Technology Can Make Escape Difficult for Abuse Victims

For some victims of domestic violence, technology can make their escape virtually impossible, according to law enforcement and domestic abuse experts.

Throughout October, Domestic Violence Awareness month, the Healthy State Collaborative will focus on issues of domestic abuse, including a growing problem: cyberstalking.

WUSF’s Dalia Colon, a reporter for the Healthy State Collaborative, talked to experts about the ways abusers can use technology to track their victims.

A few of the tactics she learned about:

ELECTRONIC BANKING
How it works: If you share a bank account with your abuser, then he (or she) can easily monitor your spending through the ATM, phone and online. For instance, he can see if you make a deposit on a new apartment.
Solution: “People forget that the person they’re trying to escape from knows a lot about them,” said Special Agent Anthony Maez, a stalking expert with the New Mexico attorney general’s office. Open a separate account with a password and PIN your abuser won’t guess. Use it to build up your escape fund.

SOCIAL NETWORKING
How it works: "Eddie" and "Bella’s" older daughter, "Eve," is an aspiring singer and rapper. A few years ago, Eddie created a Facebook page to promote the girl’s music. But he began using the site as a way to get under Bella’s skin. Eddie would log on and impersonate Eve, posting negative comments about Bella.
Solution: Print out screenshots as evidence.

CELL PHONE SPOOFING
How it works: The abuser uses software to disguise himself as, say, your mother. When your phone rings, it looks like your mom’s number calling. Harmless enough, right? But when you pick up the phone, it’s your abuser on the other end. A related tactic is e-mail spoofing; the abuser disguises his identify in the “sender” field.

Solution: Contact law enforcement. A 2010 law makes caller I.D. spoofing illegal nationwide.

Click here to read more about "Eddie" and "Bella" and learn more ways that cyberstalkers target their victims.

VIDEO: Can abusers change?

A self-described former abuser and a batterers' intervention counselor weigh in. To watch, click here.