2 Tulsa Men Charged With Cyberstalking

Cyberstalking has become a real issue in our society and federal prosecutors are taking notice and filing charges. Three cases have recently been filed involving Tulsans, two involving ex-dating partners and one involving Tulsa’s Mayor.

“They know the places that your frequent they might know your accounts or they might be able to guess passwords that you would use even if you set up new passwords on them. So, they have a lot of knowledge about you that they can use against you,” said Caitlin Hollopeter.

Hollopeter is a survivor’s counselor and said cyberstalking can happen to anyone.

Tulsa’s U.S. Attorney Trent Shores said two Tulsa men charged with cyberstalking both used fake social media accounts to persistently contact victims and their families. “People think that because the internet provides some anonymity that that provides them with safety and they can do whatever they want to stalk victims and harass them and that just isn’t the case,” said Shores.

He said one of the victims even moved to another state for her safety, but the cyberstalking continued. He said reports of cyberstalking are continuing to rise.

“The reach of the internet is infinite and tragically that has allowed some cyberstalkers to be able to reach out and harass and intimidate and scare and terrify their victims,” said Shores.

Domestic Violence Intervention Services said cyberstalking has a lasting impact on the victims.

“Never knowing when your abusive partner or your stalker might show up unannounced. So that leads to ongoing fear and anxiety and that drains our physical energy,” said Hollopeter.

To contact DVIS 24-hour Crisis and Information Line call: 918-743-5763 or 918-7HELP-ME

Texting line: 833-338-5763 available daily from 8 p.m. - 1 a.m.