STALKING MYTHS AND REALITIES: YOU NEED TO KNOW THE TRUTH

from the Stalking Resource Center, part of the National Center for Victims of Crime

Myth: Only celebrities are stalked.
Reality: Every year in the United States 1.4 million people are stalked. We may hear more about celebrity stalking cases in the media, but the vast majority of stalking victims are ordinary citizens.

Myth: If you ignore stalking, it will go away.
Reality: Stalkers seldom "just stop." In fact, behaviors can turn more and more violent as time goes on. Victims should seek help from advocates, law enforcement and the courts to stop the stalking.

Myth: Stalking is creepy but not dangerous.
Reality: Stalking is creepy and dangerous. Three out of four women who were murdered by an intimate partner had been previously stalked by the killer.

Myth: Stalking is annoying but not illegal.
Reality: Stalking is a crime under the laws of all 50 states, the District of Columbia and the federal government.

Myth: You can't be stalked by someone you are still dating.
Reality: If your current girlfriend or boyfriend tracks your every move or follows you around in a way that causes you fear, that is stalking.

Myth: Modern surveillance technology is too expensive and confusing for most stalkers to use.
Reality: Stalkers can buy surveillance software and hardware for as little as $30 and can easily track victims' every move on a computer.

Myth: If you confront the stalker, he'll go away.
Reality: Stalkers can be unreasonable and unpredictable. Confronting or trying to reason with a stalker can be dangerous.

To learn more about stalking:
  • Take this quiz from the Stalking Resource Center of the National Center for Victims of Crime.
  • Contact the Stalking Resource Center. Call 800-FYI-CALL or click here.