What is the best definition of cyberstalking?

Cyberstalking is a crime in which someone harasses or stalks a victim using electronic or digital means, such as social media, email, instant messaging (IM), or messages posted to a discussion group or forum.

What is example of cyberstalking?

Examples of Cyberstalking

Post rude, offensive, or suggestive comments online. Follow the target online by joining the same groups and forums. Send threatening, controlling, or lewd messages or emails to the target. Use technology to threaten or blackmail the target.

What are the characteristics of cyberstalking?

As with stalking, cyberstalking causes physical and emotional consequences in victims, including stomach trouble, sleep disorders, anger, fear, confusion [4,6], distress, anxiety, and depression. Those consequences affect the victims’ mental health and well-being.

What is the difference between cyberstalking and online harassment?

Cyberharassment is threatening behaviour or unwanted advances directed at another using the Internet and other forms of computer communications; whereas cyberstalking involves the repeated and deliberate use of the Internet and electronic communication tools to frighten, intimidate or harass someone.

How can I prove cyberstalking?

Limiting the amount of personal information that is public is an effective way to prove someone is cyberstalking you. If personal information and photographs are not easily accessible to the general public, a cyberstalker may have difficulty explaining how they accessed it.

What are the different types of cyber stalking?

There are three most common forms of cyber stalking:
  • Email Stalking: sending hate, obscene, or threatening emails, or sending viruses and spam. · …
  • Internet Stalking: spreading rumors or tracking victims on the web. · …
  • Computer Stalking: hacking into a victims computer and taking control of it. ·

What type of offenses can occur that could be defined as cyberstalking?

Cyberstalking can include many things including threats, solicitation for sex, false accusations, defamation, slander, libel, identity theft, and vandalism.

What is an example of stalking?

Examples of Stalking Behavior:

Approaching or confronting someone in a public place or on private property. Appearing at one’s workplace, home, or school. Entering onto property someone owns, leases, or occupies. Contacting someone by phone, postal mail, email, text, social networking sites, etc.

What to do if someone is harassing me online?

File a report with the police district where your business and home are located and include all documentation of the cyber-harassment or cyberstalking. If you have evidence of the perpetrator’s identity, file a restraining order because you don’t know when that person might take the harassment offline.

How one can identify and detect cyberstalking?

Signs you have a cyberstalker:

You get inappropriate messages you didn’t ask for. They try to disconnect you from family and friends. You notice someone is posting rumors about you online. Personal bank or social media accounts are hacked.

Who are the victims of cyberstalking?

Most cyberstalking victims were found to be female, aged 30 years or older and with a good level of education. A number of behaviours are often associated with cyberstalking but it was found that many of these activities, such as identity theft and fraud, are not common.

How do you deal with a cyberstalker?

Cyberstalking – Do this first!

Do not respond to their communications, never agree to meet and do not confront them about the stalking. Report it to the police – The police take stalking reports seriously and they have lots of experience investigating them. Report it early to the police directly using 101.

What to do when someone is harassing you online?

File a report with the police district where your business and home are located and include all documentation of the cyber-harassment or cyberstalking. If you have evidence of the perpetrator’s identity, file a restraining order because you don’t know when that person might take the harassment offline.

Is cyberstalking a federal crime?

Cyberstalking is a crime under federal and state laws. The penalties that can be imposed for a conviction range from up to 1 year in jail to life imprisonment, depending on the jurisdiction the offense falls under and the nature of the offense.

Who is the most common target of stalking?

Although stalking is a gender-neutral crime, most (78 percent) stalking victims are female and most (87 percent) stalking perpetrators are male. Adults between 18 and 29 years old are the primary targets of stalking, comprising 52 percent of all victims.

What are the consequences of cyberstalking?

According to the National Library of Medicine, Cyberstalking can have significant psychosocial impacts on cyberstalking victims. The victims report several severe consequences of victimization: Increased suicidal ideation, fear, anger, depression, and PTSD.

How long do you go to jail for cyberstalking?

Penalties for cyberstalking in California

Misdemeanor cyberstalking could result in one year of jail time plus a fine of up to $1000. A felony charge of cyberstalking could result in a sentence of five years in a state prison plus fines of up to $1,000.

Is online harassment a felony?

Offenses are normally misdemeanors, but could be charged as a Class E felony if the victim is a minor and the defendant is aged twenty-one or older. Penalties also increase if the defendant has a prior harassment conviction.

Is it illegal to stalk someone on Instagram?

Cyberstalking is often accompanied by realtime or offline stalking. In many jurisdictions, such as California, both are criminal offenses.

What can the police do about harassing texts?

In some States, the police may be able to issue a “Police Order” which usually can last up to 72 hours or they may be able to take out a protection order on your behalf.

Is text harassment a crime?

Two text messages may be harassment. One text message and one phone call may also be harassment. Harassment can include things your abuser has said or done.