Doing breastfeeding for over 23 years, I have had male callers who start out
asking info for their wife and then lead into asking very personal questions
of an improper nature.  One Christmas every LLLLeader in Central Florida as
well as every pump rental station got a real sick person calling.  When he
called me, I tape recordered the call and reported it to the police.  They
came out to my home and took a report and the tape.  They called all the pump
rental stations and found he had called everyone in the area and also found
that several of the pump stations had received calls about the same time the
previous year.  The calls lasted about a week.  He would repeatedly call the
same numbers.  I put a message on my answering machine and told him that I
had taped him and the police were investigating and the calls stopped.  I
counseled the LLLLeaders at the time of the phone calls about how to handle
obscene callers (ask to speak with the wife and if not available say have her
call me when she is available, hanging up as soon as they ask improper
questions, letting the answer machine answer the calls, telling them that you
are going to immediately report the call and hang up).  Often the caller
starts off sounding like any other counseling call and then the questions or
comments start.  It's really upsetting to realize you have been talking to a
sick creep who if he has your phone number can probably get your address
also.  One of our Leaders became so upset she changed her phone number and
started using her maiden name.

Earlier this year, I repeatedly was instant messaged by someone asking very
personal sick questions about breastfeeding.  The person probably got my
email from my AOL personal profile where I listed my profession as lactation
consultant.  I have changed my personal profile now and had to block IMs for
a period.

Warm regards,
Pat Lindsey, IBCLC - Lactation Services
Pediatrics Plus Staff LC & Private Practice
Orlando, FL

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