Stalking/Cyerstalking

The National Center for Victims of Crime reports the most recent (June 2009) statistics about stalking.

3.4 million People over the age of 18 are stalked each year in the United States.
3 in 4 stalking victims are stalked by someone they know.
30% of stalking victims are stalked by a current or former intimate partner.
10% of stalking victims are stalked by a stranger.
Persons aged 18-24 years experience the highest rate of stalking.
11% of stalking victims have been stalked for 5 years or more.
46% of stalking victims experience at least one unwanted contact per week.
1 in 4 victims report being stalked through the use of some form of technology (such as email or instant messaging).
10% of victims report being monitored with global positioning systems (GPS), and 8% report being monitored through video.

Stalking: Occurs when an individual follows a pattern of behavior that leaves someone else feeling afraid, nervous, harassed, or in danger. Legal definitions vary from one jurisdiction to another.

Stalking behaviors include:

Repeated undesired contact (phone calls, emails, letters, texting, showing up unexpectedly, etc.)
Following
Making threats to the individual or her or his family using any available means
Any other behavior used to contact, harass, track, or threaten the individual

Cyber-stalking: Characterized by threatening behaviors and unwanted advances directed from one individual to another over the Internet and other on-line computer oriented communications.

Cyber stalking can take forms such as:

Threatening/obscene email, text messaging, blogs, social networking sites
Fraudulent subscriptions to mailing lists, most notably religious or porn lists
Live chat harassment or flaming (on-line verbal abuse)
Tracing victim's computer and Internet activity
Can include off-line stalking/harassment