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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Get police help to end cyber-stalking from U.S.
DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: I'm at my wits end. I'm being stalked by an ex-online friend. I live in Canada, and she lives in the United States. We were online friends for over eight years, I came to trust her with everything. Boy was I wrong! She went after my husband, tried to win him over by sending him gifts and sending gifts to our grandchildren (we never asked for these gifts). She all of a sudden went stalker on me! Almost to the point of that movie Basic Instinct I'm just thankful she doesn't live in Canada! She made a Facebook page and is spreading all sorts of rumours about me, my children, my grandchildren and my deceased parents. Before you say "Go to a lawyer," I have done that. I was told us there's nothing we can do. They also said that no other lawyer in Canada would take the case. I've reported the Facebook page but it's still up. Numerous people in my family have also reported it and still the page is active. I suffer from depression since the loss of my parents and she is making things worse. How much more of this can I take before I lose it completely? -- Stressed Out, Winnipeg
Dear Stressed: This lawyer didn't serve you well, but you can go straight to police with this. An excellent cyberstalking online pamphlet tells you exactly what you can do legally in Manitoba at http://www.gov.mb.ca/justice/domestic/pdf/stalkingweb.pdf. Because your problem originates outside the City of Winnipeg, also check out the RCMP website Criminal Harassment: Stalking. It's NOT Love at http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cp-pc/crimhar-eng.htm. There are several cyber-stalking support groups online as well. In the meantime, change every point of contact right down to your telephone number, even if it's inconvenient to do so. You may wish to contact police where this person lives as well. Take back your power, and you will start to feel less threatened and victimized. If any readers have experienced cyber-stalking, particularly from somewhere outside Canada, and have suggestions, please write in.
Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: I met a cute woman in the doctor's office I started seeing as a sex buddy. We had to wait a long, long time so we started talking to each other. I didn't think it would be polite to ask her why she was there and she didn't volunteer that she had an STI (sexually-transmitted infection). I found out the hard way. You can be too polite in this world. I was only seeing the doctor for my sore throat. -- Sorry Now, Downtown
Dear Sorry: So you're writing to warn people not to pick up someone in a doctor's office? Got it.
Questions or comments? Write Miss Lonelyhearts c/o Winnipeg Free Press, 1355 Mountain Ave., Wpg, R2X 3B6 or email lovecoach@hotmail.com
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition December 7, 2012 D6
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