Ex-Boyfriend Accused of Cyberstalking Woman Using Smart Home Tech, GPS Trackers

A woman has detailed a harrowing experience of cyberstalking by a former romantic partner who allegedly leveraged smart home technology and GPS trackers to monitor her movements and disrupt her life. The victim, who spoke to The Post on condition of anonymity using the initials AM, described how her ex-boyfriend initially gifted her a "smart house" setup, allowing remote control of lights and audio systems via her phone.

After their breakup, the situation escalated. AM discovered GPS tracking devices in her car, commonly used for luggage tracking. At home, her smart devices were manipulated, with lights dimming randomly and her television switching off while her daughter was watching. She believes her ex-boyfriend had gained access to her phone and computer, including her cloud storage, enabling him to monitor her communications and purchases.

"He employed multiple apps that I didn’t even know existed. And he also had people following me in other countries," AM stated. She further explained that her ex attempted to sabotage her professional life by altering contact names in her phone, leading to mistaken calls and potentially damaging her business relationships. "My Rolodex is my currency, and my network is my net worth. He was trying to destroy all of that," she said.

AM has filed a police report with Connecticut authorities, and an investigation into the ex-boyfriend is ongoing, though no arrest has been made. She described living in fear, realizing her ex could control and distress her from afar.

Steven S. Stern, principal of Safe Harbor Advisory, was consulted by AM to help address the stalking. Stern confirmed the presence of invasive spyware on her devices, noting the increasing sophistication of such attacks. "The use of technology has become so sophisticated and almost impossible to defend against for a normal person," Stern said. "They gain access to your phone, your computer, and they’re in your house."

This case highlights a growing trend of cybercrime and technology-aided stalking in the U.S. Other instances include that of Aine O’Neill, an Irish TV host who relocated to California and was targeted by a stalker using tracking tags on her car, ultimately compelling her to leave Los Angeles. In June, Anthony Belford of New York was charged with cyberstalking for allegedly posting AI-generated nude images of a woman after an extensive online harassment campaign.

Another case involved Brett Michael Dadig, a social media influencer who pleaded guilty to stalking 11 women, though his actions were not facilitated by AI, he reportedly believed technology justified his behavior. Experts like Rachel Talley, a principal at Safe Harbor, warn that hacked AI accounts can expose deeply personal information, leading to psychological manipulation.

Talley shared her own experience of being stalked, where an intruder entered her home, used her fingerprint to access her phone, and sent messages to her contacts before blocking them, creating a deeply traumatizing situation.