetting ones — they're evidence
Keep backups somewhere the stalker can't reach, like a new email account
Research-backed factors linked to a higher risk of violence.
No one can predict a single case with certainty. But researchers who have studied thousands of stalking cases point to a few factors that, together, are statistically linked to a higher chance of violence.
Research-linked risk factors
A prior intimate relationship with the victim
Explicit threats of harm or death
A history of drug or alcohol abuse
Access to weapons
Violating a protective order
Other signals to watch
Contact becomes more frequent or intense
Sudden contact with your children or new partner
Talk of "having nothing left to lose"
A major life change — breakup, job loss, court date
This is not a test
These are patterns found across large groups of cases, not a checklist that predicts one person
If even a few apply, it's time to update your safety plan and loop in an advocate — not to panic, but to prepare
Direct, implied, and third-party threats, and why every one matters.
Many stalking statutes hinge on a "credible threat" — one that would make a reasonable person fear for their safety. That threat does not have to be spoken aloud to count.
Most people who threaten never act on it. But most people who do act, threatened first. Treat every threat seriously.
Direct threats
A stated intent to harm — spoken, written, or sent as a message
The clearest form of threat, and the easiest to document
Implied threats
Repeated, silent staring, or statements like "call me before it's too late"
Courts have upheld findings that these qualify as threats once the full pattern is considered
Third-party threats
A threat relayed through a friend, coworker, or relative
It can still count if the stalker intended it to reach you
Preserve every threat
Save the original message or voicemail
Screenshot with date, time, and sender visible
Write down spoken threats immediately, word for word
How to document incidents the way police and courts expect.
Strong stalking cases are rarely built on one dramatic piece of proof. They're built from many small, well-organized records that tell the same consistent story.
What to collect
Every message, voicemail, and email — never delete
Screenshots showing date, time, and sender
Photos of gifts, notes, or damage
Names and contact info for any witnesses
Police report numbers and court paperwork
Keep a simple log
Date, time, and place
Exactly what happened
Who saw or heard it
How it affected you
Never confront to get proof
Don't put yourself at risk to capture a photo or a recording
Hotlines, tools, and how Stalking.org supports you.
If you are in immediate danger, call 911. For confidential support, the lines below are available around the clock.
Crisis lines
Emergency — 911
National DV Hotline — 1-800-799-7233
Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — 988
Free tools at stalking.org
Risk Assessment
Safety Plan Builder
Evidence Auditor
Police Report Organizer
Protective Order Guide
Data Broker Removal
Frequently asked questions
What is stalking?
Stalking is a pattern of unwanted contact, following, or watching that would make a reasonable person afraid. Pattern and fear together are what separate stalking from a single unwanted message.
Is stalking a crime?
Yes. Stalking is a crime in all 50 states and under federal law. It does not require any physical contact.
Does stalking require physical contact?
No. Courts have upheld convictions built entirely on repeated phone calls, or on a person who never spoke but kept appearing wherever the victim went.
Can someone stalk me without saying a word?
Yes. Silent surveillance and following can support a stalking charge on their own, because the fear they cause is just as real as spoken threats.
Can repeated calls, texts, or emails be stalking?
Yes. Repeated phone calls alone have supported convictions, and cyberstalking laws cover texts, email, and social media in nearly every state.
What should I do if I find a GPS or Bluetooth tracker?
Get to a safe, public place first. Photograph it before touching it further, call police before removing it — it may be evidence — and use a device the stalker has never touched to search for help.
How do I document stalking incidents?
Screenshot everything with the date, time, and sender visible, and never delete messages. For each incident, log the date, time, and place; exactly what happened; who saw or heard it; and how it affected you. Keep backups somewhere the stalker can't reach.
What is a safety plan?
A safety plan is a set of rehearsed decisions that includes a safe person, safe places, a code word, a go-bag, and a digital cleanup checklist.
What are the warning signs that stalking may escalate?
Research-linked factors include a prior intimate relationship with the victim, explicit threats, a history of substance abuse, access to weapons, and violating a protective order — plus more frequent or intense contact.
What should I do right now if I'm in danger?
Call 911. For confidential support, the National DV Hotline is 1-800-799-7233 and the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is 988.
This guide provides general information only. It is not legal, medical, or mental-health advice, and Stalking.org is not a crisis service. If you are in immediate danger, call 911. Laws vary by state — consult a qualified attorney or advocate about your situation.
Disclaimer
The information on Stalking.org is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not legal advice, medical advice, or mental-health advice, and it does not create an attorney-client or other professional relationship. If you are in immediate danger, call 911 (United States) or your local emergency number — Stalking.org is not a crisis hotline. Laws and platform policies change frequently, so always consult a qualified attorney, law enforcement officer, or licensed professional about your specific situation.