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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]
Is this the weird stalking aunt?

I recall one problem with that situation was that family members would give her OP's contact info, by accident or inattention.

So when she calls, she calls from numbers that do not appear to be her own? Same for emails? Offensive mail and packages do not have a return address you can recognize?[/quote]

For emails and packages, we believe that she gets info when visiting older relatives and likely “borrows”
iPads and phones to get changing address info.

I don’t know the stalking aunt story, but yes, she uses spoofed numbers and blocked numbers. We do have to check blocked number vms and some spoofed number vms because we have certain colleagues that have to use blocked numbers and the spoofed number calls are often our local area code or our parents’ and resembled medical centers or other places that we receive calls from.

The packages are always sent anonymously but with “inside jokes” on the gift message so we know it’s from her. For example, she’s had rude/obscene, custom things printed by Etsy makers. She’s sent us dog feces via companies that are somehow allowed to do it as long as they package it with tons of glitter and “cute” packaging and label it as “for humor purposes only”.[/quote]

I can see how that would wear on you, OP. Does she do this to other people? If she's ignored for a sufficiently long time, do you think she will get bored and move on?

When you pick up the phone, don't say anything. Wait for someone to say hello. Then if you recognize her voice, play a recorded message of your choice that may throw her off. "This phone number is unavailable" or something. You can block the emails and texts as they arrive without reading too much. That's what I do for spam anyway - I have to do that regularly.

Or if you're desperate, change your number and email address, and only give it out to a trusted cousin, who will act as a relay for you to hear the family news. Never use the new contact to communicate with your other relatives.

For the packages... I think you trash any package or letter that does not have a return address you recognize. I receive tons of packages and always check the names on it, because our postman has mixed up neighbors' mail, and I don't want to open my neighbor's by mistake. I check the sender as well, because I triage according to what I expect it is (some gardening and food has to be dealt with immediately, clothes can stay a while, gifts for my kids need to be hidden, that sort of thing). Trash immediately in the outdoor trash if it's something you don't recognize.

Sorry you're dealing with this.[/quote]

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