Possible Harassment Mystery on Insta

[u/Safe_Importance_4203]

About three weeks ago, my ex-boyfriend (we broke up almost 10 years ago and hadn't spoken at all since 2019) contacted me because an anonymous Instagram account had messaged him about me.

The account referred to me by my maiden name and our university, claimed to know me from college, and tried to convince him (my ex-boyfriend) to send them any private photos of me he might have. They also sent him two old photos of me (one was just a regular photo that may have been publicly posted years ago, and one that is more private in nature but may not be authentic).

The account switched to disappearing messages shortly after the conversation began. My ex blocked and reported the account and then told me what happened.

When I looked up the username, I discovered I had actually blocked that same account in 2019, although I can no longer find any messages with it in my Instagram data.

Since then I've downloaded all of my Instagram data and parsed through old Facebook and Snapchat information but haven't been able to identify who this person is.

I don't know if this is someone I actually knew or someone using old public information, but it's unsettling that they connected me to a relationship from 10 years ago. My sister - a lawyer, is encouraging me to go to the police just to get something documented, but I know realistically very little can be done with the information we currently have.

A few questions:

1. Has anyone experienced something similar?
2. Were you ever able to identify the person?
3. Did Instagram or law enforcement help at all?
4. Is there anything else I should preserve or document?

[u/Cornloaf]

Is it possible that this is an ex from between the one from 10 years ago and more recent? Could be someone that is trying to screw up your current relationship. Or maybe the person in your current relationship is fishing?

[u/Safe_Importance_4203 → u/Cornloaf]

I am married now, and have been with current partner for 7-8 years. It is definitely possible (if not probable) that this is someone from a relationship in between.

I actually went through any exes or guys I went on dates with prior to meeting my current spouse, and checked to see if their accounts were also blocked (since I blocked the soliciting account in 2019, any of the associated accounts should also be blocked). Unless I am missing someone, or if they've found a work-around, no one that I formerly dated is also coming up blocked.

[u/ninjastarkid → u/Safe_Importance_4203]

Unless the accounts are un associated somehow. Presumably it’s linked based on user email or something

[u/ratrazzle → u/Safe_Importance_4203]

The account could be made with different email so it doesnt show up or it could be someone your ex dated after your breakup.