Truth In Caller ID Act of 2007, false hope and empty promises impacting millions of stalking victims

National Stalking Awareness month will be coming to a close; however, for victims of stalking the terror does not end on January 31, 2009.

One stalking victim I that I spoke with today I think said it best, “Victims of stalking don’t have the luxury of a vacation from the harassment or terror that they live with everyday, the victims have to learn how to live with it”.

Unfortunately the legislature has failed all of us again this year by not passing tougher federal anti-stalking legislation and mandates have not yet been implemented regulating the datafurnishing companies that sell consumer private records like phone records, license plates, banking and employment information to 3rd parties. So for advocates like me our battles continue on.

I was hopeful when I learned of the Truth In Caller Id Act back in 2007, but somehow another good piece of legislation has fallen between the political cracks that may never be implemented. This is another travesty that has dire consequences for millions of people including stalking and abuse victims.

Today, a simple thing like picking up the telephone relying on caller-id has now become a method to harass and even torture millions and there is no end in sight.

Yesterday in the wee hours of the morning, a stalking victim desperately contacted the local police in her Los Angeles suburban neighborhood describing that she received what appeared to be a call from the guard gate and a garbled voice message was left on her machine. She knew it was him. Her stalker was calling her again utilizing CALLER ID SPOOF. The stalker purchasing technology known as a "spoof card" had programmed the caller id display to appear as the security gate of her housing complex when instead it was her stalker again terrorizing her at 2 O’clock in the morning.

“Alexis, I swear I think this time the police are finally understanding what Caller ID Spoof is. When the guards explained to the sheriff’s deputy that they did not make the call and that what appeared on the caller id of my home phone was definitely a Caller ID Spoof I finally felt like the past 5 years of hell may someday come to an end.”

This glimmer of hope experienced by one stalking victim needs to become a regular experience for all stalking victims. Sadly, for millions of stalking victims the small victory described above is far from reality.

When victims report cyberstalking incidents like those described above, the majority of victims face what advocates describe as “the dark stare” or they encounter worse.. laughs and being called names like “crazy and psycho”.

The victim described today to me what many victims of stalking report every day, small victories which appear to outsiders to be pathetic whims; however, for victims of cyberstalking these whims are a victory and the glimmer of hope that a stalking victim lives for- the hope that one person or agency will take their calls for service and help seriously and not try to push them away or make the victim out to be the villain.

Living through all of the hell that millions of victims describe each day, makes it easier for me to understand what victims are going through; however, what I don’t understand is why the world’s greatest civilized country is so far behind in combating high-tech crimes like cyberstalking and identity theft?

No matter how folks try to sugar coat it, high-tech crimes like cyberstalking need to be taken seriously by law enforcement, our nation’s law makers, judges, prosecutors and by the public because as 21st century technology continues to evolve so will high-tech crimes.

Our nation can do better than what we are doing today, and I hope to inspire all of you reading my blog today to be a part of positive change, because without public support nothing will improve and the "status quo" will remain acceptable.

If you are a victim of domestic violence, stalking, cyberstalking or identity theft you are not alone.

One Person Can Make a Difference!