What can you do if someone is stalking you online from another country
This case study focuses on a common yet terrifying scenario: being catfished and then stalked by someone you’ve never actually met. For our client, a UK-based brand consultant, what began as an online connection turned into a prolonged campaign of digital harassment from a man living on another continent.
Catfished on Twitter: how the abuse started
From romance to revenge: when the catfish turns hostile
Police don’t understand online catfish harassment – here’s what to do
What legal action can you take against a catfish who’s harassing you
What is “domestication” of a court order
Online catfishing harassment: the deeper impact
Why people catfish and harass online
The lawyers’ thoughts about the case
Catfished on Twitter: how the abuse started
Jade, a freelance marketing consultant based in Bath, first engaged with “Nick”, an account that had followed her on Twitter since 2015. He seemed popular in her digital circles and had interacted with several people she knew online. When Nick introduced himself in early 2017, she didn’t think twice about replying.
Over time, their exchange grew frequent and affectionate. They chatted daily, sent voice notes, and soon moved their conversations onto private messaging apps. As things became more romantic, they exchanged intimate messages and photos. By late 2018, Jade had made plans to visit the US for work and suggested meeting Nick in person. He agreed and claimed to live in Portland.
When she arrived in the US in November 2018, he failed to show. His excuses were vague and inconsistent. Jade began to question whether Nick was even real. Back home in the UK, things took a darker turn.
From romance to revenge: when the catfish turns hostile
After returning to Bath, Jade tried to end the online relationship, but Nick became aggressive. When she blocked his number, he began messaging from other UK-based phone numbers, as well as from fake social media profiles. He threatened to expose personal information and the photos she had shared.
He knew where she worked, and he began emailing her employers with false accusations. In some cases, he contacted her ex-partners and attempted to spread rumours. Jade started receiving anonymous messages from new accounts nearly every day, some impersonating her and others designed to humiliate her online. This wasn’t just emotional manipulation- it was targeted, calculated abuse.
Police don’t understand online catfish harassment – here’s what to do
Jade contacted the police in the UK. While officers expressed sympathy, they made it clear there was little they could do because the individual she was reporting lived abroad. Jade was advised to reach out to Interpol, but when she did, she was informed that only UK police could initiate a complaint through them. The advice felt like a loop of redirection, with no real ownership of her case from any agency.
This response is unfortunately all too common. Many police forces, while well-meaning, lack specific training or procedures for dealing with digital abuse that crosses international borders. this prevents many people from reporting online harassment to the police. There’s a general misunderstanding of the severity and persistence of online stalking, especially when the harasser uses digital tools to remain anonymous. Officers often treat these cases as low priority, or worse, as a matter of personal dispute rather than a serious threat.
Jade felt brushed aside. She was effectively told to endure the abuse because her stalker was outside the UK's legal reach- which is simply not true. We’ve seen many similar instances where victims are told that “nothing can be done” until something drastic happens.
This gap in policy and understanding places victims at prolonged risk. At this point, Jade turned to our firm for help. We explained that even though her abuser was overseas, the UK courts can still hear cases of harassment if the harm is being suffered here in the UK. This is because, under UK law, harassment is actionable based on the location of the victim, not just the perpetrator.
What legal action can you take against a catfish who’s harassing you
We advised Jade on both criminal and civil routes. Unfortunately, criminal prosecution would depend on the cooperation of UK and USA police, which was not forthcoming at the time. The more practical route was through civil action.
We prepared a detailed cease-and-desist letter for Jade, setting out the full scope of the harassment and the steps we would take if it continued. The letter demanded immediate cessation of contact and outlined the legal consequences including a possible civil injunction and proceedings for harassment. Importantly, we explained that if the harassment continued, we could pursue a civil claim in the High Court in London and then apply for permission to serve legal documents abroad. If the court granted a default judgment or injunction, we could have it “domesticated” in the USA, turning the UK court’s order into an enforceable American one.
This can carry serious consequences for the harasser, including fines or imprisonment for contempt of court. Beyond the legal strategy, there’s a psychological dimension we’ve witnessed time and time again in these cases. Often, the perpetrators, emboldened by distance, feel invincible. They operate under the belief that their behaviour has no consequence because it crosses borders. They view themselves as untouchable.
When the reality sets in- that the victim has not only identified them but is prepared to pursue legal action in their own country- many of these individuals suddenly stop. There’s often a loss of confidence on their part. The very idea that a woman from thousands of miles away would hold them accountable in their own courts is something they rarely anticipate. When that moment of reckoning arrives, the impact can be immediate and sobering.
What is “domestication” of a court order
Domestication is a legal process where a court order issued in one country is recognised and enforceable in another. In Jade’s case, a UK injunction could be submitted to a US court in the state where Nick lived. Once domesticated, it would be treated as if it had been issued locally, with all the associated penalties for breach.
Most US states recognise foreign court orders and enforce penalties for breaches, including prison for “wilful disobedience” of a legally served injunction.
Online catfishing harassment: the deeper impact
Jade experienced significant emotional distress that permeated every area of her life. Her anxiety became chronic, with frequent panic attacks and a sense of being constantly watched online. She struggled to concentrate at work, especially after learning that her harasser had directly contacted both current and former employers with fabricated accusations. These communications threatened her professional credibility and left her fearing reputational damage. She also felt socially isolated.
Online dating, which had previously been a way to connect and unwind, became a source of fear. The idea of engaging with anyone online made her feel exposed. Her dependence on social media for networking and career advancement now felt like a liability. She became hypervigilant about her digital footprint, second-guessing every post and every online interaction. Eventually, the only way she felt she could regain control was to shut down her public-facing accounts entirely.
She also changed jobs to create distance between herself and the online harassment, hoping to re-establish her sense of safety in a new environment. What made this ordeal even harder to process was discovering that Nick had targeted at least two other women in eerily similar ways.
One of them had already filed a legal claim in the US and obtained a default judgment when Nick failed to respond. Like Jade, that woman had initially just wanted to believe in the connection but she too became a victim of digital abuse and deception.
Why people catfish and harass online
People who catfish often do so for reasons rooted in power, control, or fantasy. In our experience supporting dozens of victims of catfishing-related harassment, we’ve seen that while every case is unique, there are troubling patterns that emerge again and again.
Many perpetrators are driven by a desire to construct a false identity, either as a form of escapism or to lure someone into a dynamic they can control. When their victim pushes back, breaks contact, or questions their authenticity, the illusion crumbles and for many catfishers, this leads to retaliation. That retaliation can escalate quickly, especially online.
It might begin with emotional manipulation, then shift to harassment, blackmail, or even identity-based abuse. In some cases, the harasser attempts to shame or humiliate their target by leaking private conversations or images. Others go further by impersonating the victim or contacting their family and employers.
It’s a deeply disturbing behaviour and when it goes digital, it becomes all the harder to escape. Unlike in-person harassment, the abuser can remain invisible, switch identities, and continue the abuse with little fear of being caught. For victims, this creates an overwhelming sense of vulnerability.
The law is slowly catching up, but victims still face major barriers- especially when their abuser is in another country. That’s why it’s vital that legal strategies be adapted to meet the complex, borderless nature of catfish harassment. It’s also why we’re committed to helping victims not only enforce their rights, but also reclaim their confidence and peace of mind.
The lawyers’ thoughts about the case
This was a challenging but common case of catfishing evolving into full-blown harassment. Many people in Jade's position feel ashamed, when in truth they’ve been manipulated by someone skilled in deception. The real danger lies not in the embarrassment but in the silence. These situations need to be spoken about and acted on before they spiral further.