| The National Violence Against Women Survey found | | | | gathering evidence so you can then let the police |
| that eight percent of women and two percent of | | | | handle it. |
| men have been stalked at some point in their lives. | | | | If you don't know the identity of whoever is calling |
| Receiving telephone calls from a stalker is alarming | | | | you, the phone company can help there, too. If you |
| and illegal. How can you best proceed to stop the | | | | dial *57 immediately after receiving a threatening call, |
| calls and keep yourself as safe as possible? | | | | the phone company will record the number that |
| First, call your phone company. Some companies | | | | called. They can ascertain the identity of the caller - |
| want you to call the police first and file a complaint. | | | | even if the number is unlisted or the call has been |
| Once you have done that, you can then make | | | | blocked. They won't give you the name, but they will |
| progress with the phone company. They can put a | | | | provide the police with the information. |
| trap on your phone that records the incoming calls. | | | | Another way to determine who is calling is to |
| Whenever you receive a threatening or harassing | | | | conduct phone number search If the number is a |
| phone call, make a record. At the end of a specified | | | | listed landline, you can immediately find out the |
| period - typically two to three weeks - the phone | | | | owner's name and address. If it is unlisted or a cell |
| company will compare notes with you and determine | | | | phone, you can opt to purchase a full report, which |
| the number of the caller. They then turn the records | | | | includes the name and most current address. With |
| over to the police. Stalking is illegal and prosecutable, | | | | this information, you can begin to build a case so the |
| but you need to gather evidence. Another way to | | | | police can stop the calls. Telephone stalking is just as |
| do this is to get a second line but keep the old one | | | | serious as if you had a person following you around |
| open. The stalker will continue to call the old line. | | | | everywhere. It is best to deal with it proactively and |
| Record all the calls that you can. Again, this is part of | | | | gather as much information as you can. |