<div>More evidence &amp; resources here: EscapingStalking.com
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<div>$4018 has been spent on recovery so far, thank you all! 
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<div>For years, I experienced a pattern of digital intrusion, physical and online stalking, and psychological manipulation that affected nearly every area of my life. People referenced private conversations and ideas I had never posted publicly or spoken to anyone about. Fake accounts were created using the names of people I spoke to or tried to date. Strangers approached me at events I told no one I was attending with information that only existed inside my phone or within the privacy of my home. As of 2/22/26 I still experience attempted intimidation, veiled threats, and smear campaigning online as a result of speaking out. 
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<div>At first, I didn’t want to believe it. I questioned myself. I suspended disbelief because the alternative felt too heavy. But over time, the patterns repeated too consistently to ignore. That’s where many people get stuck- frozen between intuition and proof, suffering in silence. Instead of shutting down, I focused on learning everything I could, regulating my nervous system, and documentation. I began changing one variable at a time to narrow down exactly how this was all happening.
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<div>On August 6, 2023, I was followed to my gym by a fellow Twitch live streamer who was the creator of an online community I had distanced myself from four months earlier after I ran out of benefit of the doubt to give. As I walked toward my car, I got a gut feeling to chose a slightly different route than usual, so I did. When I got to my car, he moved quickly from the direction of my normal walking path and got into a car parked directly in front of mine.
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<div>He was wearing a scarf that I had accidentally left behind at my ex’s home in 2021 after I moved out. We made 0.5 seconds of eye contact, he turned his neck to reverse away, the scarf slipped from his face under the bright parking lot lights, and I saw him clearly- including distinctive details such as the placement of grey in his beard. 
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<div>That moment shifted everything for me. It was no longer abstract or digital, I could no longer doubt what my gut had been screaming at me.
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<div>As the cyber-stalking and online harassment that indicated unauthorized access continued, I methodically narrowed down vulnerabilities by changing one thing at a time then waiting to see if things persisted. One by one I identified compromised technology and security gaps that had allowed prolonged access to my private life. I learned things about online security and privacy that I had never heard mentioned before, and learned about vulnerabilities in systems that abusers can take advantage of that I would never otherwise assume people spent time doing. During that period, I experienced multiple incidents of financial fraud, suspicious approaches to my new apartment's address that I hadn't shared with anyone socially yet, and repeated intimidation that coincided with my online activity and named the specific people I was speaking to. Concerning patterns of suspicious, specifically timed behavior from my neighbor that I was writing off as coincidences immediately disappeared after I replaced my old compromised phone. I still have issues intermittently where I live, but my new privacy conscious phone and online strategy at very least provided me some much needed room to breathe.
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<div>The impact this abuse had was severe.
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<div>I stopped taking public gigs doing what I love.
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<div>I stopped speaking freely.
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<div>I didn’t feel safe going to the gym or socializing.
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<div>I isolated and paused my businesses to protect others from being harmed as well.
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<div>I stopped using my phone for anything much other than a background noise maker and began doing anything that really mattered in analog (which honestly has been a major win, highly recommend). 
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<div>For years, I have rebuilt and hardened my digital security, documented everything carefully, and begun pursuing legal avenues. While my digital life is now largely secure, I still live in an environment connected to past harassment and still need to replace critical network and safety equipment. Relocation and legal protection are now urgent priorities.
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<div>When I initially reported being followed, I was dismissed and told to “just disappear.” Silence did not create safety. Documentation did.
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<div>This fundraiser supports:
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<div>• Strengthening physical safety
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<div>• Legal and professional support
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<div>• Relocation from an unsafe environment
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<div>• Recovery from financial disruption and lost income
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<div>• Ongoing trauma-informed care
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<div>• Creation of free resources for stalking and abuse survivors
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<div>I carried this alone for far too long. I feel grateful that I navigated a period that could have ended very differently, but I still live where many of these incidents occurred. I am choosing safety, stability, forward movement, and transparency. I go to sleep inspired to keep writing, I wake up with new ideas for blogs, book segments, and tools... I create social media content almost daily about digital security and escaping stalking, and I am actively writing my digital security basics and escaping stalking book to build solid foundations for all ages, and so others never have to navigate this alone again. After it's publishing, I will also be providing free documentation to abuse recovery missions, domestic violence shelters, and plan on speaking about my experiences, how I healed, and teaching people of all ages how to protect themselves online. 
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<div>As of 2/22/2026, I still need support.
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<div>Every donation, share, and act of belief helps rebuild stability and momentum- not only for me, but for others who are learning how to document, protect themselves, and be believed as well.
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<div>Thank you for standing with me.
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LORI-ANN MAKELA

Anonymous

Kim Salmon

Teri Grimm

My Safety Isn’t Optional — Phase 1 Fundraiser

Still $2,982 to go. Help us build momentum.