| Do you ever wonder why the large Internet service | | | | both 2000 and 2001 to 35% in 2002." |
| providers, social networking sites and message board | | | | The reason so many people will use the Internet to |
| forums don't do anything to stop cyber harassment | | | | stalk or harass people is because they think they can |
| and online stalking? It's because the Communications | | | | remain anonymous and their victim will not be able to |
| Decency Act of 1996 ("CDA") Section 230(c)(1) | | | | identify them. Obviously most people would not |
| shields providers of interactive computer services | | | | behave that way if they knew they could be caught. |
| from liability for the actions of the individuals using | | | | One they are identified most return back under the |
| those services. | | | | rock they crawled out from under. |
| Since they have no liability for the actions of their | | | | If you or someone you know are the target of a |
| members they make very little effort to identify | | | | cyber stalker or online harassment you don't need to |
| them or even discourage the cyber harassment of | | | | take it lying down. Even though you will get little help |
| other members. | | | | from the ISP or social network you can hire a private |
| Some Cyber Harassment Statistics (2002): | | | | investigator to perform a reverse email search to |
| - 62% of Cyber Harassment Victims are Female, | | | | locate and identify the stalker. Document their |
| primarily ages 18-24. | | | | investigation into a report and use that report in |
| - Groups most at risk for Cyber Harassment include: | | | | court to get justice against your stalker. |
| - Women, particularly abused women | | | | If you are ready to fight back and stop being a |
| - Special Ability Groups | | | | victim you can begin by searching online for a PI that |
| - Minors | | | | specialized in Internet investigations and cyber |
| - Members of Minority Groups | | | | stalking intervention. Be sure the one you choose is |
| - New Internet Users | | | | considered an expert in email tracing and locating and |
| - 62% of all Cyber Stalking Victims are located in the | | | | identifying people online. |
| United States | | | | They should also offer other types of services like |
| - Cyber Harassers are primarily male, but the number | | | | skip tracing and background reports. That way if the |
| of female cyber harassment offenders is growing | | | | investigation expands into other areas you can save |
| steadily. | | | | time and money by staying with one group of |
| - 25% of Offenders are personally known by their | | | | professional investigators until the end of the case . |
| victims. | | | | If you decide to take this route you want to be sure |
| "The most surprising thing we've seen is the rise in | | | | it's done right the first time. |
| female cyberstalkers - this increased from 27% in | | | | Also check out pricing and estimated length of time |
| 2000 to 32.5% in 2001 to 35% in 2002," says Jayne | | | | for the results of the investigation. Too cheap or too |
| A. Hitchcock, president of WHOA. "We've also had | | | | quick is a good sign of a possible scam to take your |
| more men come to us for help, jumping from 17% in | | | | money and run . |