Hello fellow TER-ers! I am having some trouble with harassment and was looking for advice. Here is what is happening:
An unrecognized number has texted me a photo from my old massage ad. There is no identifying information (no face, tattoos, etc.) however, it is making me nervous because they sent it to my personal phone number suggesting they know my real name and number.
There was no text with the photo, it was just sent to me as if to say "I know what you did".
Does anyone have advice on how to proceed with this? I would like to know who is sending me this and for what purpose, as it could be used as blackmail.
Thank you for any help community!
xoxo
J

...information, they can't blackmail you unless you admit it's you.

Telephone numbers can be traced.  Others can help you better in this area than I can

Fist do not respond. Save any communications from this number. You may later have to take action on this best to have evidence on hand. Also see if you can find out who sent it by doing a reverse number search. But do not respond.

Now if this continues, becomes threatening or turns to blackmail you may have to seek help. I am not an expert but I would talk with someone who has dealt with this before like a lawyer. I wish I could be of more help. Sorry.

do not give into it because, once you do, it will never end!

Obtain a firearm, and don't be afraid to put hole through someone's head.

Encourage her to murder someone.

With her paranoia now heightened....sure hope you're her next john!

Is it some how linked to your personal phone?  A separate work phone is worth (as is a hobby phone) every penny.  
At this point, it is totally creapy!  Certainly there is an agenda.  The sender wants something...  but we don't know what.  I'd not respond.  I would not block it yet as that would block future hints of their agenda.   You can not decide on a course of action until you know the purpose.  I would do a phone search of the number.  
Is it from a former client?
Or a SO who has found your number in their phone?  
Or a garden variety stalker...

As long as you ignore they receive nothing and further put themselves at risk should you have reason or even the desire to retain an attorney ( $5000 ) who will use a PI to obtain the perps info.
They won't bother you while on ignore because if they did they would reecive nothing andmove on to the next sucker.

END OF MESSAGE

If someone takes my advice. The results are their responsibility.

A person who takes my advice should be considered criminally insane.  

 
Were you her last John?

Thanks everyone!  It is my personal number, which is not linked at all to my work accounts which made me suspect it is someone that I know in my personal life who has "found me out". I did end up blocking the number and searched theirs on Facebook - turns out it is one of my ex boyfriends from over 2 years ago.

I appreciate all of your responses! Stay safe everyone

END OF MESSAGE

I hope we get an invite to the wedding.

For the same reason we can post escort ads all over the place and nobody can do anything is because of the burden of proof. Even if somebody called the police and said you were escorting they couldn't and wouldn't do anything. It's hearsay and they don't have time to mess with it. They set up their stings once a week or so and that's the biggest effort they can make.

And I do know this from personal experience. Someone harassed me one time.  It was a crazy person that I refused to see. He sent copies of my ads to all of my neighbors and the homeowners association. I was mortified and I was certain I would have to move. My neighbors came to me and they all said, "hey, we don't care".  The homeowners association sent me a notification saying, "you're not allowed to work out of your home".  I still live here five years later and I love the freedom they gave me because everybody knows and nobody cares. But when it first came out I thought I would die of embarrassment.

We all have different levels of openness about this that we are comfortable with.  

I agree that you should ignore the person.  I hope nothing ever comes of it.  If I could offer some advice, since you did ask for it, try to be comfortable with what you choose to do.  Be proud and have confidence.  I don't think there's anything wrong with what we do. I do fear other people judging me, though.  Other people are going to judge sometimes.   There will always be people who want to feel superior by drawing attention to what they see as our faults or shortcomings, no matter what we do.

There are a whole bunch of people here who support your choice to be a provider whole-heartedly.  

Good luck