Personal Safety & Immediate Danger
83 guides
Browse PanicStation.org guides for stressful situations involving personal safety, threats, intimidation, harassment, being followed, unsafe contact, or uncertainty about whether a situation is dangerous.
These guides are designed to help you prioritise distance, visibility, support, and calm first steps. They may suggest avoiding further contact, moving toward safer places, preserving evidence where safe, or contacting emergency or specialist support.
PanicStation.org provides general information only. It is not emergency help, legal advice, safeguarding or protective-services advice, counselling, advocacy, or professional safety planning.
a child goes missing in a crowded public place a crowd starts surging and you fear being crushed a door lock, peephole, or security camera appears tampered with a driver or passenger is asking intrusive questions and you feel unsafe a driver refuses your seating request and you feel unsafe in the vehicle a fake account is impersonating you and messaging people about your location or plans a neighbour is threatening you or repeatedly knocking on your door a partner or family member becomes violent and blocks you from leaving a person claims to be a tow operator for your vehicle but you did not request service a rideshare driver or car does not match your app details a stranger claims you damaged their car and insists you move to a quieter location a stranger in a public venue asks you to go to a private area and you feel uneasy a stranger insists on helping with your luggage and will not take no for an answer a stranger is pressuring you to scan a QR code or click a link in public a stranger pressures you to reveal your phone number in person a stranger will not leave you alone after you disengage or say no a threatening message reveals your location, address, workplace, or a recent photo of you a vehicle is following you while you are driving, especially as you approach home a violent fight breaks out near you and you cannot safely leave a vulnerable adult goes missing while in your care an aggressive dog or other animal attacks or corners you an unexpected person at your door or building entrance will not clearly identify themselves an unfamiliar vehicle repeatedly circles, parks near, or watches your home or workplace an unknown person repeatedly knocks at or demands entry to your hotel or rental room online harassment or a hostile social-media surge makes you fear in-person targeting repeated unwanted online contact becomes controlling or threatening someone appears to be lurking or moving suspiciously outside your home someone approaches your car at a fuel pump and tries to distract you someone approaches, blocks, or tries to open your car while you are inside someone follows you or blocks your exit on public transport someone follows you to an elevator and you feel unsafe getting in with them someone has reposted your photos with your location without your consent someone is blocking, waiting near, or watching you approach your parked car someone is closely watching your phone, bag, cash, or valuables in public someone is filming or photographing you, your location, car, or home in a targeted way someone is lingering or waiting for you in a lobby, corridor, stairwell, or entrance someone is pressuring you to reveal where you live or where you are staying someone is robbing you and demanding your belongings someone is trying a key, door handle, or window while you are inside someone is trying multiple doors in your hotel or apartment corridor someone is trying to force their way into your home right now someone is trying to gain access to a secure building by following residents or posing as a delivery person someone is trying to isolate you or make you feel unsafe during a night out someone is watching, filming, or shining a light into your home through a window someone near you is acting aggressively or erratically and you feel unsafe someone pressures you to leave a public place or go somewhere private with them someone repeatedly appears at places you regularly go and you suspect stalking someone repeatedly approaches or appears to be luring a child or vulnerable person someone repeatedly blocks your path or positions themselves to stop you leaving someone repeatedly puts notes or objects under your home or hotel door someone says they are coming to your location or may already be outside and you feel unsafe someone stands too close while you enter a PIN or passcode at an ATM or terminal someone threatens you with a weapon someone tries to take your phone or pressures you to hand it over someone you do not trust pressures you to meet privately someone you just met is pressuring you for your address or a ride home someone you know becomes aggressive during a conversation and you feel unsafe someone you know is pressuring you to go somewhere private in public you accidentally triggered a panic alarm or emergency SOS alert you are in a rideshare or taxi and the route changes in a way that worries you you are pressured to pull over by a suspicious incident or unmarked vehicle you feel like strangers are coordinating to follow or watch you in public you feel unsafe at a venue and staff or security are not helping you hear arguing or sounds of distress from a neighbor and are unsure whether to intervene you hear gunshots or explosions nearby and do not know where to take cover you hear someone on a fire escape, balcony, or roof area near your window you hear someone outside calling your name when you are home alone you receive a message from someone you know that feels off and asks you to meet urgently in a private place you receive a suspicious call from someone claiming to be emergency services you receive a threat that someone will send police or emergency services to your address as a prank you receive a threatening blackmail message demanding immediate action and you fear it could escalate in person you receive an unsolicited meet me now message from an unfamiliar or spoofed account you return home and find signs that someone may have entered or tampered with it you see a stranger checking door numbers or mailboxes in your building you see someone checking car door handles in a parking lot or garage you see someone trying to enter a restricted area and you are worried about safety you suspect someone is trying to pickpocket you in a crowd you suspect your drink or food has been tampered with or spiked you think someone is following you and they are still nearby you think someone may have put a tracking device in your bag, car, or belongings your date pressures you for a private location and reacts aggressively when you refuse your smart lock, entry system, or spare key shows unexpected access or repeated attempts your vehicle appears broken into, tampered with, sabotaged, or has a suspicious object attached