Maybe it is the apparent anonymity of text messages, emails and chatrooms that has fuelled the sharp increase in cyber-bullying in recent years? I mean in a face to face situation the person usually has to have some power over you, being bigger than you, being higher up in an organisation, or being in company when you are not. All those are situations where a bully will start to emerge and stalk their prey, but behind the electronic shield of modern communications then it could be a 11 year old child who is bullying an adult!

Yes that's right, it is not just children who are victims of cyber-bullying, adults are just as susceptible if not more (due to adults having accumulated more problems they want to take out on people). A recent survey by i-SAFE inc shows 42% of kids have been bullied online and 58% of kids have been subjected to hurtful communications online, so the figure for adults may be even higher…

So what can you do? Nobody should be subjected to any sort of harassment in my opinion and should not even have to try and avoid it, but if you do need to then there are methods you can use.

The first technique is to change your details, change your email address, change your chatroom name, change your mobile number or house phone number, this should prevent that person from contacting you. Of course they can identify you again, from your messages, or try and find out your new home number etc, even worse, they could spread malicious information about you all over the internet in frustration.

The second technique is to try and get some official sources involved. Contact the chat room owners, if the perpetrator contacts you via email go to their email provider or internet service provider, even better, go to the police! Of course none of these may be able to, or be willing to help, so in steps technique number three…

The third technique is to fight them on their own ground, did you know you can hire a Private Investigator to trace email addresses, phone numbers, even identify withheld or blocked numbers that keep calling you? With that information in hand you can then set about getting the police involved or just take away their anonymity, if you let them know that you are aware they live just three doors up from you then they will probably stop for good!

Before you hire a private investigator be sure to do your homework. Do a Google search on the private investigators name to see if they are recognized as an expert of authority in skip tracing and people search investigations. Also do a search on the web site name and company name to see if their are any Internet postings from former clients who are either satisfied or not.

Last check out the pricing and turn around times for the results. Are they competitive? Beware of companies that are too cheap and offer "instant" searches. This information will almost always be inaccurate and out dated. Be leery if you see a site offering "unlimited" searches for one low price. If it looks too good to be true it usually is.

You either fight or flee, either way can work, but do not let the bullying continue by stubbornly refusing to let it affect your life and change your details or seek help, the psychological strain is just not worth it.