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Know the Signs

Knowledge is protection. Understanding the warning signs of dangerous behavior can help you recognize threats early and take action to protect yourself and others.

If you are in immediate danger, call 911. The information below is for awareness and prevention. Trust your instincts and seek help if you feel unsafe.

Warning Signs of Predatory Behavior

Recognizing behaviors that may indicate someone poses a danger to others.

1. Boundary Testing

Repeatedly pushing small boundaries to see what they can get away with. This may start with minor violations (standing too close, touching without permission) and escalate over time.

2. Isolation Tactics

Attempting to separate potential victims from friends, family, or support systems. May criticize your relationships or create situations where you're alone with them.

3. Excessive Charm or Flattery

Using charm strategically to gain trust and access. While genuine kindness exists, predators often use flattery as a tool, particularly when it seems disproportionate or focused on vulnerable individuals.

4. Ignoring 'No'

Treating rejection as a challenge rather than a clear answer. Continuing to pursue contact, favors, or relationships after being told no.

5. Targeting Vulnerability

Showing unusual interest in people who are isolated, new to an area, going through difficult times, or otherwise vulnerable.

6. Creating Debt or Obligation

Giving unsolicited gifts or favors, then expecting something in return. Using generosity as leverage for compliance.

7. Information Gathering

Asking detailed questions about routines, living situations, relationships, and vulnerabilities. More interest in your circumstances than in you as a person.

8. Too Good to Be True

Presenting as the perfect friend, partner, or helper. Real relationships develop gradually; instant intensity often signals manipulation.

Domestic Violence Warning Signs

Recognizing patterns that may indicate abuse in intimate relationships.

1. Controlling Behavior

Monitoring your activities, communications, and whereabouts. Making decisions for you about friends, work, or daily activities. Controlling finances or transportation.

2. Jealousy and Possessiveness

Extreme jealousy presented as love. Accusing you of cheating without cause. Demanding to know where you are at all times.

3. Verbal Abuse

Name-calling, humiliation, constant criticism. Telling you that you're worthless, stupid, or that no one else would want you.

4. Threats

Threatening to hurt you, themselves, your children, pets, or others. Threatening to take children away, report you to authorities, or reveal secrets.

5. Physical Intimidation

Blocking exits, standing over you, punching walls, breaking objects, driving recklessly. Violence doesn't have to touch you directly to be terrifying and harmful.

6. Escalation Pattern

Abuse typically escalates over time. What starts as criticism becomes threats. What starts as grabbing becomes hitting. The cycle tends to intensify.

7. Minimizing and Blaming

Denying abuse occurred, minimizing its severity, or blaming you for 'making' them act that way. 'Look what you made me do.'

8. Honeymoon Phases

Periods of remorse, promises to change, and loving behavior following abusive incidents. These cycles keep victims hoping things will improve.

Resources:

Stalking Behavior Indicators

Recognizing patterns of harassment and surveillance that constitute stalking.

1. Unwanted Contact

Repeated calls, texts, emails, or messages after being asked to stop. Showing up uninvited at home, work, or other locations.

2. Surveillance

Watching, following, or tracking your movements. Knowing things about your activities they shouldn't know. Using technology to monitor you.

3. Third-Party Contact

Using friends, family, or coworkers to monitor you or deliver messages. Befriending people in your life to gain information.

4. Unwanted Gifts

Leaving gifts, notes, or other items at your home, car, or workplace, especially after being told to stop contact.

5. Threats or Intimidation

Direct or implied threats to you or people you care about. Vandalism or property damage intended to frighten.

6. Online Harassment

Creating fake profiles to contact you, monitoring your social media, spreading rumors online, or impersonating you.

7. Escalation After Rejection

Increased contact or intensity after you've ended a relationship or rejected advances. Stalking often follows breakups.

Resources:

Child Predator Warning Signs

Behaviors that may indicate someone poses a risk to children.

1. Grooming Behavior

Building special relationships with children through gifts, attention, and privileges. Creating situations to be alone with children.

2. Boundary Violations

Inappropriate touching presented as playful or accidental. Disregarding children's physical boundaries or privacy.

3. Age-Inappropriate Relationships

Adults who prefer spending time with children over peers. Treating children as confidants or equals in adult matters.

4. Secrecy

Encouraging children to keep secrets from parents. Creating private communication channels. Special activities 'just between us.'

5. Exposure to Sexual Content

Showing children pornography, discussing sexual topics inappropriately, or normalizing sexual behavior.

6. Testing Reactions

Making sexual jokes or comments around children to gauge reactions from both children and adults.

7. Targeting Vulnerable Children

Showing special interest in children from troubled homes, those lacking parental supervision, or those hungry for attention.

Resources:

What To Do If You See Warning Signs

1

Trust Your Instincts

If something feels wrong, it probably is. Your subconscious often recognizes danger before your conscious mind does. Don't talk yourself out of legitimate concerns.

2

Document Everything

Keep records of concerning incidents including dates, times, what happened, and any witnesses. Save messages, photos, and other evidence. Documentation helps if you need to involve authorities.

3

Tell Someone

Share your concerns with trusted friends, family, or professionals. Predators rely on secrecy. Having others aware of the situation provides support and witnesses.

4

Create Safety Plans

Know your exits. Have emergency contacts ready. Identify safe places to go. Plan responses to likely scenarios. Preparation reduces panic in crisis moments.

5

Seek Professional Help

Contact victim advocates, counselors, or law enforcement as appropriate. You don't have to handle dangerous situations alone. Professionals can provide guidance and resources.

Emergency Resources

Crisis Lines

  • Emergency: 911
  • National DV Hotline: 1-800-799-7233
  • Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
  • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: 988