Internet ‘scared’ over ‘terrifying’ note allegedly left on woman’s car

Online commentators are concerned about a woman who said she received an anonymous letter from someone who “daydreams of [her] a little more than [they] should.”

“Someone left notes on my car at work, [and] it’s the newest and most in-depth to date. No,” the post was called out on Reddit’s “Mildly Infuriating” forum under the username u/Zeddstar2000 where the woman shared a photo of the note and wrote. The post garnered over 52,000 upvotes and over 7,400 comments from Redditors, many of whom believe the woman has a stalker and should contact the police.You can read the full post here.

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), harassment is widespread in the United States; one in six women and one in 19 men have been stalked in their lifetime, and in many cases the stalker was someone the victim knew. On Friday, u/Zeddstar2000 said that was true for his case.

‘Who am I’

In the comments section of her post, u/Zeddstar2000 said Friday’s letter was the fourth message she had received in recent months. The first two were short — they just read “hello” and “good day,” she said — but Friday’s letter was much more in-depth.

“Who am I… Just a few[one] who hopes to brighten your day by reminding you how beautiful you are,” the letter began. “I’m the one who wonders if I’ll ever be so lucky… should.”

The note’s author went on to say that they are “a bit more broken than the rest” and unworthy of u/Zeddstar2000’s era. Although they didn’t leave a name, u/Zeddstar2000 said she was “pretty sure” she knew the author.

“My bosses are aware [of the letter], and I’m pretty sure I know who it is and where that note came from. The [are] nearby cameras that will also tell me who it is,” u/Zeddstar2000 wrote.

Editors react

Redditors called the letter “scary” and many encouraged u/Zeddstar2000 to contact the police.

“[This is] beyond mildly infuriating. [It is] completely scary and you should [buy] a dash cam so you can figure out who that person is [and] maybe [call] the police,” u/stefaniki said.

“This is terrifying. Please take this to the police and ask them to check [the] cameras. This person seems to think they’re romantic, but that’s just creepy and really creepy,” u/mummylu wrote.

u/_overfiend added: “Take this seriously[ly]. Don’t get rid of it. It scared everyone just by reading it. I can’t imagine how you [felt] receive it.”

Expert advice

Kim Kavern, senior director of the crime victim assistance program at Safe Horizon, said Newsweek that people should seek help “immediately” if they think they are being harassed.

“Bullying is a serious issue that can put people at risk,” Kavern said. “If someone is being harassed, we recommend that they seek help immediately […] harassment is often, but not always, committed by someone known to the victim.”

Kavern says victims should document everything — when and where they see their alleged harassers, when and how they receive notes and/or gifts, and when their harassers contact them electronically. She also advises them to contact professionals to help create safety plans.

“For example, you can arrange to text a friend when you leave work and when you get home so that if they haven’t heard from you, they know there’s a problem. You can carpool or have someone ride your car or public transportation with you, so you don’t have to travel alone,” Kavern said. “We don’t necessarily recommend changing your phone number, as this can sometimes cause the stalker to escalate and try to find other ways to contact you. Again, a professional can help you find the changes that are right for you.”

“Won’t Bother Me Anymore”

But u/Zeddstar2000 did not contact local law enforcement or advocacy groups. Instead, she and her boyfriend contacted the alleged stalker’s boss.

“[The note’s author] was the one I suspected, and as far as I know they won’t bother me anymore,” u/Zeddstar2000 said.

Newsweek contacted u/Zeddstar2000 for comment. We were unable to verify the details of this case.

More viral posts

Last month, a man revealed to Newsweek that his daughter asked his ex-wife’s stalker to walk her down the aisle at her wedding.

In June, Redditors slammed a man who compiled a list of information about various women on his college campus and then shared it with his frat brothers.

And in May, a woman claimed she caught a “creepy” man staring at her through her bedroom window.