PanicStation.org
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uk Personal safety & immediate danger doxxed • doxxing • my address posted online • home address leaked • workplace location posted • my workplace posted online • hostile comments online • targeted online harassment • threats after being doxxed • online pile-on • someone shared my location • personal details shared publicly • public shaming post • harassment spreading online • worried someone will show up • address shared on social media • location exposed online • safety after doxxing • employer being contacted

What to do if…
you discover your address or workplace has been posted publicly online alongside hostile comments

Short answer

Treat this as a personal safety issue first: get to a safer place, tell someone you trust (and your workplace if it involves your job), and contact police if you feel at risk or any threats are implied.

Do not do these things

  • Don’t reply publicly or argue with the poster(s) (it can escalate and spread the post further).
  • Don’t “correct” the post by sharing more details (even to defend yourself).
  • Don’t rush into deleting your own accounts/posts in a panic if they’re needed to show what happened.
  • Don’t try to meet, confront, or “investigate” who posted it.
  • Don’t treat it as “just online” if your home or workplace location is involved.

What to do now

  1. Do a quick danger check.
    If you believe someone may come to your home/workplace imminently, you’re being followed, you see suspicious activity nearby, or the post includes threats/calls to harass you, call 999. If it’s not an emergency but you’re scared or targeted, contact police via 101 or your local force’s online reporting.

  2. Tell a real-world person and activate basic safety support (today).

    • Workplace posted: tell your manager/HR/security/reception. Ask them to not confirm your employment or schedule to unknown callers/visitors, and to follow visitor procedures strictly for now. If possible, ask about a temporary change like working from home or adjusting entry/exit points.
    • Home address posted: tell someone you live with (or a nearby trusted person). Consider having someone with you when you arrive/leave, and be cautious with unexpected visitors.

  3. Capture the essentials (2–5 minutes, then stop).
    Screenshot the content and note: the URL, platform/site name, account names, and date/time you saw it. Capture enough context to show your address/workplace and the hostile framing.

  4. Report it where it’s posted (fast containment).
    Use the platform/site’s reporting tools for harassment/threats and sharing personal information (doxxing). If it’s a standalone site/forum, use its contact/abuse route to request removal of your address/workplace details.

  5. If the site won’t act, escalate to the service running it.
    If there’s no response (or the content stays up), look for the site’s “report abuse” information for its hosting provider or domain registrar and submit a removal request focused on the publication of your home/work address and any threatening content.

  6. If the behaviour is repeated or makes you feel scared/threatened, report it as harassment/stalking.
    Even if you’re unsure what it “counts as,” you can report what’s happening (including repeated posts, pile-ons, or people contacting your workplace). If you want to give information without identifying yourself, there are also anonymous reporting routes (eg via Crimestoppers).

  7. Reduce discoverability (only as a quick first pass).

    • You can ask search engines to remove certain results that expose personal data in some cases (this may reduce visibility but may not remove the underlying page).
    • You can ask organisations that hold your personal data to delete it in some circumstances (the “right to erasure” is not automatic and depends on the situation).

What can wait

  • Deciding whether to pursue longer legal routes or making a detailed statement.
  • Trying to remove every trace from the internet in one sitting (do it in stages).
  • Changing phone numbers, moving, or making major life changes unless police/workplace security advise a specific risk.
  • Deep “cleanup” work across multiple data-broker/people-finder listings (do later, when supported and calmer).

Important reassurance

It’s normal to feel shocked and unsafe when your location is exposed like this. Focusing first on real-world safety and quick containment is a practical response that helps prevent escalation.

Scope note

This is first steps for the first hours/day. If the targeting continues, the next layer is coordinated support (police, workplace security/HR, and specialist victim support).

Important note

This is general information, not legal advice. If you are in immediate danger, call 999. If you feel threatened or targeted, contact police via 101/online reporting and prioritise practical safety at home/work.

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