Need help now - please

Don't know where to put this...been getting harassing phone calls for 3 days now. I just had the police here to file a report - they said there is not much they can do. I don't know who this person is, but they won't stop calling me. they know a lot about me, keep asking me if I'm home alone, is my car parked in the driveway....
I told them to stop calling, to leave me alone, they just keep calling back. I am scared to death. The police said if someone shows up at my door to call them again, but without knowing who it is they really can't help...
I am so scared!

http://www.sexualharassmentsupport.o...oStalking.html

I think you can get your phone number changed too.

Oh hon I'm so sorry this is happening to you I'd be scared out of my mind. Is there anyone living with you/in your building who can keep an eye on things? Like if a neighbor sees someone suspicious they could also help by calling the police.

Try to think who it could be, if you know them. Sophia's link was really helpful, I think. One interesting point - if you change your number keep the other one connected with an answering machine??? I don't know maybe the police would know more or something Please stay safe - try to get someone to check in with ((((cantstopcrying)))))

Thanks - I just don't know who this is...they tell me they are 5 minutes away and the number on my caller id keeps changing as to who it is from...Police said to ignore the phone calls and not answer, but they call, hang up, call, hang up...over and over again. Police said they really don't think they are in my neighborhood, but are probably fishing for information. That doesn't really put my mind at ease...a million thoughts racing through my head, I don't feel safe at all. I put a bat by the front door and double locked everything. I'm feeling like a prisoner here. What else can possibly be thrown on my plate right now?

Here in Canada we have 'caller ID' and 'call block' - Bell provides these services - they should be available in the U.S. I suggest you call your phone company and subscribe to these and block this caller - it's very easy. Since these services have been out, I find harassing calls happen much less.

If the person calls again, hang up immediately and don't let them talk or ask you questions. The next tip is never show fear. People who do this are rarely a problem in real life. When you show you're not scared and just laugh it off, they'll stop calling because it's not fun for them anymore. Sorry this is happening and try these tips.

They can track the tel num via the provider. I would be asking them to do so.

You shouldn't have to go through this.

Do not talk to them just hang up and take the phone off the hook. Or get a whistle and blow hard down the phone then hang up, again then take the phone off the hook.

I am surprised they did not give you any advice, that is not right. I would make a call to the police station complaining about this.

Change your number as soon as you can and for the time being do not give it out to anyone.

Keep a record/log of each phone call this will be able to confirm who it is calling you. And if this goes to court then it will be used to compare to the actual phone bill records.

Personally I get hold of the name of one particular police officer and phone them every time I had a nasty phone call. If you are harassing them then perhaps they will know how you are feeling.

Good luck with this .

Can't Stop Crying,

I know how frustrating and scary this situation is, and I'm sorry you're being harassed! My advice is to stop answering the phone--let everything go to your machine or voice mail so there's a record of it you can offer the police if this ridiculous behavior continues. Don't interact with someone intent on bothering you in this manner, that only encourages them to keep trying. Shut the ringer if you must and turn down the volume on your machine if you have one.

Keep your cell phone handy and use it to communicate with family/friends/work/allies. And yes, as already suggested, change your number if you must. Your house should remain your haven, and this idiot who insists on invading that space can be stopped.

Please keep us posted. I know how unsettling these kinds of calls are, especially once they become a pattern. All the best to you!

The whistle idea is very good. Get a professional whistle and let it blow. If that was me...I would say "I have a hard bat, I'm going to crack over your head" lol.

Can you just not answer your phone if you don't recognize the number? Don't give them any info, hopefully they will stop this soon when they can't get more info.

Now that my anxiety has kicked into high gear, I'm working on calming down. When they call and get the answering machine, they immediately call back. I'm still just trying to ignore it...wish he would've called during the 5 minutes the cop was here....

The hardest part is I don't know where this is coming from, some random person just picked me? I'm documenting everything and not answering the phone, even though every time it rings I look out the window and am ready to jump out my skin...

Maybe they'll get bored and quit !?!?!

Shut the ringer off and let your family know you're doing this. A person does this because they like to scare a person. Is it a man's voice? I hope it stops and you feel better soon. I usually mess with them back...frustrates them.

Ideally, they will get bored and quit the less hold they believe they have on you...that's why it's imperative you go into ignore mode. Turn off the ringer and turn down the volume on your machine. Let the messages accumulate and listen to them later or tomorrow, when your anxiety has subsided. Remember to save them if this problem persists so you can take legal action if necessary.

A guy who was a friend of a friend did this to me once, after I refused to date him. Seemed like a nice guy on the surface--smart and starting a promising career. He left the most outrageously obscene messages on my machine--I cannot repeat a word of them here, unless relating merely a preposition or something. I had the chance to confront him in person, and I did--he denied the whole thing. It stopped after I gave him the business over it, within earshot of his friends and the group of people that hung out at that time. He was quite a jerk, despite his seeming attributes...

Hang in there, Can't Stop Crying. Leave the house if you can, take the kids, and go get a treat. Don't let this creep get to you!

*crossing my fingers* Hoping you can get some peace soon, keep us posted ((((((Cantstopcrying))))))

Be carefull about the whistle business, I had a friend who tied that and the jerk started doing it right back and worse. The other suggestions are great. I wouldn't even talk to the dork. He is enjoying the power of making you afraid, so don't give him the feeling he's getting it. HUGGGSSS dear. this is really a drag.

