Have you ever gotten an email so nasty it made you want to throw your phone out the window? One filled with threats, gross comments, or even demands for money? That’s not just a bad day online; that’s cyber harassment, and it’s way too common these days.
Any form of harassment is unacceptable, but online harassment can feel especially insidious due to the nature of not always knowing who’s behind it. Worse, cyber harassment often leads to emotional turmoil, like feelings of depression, anxiety, and even suicidal thoughts.
Most of the time, the perpetrator believes they can get away with this type of harassment because they can’t be directly seen. But they’re wrong.
At Digital Forensics, we know all too well what these people are capable of doing, and we’re committed to leveling the playing field for victims of harassment. Join us as we uncover the truth about harassing emails and your options for reporting them to the police.
What Is Cyber Harassment?
It’s essentially the use of electronic devices to cause mental harm and grief to someone else. Think: threatening emails, spreading nasty gossip online, or even stalking someone on social media.
It goes beyond just being mean. It’s downright illegal, and it can come with serious consequences.
Depending on how bad the harassment is and where you live, cyber harassment can land someone in some hot water. We’re talking fines and even jail time. Even sending one really nasty email can be enough to get the police involved.
What Should I Do After Receiving Harassing Emails?
Okay, so you just opened an email that’s making your skin crawl. Maybe it’s full of threats, insults, or creepy vibes. Your first instinct might be to fire back a nasty reply, but not so fast. That’s the worst thing you can do.
Responding to a harasser, even if it’s to tell them to back off, just lets them know they’ve got you hooked. It gives them exactly what they want — your attention. Instead, take a deep breath, step away from the computer, and let’s get this sorted out.
Document Everything
First, document everything. Save every single one of those nasty emails — and we mean everything. Don’t just save the message itself.
Make sure you’re saving the email header, too. Why? Because it contains a lot of important information, such as the sender’s email address, the exact time it was sent, and even some location clues.
Next, create a log — a digital one on your computer or even just a good old notebook will do. Start writing down every instance of harassment. What did the email say? When did you get it? How did it make you feel? This log will be super helpful later on if you decide to take things further.
Cut Contact
The next move is to cut this creep off. Block their email address. Most email providers have a handy little block feature that’ll stop any future emails from them from even reaching your inbox. You could also create a new email account and give that out instead, so the harasser won’t be able to find you easily.
Report It
Now, what if things take an even darker turn, and you start to fear for your life? There are no two ways about it. Call the police immediately. While the cyber harassment taking place might be all laughs on the other end, it’s no joke to the victim. And there’s no room for levity here.
You must take every such occurrence as potentially threatening. Hand it over to the police, and they can take it from there. They have plenty of experience with situations exactly like what you’re going through and can provide the guidance you need.
Contact Digital Forensics
At Digital Forensics, we certainly understand what you’re going through. We specialize in this very thing, after all. It’s normal to feel stressed, scared, or even like your privacy has been violated.
Get Support
Talk to your friends or family about what’s happening. Maybe even consider talking to a therapist or counselor if you need a little extra support. Remember, you’re not alone in this. There are people who care about you, and there are resources available to help you through it.
How Can I Report Harassing Emails to the Police?
You’ve had enough of this cyber harassment and are ready to take action. Your first step is to gather up all the evidence you’ve collected. That means every single email, along with the detailed log you’ve been keeping of the dates, times, and what those emails said.
Now, it’s time to call in the professionals. Depending on the situation, you’ve got a couple of options. You can contact your local police department, or you can file a report with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
Taking It Local
If you decide to go the local route, head to your police station and ask to file a report. They’ll probably want you to bring along any evidence you have. This is where that email stash and your log come in handy.
Be as detailed as possible when explaining what’s been happening. If you have any information about the sender, like their name or email address, definitely share that, too.
Taking It Federal
If the harassment seems more serious or crosses state lines, you might want to consider going straight to the feds. This is because their IC3 is a special task force dedicated to internet crimes. And that includes cyber harassment like nasty emails.
It’s easy to file a complaint with them, too, as they have an online portal just for that. It’s fast and simple, and you’ll have your complaint filed in no time. Be ready to offer as much information as possible. The more you provide, the easier it will be to catch whoever sent you the nasty email.
Now, once you’ve filed your report, don’t just sit back and assume everything is taken care of. You have to be proactive to ensure you get feedback in a timely manner.
Follow up and ask about your case’s progress. Be ready to provide any additional information they might need. Remember, this is your case, and you have the right to stay informed.
You should not expect nor get discouraged if things don’t happen overnight. In most cases, they won’t. These investigations take time. Thus, it’s important to be patient. You’ve already taken a huge step in filing the complaint/report.
Your job now is to be cooperative and willing to provide further details if possible. But if things start gworsening and you fearwhat might happen next, connect with your local police. Your protection is paramount.
The road to justice can feel long. But don’t lose hope. While you’re waiting, consider reaching out to resources for assistance. Organizations like the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative can provide support and guidance, and of course, our team at Digital Forensics is always here to help with our expert investigative services.
How Digital Forensics Can Help
You made the report, and you’re working with the police. But maybe you need a little extra firepower. That’s where we come in. Digital Forensics isn’t your everyday tech support. We’re the digital detectives you call in when things get serious.
We fight back hard against online harassment and will help you put a stop to the torment. We can help you gather evidence and take control of the platform where the harassment is happening, kicking the creep to the curb and getting even more proof along the way.
We also utilize top-end technology and tricks like IP tracking to get the answers we need. And if that’s not enough, we can slap them with a cease-and-desist letter, demanding they stop the harassment and delete any of your personal info they might have.
We offer different service options to fit your budget and timeline. Need something done fast? We’ve got our ASAP service that delivers a full forensic report in just 24 hours. Want a deeper dive into the case? We’ve got our 30-day service for that.
Yes, cyber harassment is terrible, and you shouldn’t have to deal with it in the first place. But if you do, you’re not in this fight alone. You have numerous avenues in which to seek assistance, and Digital Forensics is one of them.
We encourage you to reach out to us today to take advantage of our extensive resources, tools, insights, and support. We’ve amassed an enormous catalog of blogs and news to keep you informed and on the cutting edge of email harassment issues.
Sources:
Block or unsubscribe from emails – Computer | Gmail Help
Scam emails demand Bitcoin, threaten blackmail | Consumer Advice
