How to Spot When Someone Is Following You for No Good Reason

In this blog post:

• “Spotting the Hunters” – Protecting your loved ones
• 1. TEDD method - Time, - Environment, - Distance, - Demeanour
• 2. What Is Stalking
• 3. Types of Stalkers
• 4. How to Detect a Stalker
• 5. How to Protect Yourself with Preventive Measures
• 6. What to Do If You Suspect Stalking
• 7. Strategic Thinking Using the OODA Loop
• 8. Stalker’s Common Fears and Misconceptions
• Conclusion

“Spotting the Hunters” – Protecting your loved ones

Military, law enforcement, and special operations personnel bring valuable expertise in detecting and evading stalkers. Their professional insights and practical tools help civilians develop crucial situational awareness. By learning their methods, you can spot suspicious behaviour.

Spotting when someone is stalking you, following you for no good reason. From the perspective of a protector. How do you spot if someone is following us? We use the TEDD method, and we look for patterns and correlations.

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1. TEDD method - Time, - Environment, - Distance, - Demeanour

Suppose you are on the lookout for bad people. We notice people over time, distance, environments and demeanour. Being on the lookout for suspicious behaviour as a responsible, law-abiding citizen, security guard, close protection operative, police or military.

TEDD will help you spot suspicious behaviour. Because someone is telling you: “Watch for anything suspicious.” This is too vague and doesn't give anything to grasp on. To an inexperienced person, everything is suspicious. You end up being too paranoid to function. We are on the lookout for specifics.

Time and environment. Talking about seeing a person/ vehicle. Over certain times and environments. These things might be coincidences or regular if we talk about your partner. Both wake up at some standard time and go to work. So, seeing your neighbour going to work every day simultaneously, you bump into him and say hi. That's not so suspicious. But seeing a person over time and in different environments repeatedly. That case should draw your attention. Seeing a person once is normal; twice is suspicious or a coincidence, and three times is a confirmation of something suspicious.

Environment only: does the person look like they belong there? What kind of cover do they have? If they are doing something, which is a great cover. Do they know their job? How are the coworkers to him? Does he look like a new guy? Is the person behind you? No one is there. Look on the opposite side of the street. If a covert agent is skilled, he won't be behind you. But on a street adjacent to you, a bit to the side.

Distance parameters are here. We see suspicious things. What's the distance and demeanour of the person? Are they moving when you are moving? Are they correlating to your movement? What is their demeanour? Are they going all cloak and dagger? Are they trying to blend badly into their surroundings? When you move, do they write something down, glance at their watch, or write on their phone? The last one is that once they wrote something, what happened? Did someone on the opposite side of him in a weird circle? Look at their phone. This is messaging correlation, which is a common mistake among bad operators.

Demeanour, how are they positioned? Are they in a paranoid location? The paranoid location is the best vantage position, preferably with your back to the wall. This is the place where usually people are where they are observing something. TEDD will help you spot the bad guys next to you. Just keep your eyes open.

TEDD is helpful for multiple different scenarios when someone wants our possessions. Now, let’s dive into how it can help us combat stalkers.

2. What Is Stalking

Stalking is defined as a repeated unwanted attention or harassment that causes fear or distress. We are not talking about someone who wants to steal your wallet and follow you—those people come and go. 

We are talking about stalking, which is not merely an annoyance—it's a crime, legally defined as behaviour that would make any reasonable person feel unsafe. This includes following someone, sending persistent messages, or showing up in places where a person should feel secure.

3. Types of Stalkers

Knowing the different types of stalking can help you better manage and reduce potential threats. Understanding a stalker's motivations can also help you anticipate their actions, gauge the danger level, and respond if you are being followed.

Understanding stalking and its forms helps you create an effective personal defence plan. Here are the main categories:

• Rejected Stalker: An ex-partner unable to accept a breakup.
• Resentful Stalker: Someone seeking revenge for perceived wrongs.
• Intimacy-Seeking Stalker: They fixate on creating a personal relationship, even if unwanted.
• Incompetent Suitor: Lacks social awareness but pursues its target relentlessly.
• Predatory Stalker: The most dangerous type, methodically planning harm or assault.

Each type of stalker presents distinct challenges, ranging from inconvenient to dangerous. While rejected stalkers often use emotional manipulation, predatory stalkers pose direct physical threats.

4. How to Detect a Stalker

Spotting a stalker isn't just about how stalkers look—it's about recognizing signs someone is following you. Stalking behaviors often begin subtly and intensify over time, so early detection is critical. Here are warning signs that someone may be following you and should raise your suspicion:

Behavioral Red Flags

• Repeated Encounters: Seeing the same person in different environments without reason.
• Unwanted Contact: Persistent calls, texts, or social media messages.
• Uninvited Presence: Showing up at your home, workplace, or favorite hangouts.
• Knowledge of Your Routine: They seem too familiar with your schedule or habits.
• You told them to go away: But they are still here.

