6 Signs That You Are Being Stalked
January 31, 2022 - Reading time: 13 minutes
Updated on: September 5, 2025
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Whatever the situation or circumstances, stalking is a behaviour that should always be taken seriously. Whether you are being stalked by a former partner, friend, neighbour, colleague, or someone you do not know, the fear and anxiety can be significant and long lasting.
Stalking often sits alongside other criminal acts such as harassment, threats, assault and criminal damage. If you feel someone could be stalking you, it is wise to safeguard yourself early and start recording what is happening.
Emergency note: if you are in immediate danger, call 999. For non-emergencies, contact 101 or speak to your local police station.
1. Lurking and loitering
Trust your instincts. If the same person or vehicle is hanging around the same places, or you notice them at odd times without a clear reason, treat that as a red flag. Make a note of dates, times, descriptions, registration plates and any small details that stand out. Patterns matter.
2. Cyber stalking
Online harassment can show up on social media, messaging apps, dating sites, forums and email. It might be repeated contact, monitoring your posts, creating fake profiles, scraping personal data, or trying to guess passwords and security answers. Some offenders try to gather location data from photos or check-ins. Others try to learn your routine and the places you visit.
Fitness apps and smart devices can also reveal routes and timings. Review what you share publicly and lock down your privacy settings. Be careful with friend requests and private groups.
3. Coincidental meets
Repeatedly bumping into the same person in different places can be innocent, but if it keeps happening, change your routine. Vary your route and timings. If the same person still appears, record each encounter. This can indicate surveillance or hostile reconnaissance rather than chance.
4. Malicious phone calls and messages
Blocked numbers, hang-ups, repeated calls, silent voicemails and sudden spikes in spam or sales calls can all be used to unsettle you. Keep a log, save voicemails and screenshots, and report abusive numbers to your network. Consider a new number and do not publish it widely. Apps and some landline devices can block or filter unwanted calls.
5. The same car follows you for a prolonged time
If a vehicle sticks behind you for longer than makes sense, note the make, model, colour and registration. Three lefts or three rights in a row is an old trick to test if you are being tailed. Do not drive dangerously. If you are worried, head for a police station, a petrol station with CCTV, or a busy well-lit place and call 999 from your hands-free.
It can be useful to act as though you have not noticed. If someone knows they have been spotted, they may change tactics, vehicles or methods. Either way, record everything as soon as you can do so safely.
6. A tracking device on your vehicle
Trackers are small and easy to hide under bumpers, on subframes or inside trim. If one is fitted, your movements can be monitored 24 hours a day. If you suspect a tracker, consider a professional vehicle sweep. Some consumer bug detectors pick up radio frequency signals, but they do not always catch modern devices that buffer and burst data. We can help with vehicle and property bug sweeps.
What to do if you think you are being stalked
- Tell someone you trust and agree a code word that means you need help.
- Strengthen home and workplace security such as locks, lighting, cameras and secure parking where possible.
- Vary your routine and avoid predictable routes and timings.
- Do not engage with the offender online or in person. Save everything instead.
- Report to police with your log and evidence. Ask for a crime reference number.
- Speak to your phone provider about call blocking and number changes.
- Let your workplace or school know so reception and security are alert.
How to document evidence
Good evidence turns a worry into a case that can be acted on. Keep a simple log with:
- Date and time
- Location and what happened
- Descriptions, registration plates and screenshots
- Names of any witnesses and incident numbers if reported
Save original files in more than one place. Do not edit or mark the photos you want to rely on. Keep messages in full with headers and URLs where relevant. If you receive gifts, notes or items through the post, keep the envelopes and avoid handling them more than needed.
Online safety and digital hygiene
- Privacy settings on social platforms set to friends only. Remove location tags and live check-ins.
- Review followers and remove unknown or suspicious accounts. Be careful with mutuals.
- Strong, unique passwords with a password manager and two-factor authentication on key accounts.
- Check email forwarding rules and account recovery numbers and emails.
- Device security with screen locks, OS updates and reputable security apps.
- Home network router password changed from default and firmware updated.
- Dating apps kept separate from your main social profiles and avoid linking Instagram or Spotify if you want to stay private.
Stalking and harassment law in the UK
Stalking and harassment are criminal offences. The courts look for a course of conduct which means behaviour on at least two occasions that causes alarm or distress. There are separate offences for stalking, and there are civil and criminal orders that can restrict a person’s behaviour.
- Protection from Harassment Act 1997 covers harassment and includes restraining orders.
- Stalking offences include additional behaviours such as following, watching, monitoring or contacting a person repeatedly in a way that causes fear or distress.
- Stalking Protection Orders can impose conditions such as not to contact or not to go within a set distance of places.
This section is general guidance, not legal advice. If you need advice on injunctions, restraining orders or safeguarding children, speak to a solicitor.
How a private investigator can help
We support victims of stalking with discreet, lawful methods that create a clear evidential picture.
- Counter-surveillance to detect and document who is following you, when and how.
- Surveillance logs, photos and video gathered to evidential standards.
- Vehicle sweeps and technical inspections to locate GPS trackers, hidden cameras and covert microphones.
- OSINT investigations to identify linked social media, usernames, email addresses and other digital footprints.
- Liaison with solicitors to support applications for injunctions or court orders, where appropriate.
Every instruction is risk assessed. Where devices are found, we can remove them, preserve evidence and report our findings in a format suitable for police or court use.
For confidential help, visit the PrivateInvestigators-UK homepage or contact us.
FAQs
Do private investigators stalk people?
No. Reputable investigators vet clients and refuse instructions that look like harassment. If an investigator is following you as part of a lawful enquiry, a competent professional aims to remain discreet and gather impartial evidence. If you believe you are under surveillance, see How to tell if a private investigator is following you.
Should I confront the person I suspect?
Usually no. Confrontations can escalate risk and may harm your ability to evidence a course of conduct. Focus on safety and evidence. Report concerns to police and seek advice.
Can you prove who is behind anonymous accounts?
Sometimes. OSINT can link usernames, photos, writing style, recovery emails or phone numbers. Where legal powers are required, your solicitor or the police may request data from platforms.
Can you remove GPS trackers or hidden cameras?
Yes. We provide bug sweeping and technical counter-surveillance for vehicles, homes and workplaces. If we find devices, we can remove them and document everything properly.
What if the stalker is an ex-partner?
The same principles apply. Keep evidence, improve security, tell trusted people, and report early. Orders are available to protect victims of domestic abuse and stalking. Speak to a solicitor for tailored guidance.
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