No calls yesterday evening, whew! Talked to my T about, he said that they were probably just doing it because they initially got a response and if I continue to ignore it they will probably just stop. I hope he's right. I don't want another day like the past few have been. I have a sheriff who lives on my block and I called him last night and he will help keep an eye out. My husband gets a lot of business based phone calls on our home phone, so when he's here we have to leave the ringer on, but maybe I won't get so freaked out if he's home. I really hate that people do things like this. Is it fun for them to scare me half to death? My T said by the law of averages things have got to start get a bit easier for me, I have just been getting hammered lately by one thing after the other...anyways I'm getting off subject here. thanks everyone for your support! Seriously, it helped so much, I thought I was going to have a heart attack from the anxiety attack and then responses started popping up on my post and it really helped to calm me down - so thank you

You might want to call your telephone service provider to explain what is going on. The harasser may be subject to prosecution.

I suspect your T is right. I used to get calls like that back in the 1980s when I lived alone with my son - but there was no caller ID or anything like that back then. I got angry with one of them and blurted out "Why is your life so empty and why do you get off so much on hearing the voices of strangers?" We talked normally for a few minutes (he was lonely and lookin' for love) then we said good-bye, and he never called me again.

Several years ago, I received a call from a woman saying she was an old friend of my husband. He was out working in the garden, so I spoke with her. She said she had his grandmother's bible and a book his father had written - wanted to send it to us. I was so excited for my husband, I gave her our address.

My husband later walks through the door and tells me he doesn't know anyone by that name - and yells at me for giving out our home address to a stranger.

My husband left to walk the dog, and I stayed home all alone in bed - growing more and more paranoid about what I had done.

Then I started to hear a soft knock on our front door, but it was an inside door - whoever was knocking had entered our house and kept knocking softly on the door.

I lay there frozen for several minutes, then gathered my courage to answer the knocking. By the time I got to the front door, I saw a white car pulling out of our driveway - so I became TRULY paranoid.

It turns out it was my son's best friend knocking on that door. He saw a light on and knew I was sick, so he knocked softly to see if my son was at home. He didn't want to disturb me. We had a good laugh when I found out is was just him.

As for the bible and book? They came in the mail a few days later. She really had been friends with my husband a long time ago, and wanted nothing more than to return what belonged to him.

I hope whoever is harassing you will go away and find a better way to spend his free time.

Glad to hear you are safe, nad really hoping this stops for good!

Obviously, having called the police, you realize this is illegal. However, the phone company is the one who can help with this, as they will track and prosecute them. I'd call from another phone though, just in case the guy has a trace on your line he can hear when you put the 2 week tracer on it...

This occurred to me, too back when there were no call block etc options. It had to be a neighbor or a girlfriend in cohoots with the (now ex) or it could have been his mother who wanted my children... because it began right after he left for work, and stopped right before he came home. Once I answered "Joe's Bar" in a southern drawl and loud music in the background and they hung up but he called right back. It was scary even with a firearm by my side.

No more phone calls since Friday....

I am so relieved...maybe they finally gave up!

Good. I am really happy for you. Just remembe, if you do get any more, don't let it throw you. It is HIS failure, not yours. HUGGGGSSSSS

really concerned for you re the info the person has about you. i'd call your phone provider, keep a log, they will investigate who calls you and the source of the phone caller. it's against the law in the US for this to happen. the main concern i have is it's stalking. you can also get a small device, turn on voice mail to record, and the device hooked up to the phone will record your conversation even if you hang up on them-further documenting your concern.
i had this done to me. phone company detectives came to my home. then they prosecuted the caller. most important is keep calling the police and play the recordings to them. please stay safe. this could escalate to a more serious action by the caller.

Now I'm freaking out...my past is filled with unsafe people...I don't think they know how to find me...I moved 500 miles away.
I have pretty strong security set up on my computer and keep getting intrusion attempt prevented popping up on my screen.
What do you say when you call the phone company? I have one garbled message saved on my answering machine from last week, but it's pretty hard to understand, something like making sure you're home so I can stop by...
The calls showed up on my answering machine as anonymous or 000-000-0000, I do have one that lists a phone number - my husband tried to call it back and it said it was from Magic Jack
I don't recognize the voice at all, I have no idea who it was, now I'm really scared

Can't stop, don't be. Don't let this dork control your life like this. just contact your service provider and let them know what has been happeing and take steps. Folks who have had trauma are often easily noted by bullies of all types if we don't make sure we send the opposite signals. I had to learn to do that.
Dear, if you can bring yourself to, I would suggest a martial arts or self defense class and stick with it. teach yourslf to carry yourself differently. I learned to do so by - of all people - kids in the inner city school I was bussed to. This person has probably picked up the fact that you are high anxiety and is playing off of it. Most likely he has no connection to your past. Don't fall into the old role that he is chosing for you. In reality, you are free to chose your own. Huggs, sweet can't stop crying. I wish I could put my arms around you and give you a big hard hug and stand behind you in body as well as spirit and tell you, time to make the wanna be hunter the prey, dear.