Using the TEDD Method

• Time: Do they appear at consistent times in your routine? Patterns matter.
• Environment: Are they out of place in their behaviour or appearance for the setting?
• Distance: Are they maintaining an unusual proximity to you or following at the same pace?
• Demeanour: Do they appear overly focused on you, sending texts or signalling others nearby?

Think of these as puzzle pieces. One alone might mean nothing, but together, they reveal intent.

5. How to Protect Yourself with Preventive Measures

Stalkers look for vulnerable targets that are easy to watch, manipulate, or approach. Taking preventive steps makes you a more challenging target by limiting your visibility and keeping your routines unpredictable. Strong digital security, physical safety measures, and environmental awareness create barriers that make it harder for stalkers to track, approach, or harm you. Here are key steps to prevent stalking:

• Stop communicating with them
  Stop all verbal and nonverbal communication with potential stalkers. Don't feel sorry for them and give them any attention. Ignore them, but don't ignore the situation.
  
  
• Strengthen Digital Privacy
  Set strict privacy settings on your social media and online accounts.
  Avoid sharing real-time locations or personal information.
  
  
• Leverage Safety Tools
  Carry a personal alarm or safety app for immediate alerts.
  Carry self-defence equipment that is legal in your part of the world and that you are well trained in.
  Consider utilizing tracking, surveillance and security systems.
  
  
• Practice Situational Awareness
  Stay off your phone in public. Distraction reduces your ability to detect threats.
  Regularly scan your environment for unusual behaviors or patterns.

Staying alert doesn’t mean living in fear—it means reclaiming control.

6. What to Do If You Suspect Stalking

If you think you’re being stalked, don’t ignore it. Here’s how to act decisively:

• Involve Authorities
  Contact law enforcement if you notice a pattern of stalking behavior.
  
  
• Alert Trusted Contacts
  Share your concerns with family, friends, or colleagues.
  Allies can help verify the pattern of behavior and provide additional security.
  
  
• Stop communicating with them
  Stop all verbal and nonverbal communication with potential stalkers. Don't feel sorry for them and give them any attention. Ignore them, but don't ignore the situation. We are repeating this one as it’s essential.
  
  
• Document Everything
  Keep a log of incidents: dates, times, locations, and descriptions of behaviors.
  Include screenshots of messages, photos of vehicles, or other evidence.
  
  
• Vary Your Routines
  Avoid predictability. Change your routes, schedules, and habits to make tracking harder.

7. Strategic Thinking Using the OODA Loop

Clear, logical thinking is essential for your safety. The TEDD Method is an excellent tool for spotting potential threats, but it’s just the starting point.

For example, if someone is acting suspiciously in a parking lot, you can use TEDD to assess their timing, movements, and behaviour before deciding what to do. To take it further, the OODA Loop—Observe, Orient, Decide, Act—offers a flexible framework for making confident decisions and responding effectively in high-pressure situations.

Though initially developed for military combat, this method is widely used in personal safety, law enforcement, and other fast-paced environments. It sharpens awareness, focuses the mind, helps people stay calm, and forms logical responses by breaking down complex situations into manageable steps.

Using the OODA Loop lets you respond quickly and effectively to evolving threats, keeping you ahead of potential dangers:

• Observe: Are you actively gathering information about your surroundings? Look for changes, patterns, or unusual behaviours.
• Orient: How does the information fit into the context of the situation? Assess what the observations mean based on your experience and the circumstances.
• Decide: What is the best course of action? Evaluate your options and choose the most effective response to address the threat.
• Act: Are you executing your decision decisively? Take explicit, deliberate action while staying prepared to adapt if the situation changes.
  
  

Think of the OODA Loop as a continuous cycle. Each step builds on the last, allowing you to adapt swiftly as new information emerges. One loop might solve a problem, but in fluid situations, cycling through repeatedly keeps you in control.

8. Stalker’s Common Fears and Misconceptions

What Are Stalkers Scared Of?

Awareness. Stalkers rely on secrecy. They're less likely to pursue you when they see you’re observant, confident, and willing to act.

How Do You Confirm You’re Being Stalked?

Observe patterns. Does someone repeatedly appear in different settings? Do their actions suggest intentional tracking or interference?

What Are Warning Signs of Dangerous Stalkers?

Escalation is a red flag. Watch for threats, physical confrontations, or breaches of personal space.

Conclusion

Stalking is more than an invasion of privacy—a profound breach of safety, trust, and personal freedom. Recognizing the signs early empowers you to take control of your safety. Trusting your instincts isn’t just advisable; it’s essential. Your intuition often picks up on subtle cues that logic may overlook.

Tools like the TEDD Method and OODA Loop help you identify suspicious behaviors, counter potential threats, and take decisive action. Each step you take—whether documenting incidents, changing routines, or seeking support—strengthens your defences against those who mean harm. You'll regain your sense of security and peace of mind through awareness, preparation, and action. Understanding breeds confidence; the more prepared you become, the stronger you'll feel.