I have 5 screennames on AOL, one is for fun, the other for work.
Someone knew the FUN one and somehow found the Work(professional) one.
I was startled and nearvous, as I use the FUN one for dating etc.

How did this crazy find my other screename , I have never listed it anywhere..HELP...
I need to be anonymous when I am online to [play} and when I am working I do not need wacko's tracking me down...This guy must be a computer WIZ! He did find me!
AOL...

[Corrvin]

Well, there are three possibilities.

• Do you have a profile on either name that would let someone guess who you are? It wouldn't have to give your exact name...if your profile lists that you live in a particular small town, your name is Toni, and you happen to mention in a chatroom that you cut hair for a living, it's not a stretch to look up the yellow pages for that town and see that there's three hairdressing shops, one called "Toni's Snips." Personal information in your profile and what you talk about in a chatroom or elsewhere can tell someone who you are.
  
• If you check your AOL mail at work through the AOL software, then anyone with access to your work computer or to the network information on it can see all your screennames listed on the AOL sign on screen. Or, anyone with access to your computer at home could see it.
  
• The third alternative could be a little trickier to deal with. If someone managed to find out your password for either of the names, they could install AOL on their own computer and sign on with that name and password, and see all the screennames on your account (although, if your passwords were different, they wouldn't be able to get into the other name.) They could do that by: GUESSING your password, TRICKING you into giving it out, or STEALING it.

GUESSING your password works best if your password is your birthday, last name, maiden name, dog's name, or a common English word like "secret," "password," "coffee," "Iloveyou," etc. Also, "red123" "blue123" and several other passwords used to be the common ones given out by AOL staff when they reset your password (they don't do that anymore) so that would be a good guess, too. If you think your password might be easy to guess, just change it at keyword password.

TRICKING you usually comes in the form of an email or IM saying anything at all-- you've received a prize, or a greeting card or InstaKiss, and to pick it up, you only have to enter your password. If you remember getting something lately that asked for your password, that's probably how the person got it. That's easy to fix too-- just change your password at keyword password.

STEALING your password involves getting you or someone who uses your computer to download a special program that mails out your password whenever you sign on. If the first two methods don't sound likely to you, you'll want to either: (1) update your anti-virus software and run it; or (2) get a special program made for seeking out password-stealing programs, usually called Trojan Horses. One that I'm familiar with that is free is available at Simply Super Software and it's called Trojan Remover. Once you've removed the program sending out your password, change your password afterward to something the person doesn't know.

If you don't know who the person is that's IMing you, but they seem to know you, keep notes by printing out or writing down any IMs or email that they send you and if they follow you into a chatroom. Click "Notify AOL" on the IM to send it to AOL after you've noted down the information on it, and they'll also keep a record of it.

If the person makes physical threats to you, or threatens to come to your house or workplace, CALL THE POLICE. If they don't seem to know where you live but just want to mess with you, you can use keyword Privacy Preferences and keyword Mail Controls to block them from IMing or emailing you. As a last resort, you might even want to think about making another play name and letting your friends know about it and to keep it secret.

I hope this helps, and please, if you get worried or afraid, don't hesitate to contact your local police department. Stalking you online can be just as serious as making phone calls or sending letters to you, and it's just as scary.

Corr