Cyberstalking

The Internet has opened new doors for stalkers. Law enforcement agencies now receive reports of cases in which the Internet is used to transmit threatening communication.

Stalkers also use the Internet to access a wealth of personal information about victims in an attempt to scare them. In some cases, the victim's address and other personal information is posted online in an effort to encourage others to harm and harrass the victim.

Be careful about the personal information you give out online. Many people feel that the Internet gives them an impenetrable curtain of anonymity. This is not the case. Messages can be tracked and recovered by criminal hackers and law enforcement alike.

When buying a product or subscribing to a service, be sure that you limit the amount of personal details you provide online. Remember, many businesses sell or trade your information. So the next time you fill out a survey or contest entry form . . . think twice about the information you're sending into cyberspace.

Always make sure you know whom you're talking to and doing business with on the Internet. Don't give out information in chat rooms that you wouldn't give to a stranger on the street.

View the U.S. Attorney General's 1999 Report to the Vice President:

Cyberstalking: A New Challenge for Law Enforcement and Industry.

Law enforcement and prosecutors are responding to the challenges of cybercrime. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office is a leader in the prosecution of cyberstalking cases. The District Attorney's Stalking & Threat Assessment Team and High-Tech Computer Crimes Unit are at the cutting edge of investigating and prosecuting computer crimes.

FEDERAL CYBERSTALKING LAWS PASSED IN OCTOBER 2000:  See "FEDERAL LAWS" for more detail.