us Personal safety & immediate danger threatened to show up • someone knows my location • they can find me • doxxed or tracked • stalker threatens to come • harassment with location details • threat to come to my home • threat to come to my workplace • threat to come to my school • someone says they are nearby • fear of being followed • threats by text message • threats on social media • location leaked online • unwanted contact escalating • tracked by phone location • airtag or tracker fear • personal safety right now • what to do immediately • stop sharing my location

What to do if…
someone threatens to show up where you are and gives details that suggest they can find you

Short answer

Move to a safer, more public/controlled place and call 911 if you feel at risk now (or they could arrive soon). If it’s not immediate, contact your local police department’s non-emergency number and preserve evidence.

Do not do these things

Do not go outside or “check” alone to see if they’re nearby.
Do not agree to meet them to “resolve it” or to stop the messages.
Do not argue back, bargain, or send threats—keep contact minimal.
Do not post your location, landmarks, or real-time updates (and don’t ask for help publicly where they can see it).
Do not delete texts, DMs, emails, photos, or voicemails—save them.
Do not open the door to an unexpected knock from someone you don’t fully trust.

What to do now

Create a safer pause (right now).
Move to a staffed, busy, or access-controlled place (store, lobby, front desk, security). If you’re at home, lock doors/windows, stay away from windows, and keep your phone on you.
Choose the right call.
- Call 911 if you believe they may arrive soon, you feel unsafe, violence is threatened, or you can see them nearby.
- If it’s not immediate, call your local police department’s non-emergency number for the city/county where you are (a front desk, manager, or building security can help you place the call if you’re panicking or don’t know the number).
Give dispatch/police the details they’ll ask for.
Be ready to share: your exact location/address, the phone number you’re calling from, what was threatened, and the details that suggest they can find you (address, workplace, routine, vehicle, landmarks). Offer identifiers (name, number, usernames, screenshots).
Tell the people who can control access.
If you’re in a building, tell security/reception/manager (or campus security/campus police if you’re on a campus). Ask them not to let anyone in for you and to call 911 if the person appears.
Preserve evidence and start a simple log.
Save screenshots showing the sender + timestamps. Keep voicemails. Save emails/DMs. Write a quick note: date/time, exact wording, what they appeared to know, and whether it’s escalating.
Shut down easy ways they might be tracking you (quick wins only).
Turn off any live location sharing you’ve enabled (for example: phone “Find My”/device sharing, Google location sharing, app-based live location). Stop live posting. If you suspect an account compromise, change your main password and enable two-factor authentication from a safer device if possible.
Bring in support so you’re not handling this alone.
Call or message one trusted person and say: “I got a credible threat; I’m at [place]; I’m contacting police.” Stay on the phone if that helps.
If the threat seems tied to a federal crime, you can also report it to federal authorities.
Examples can include threats connected to foreign-government intimidation or certain organized criminal activity. If you’re in immediate danger, call 911 first and prioritise local response.

What can wait

Deciding whether to block them (often better after you’ve saved evidence and made a report).
Writing a perfect timeline—do a quick log now; you can expand it later.
Longer legal steps (restraining/protective orders), which vary by state and usually come after you’re safe.
Big decisions like moving, changing jobs, or changing your phone number.

Important reassurance

It’s normal to feel shaken, jumpy, or frozen after a credible threat. Treating this as urgent is reasonable—you don’t have to wait until something happens to ask for help.

Scope note

This is first steps only to reduce immediate risk and prevent irreversible mistakes. If there’s a pattern (repeat contact, monitoring, showing up), you may need ongoing support and a longer safety plan.

Important note

This is general information, not legal advice. If you need emergency assistance, dial 911 immediately. If you’re not in immediate danger, your local police non-emergency line or a victim-support hotline can help you think through next safest steps.

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What to do if…someone threatens to show up where you are and gives details that suggest they can find you