A woman has been bombarded with abuse from an online stalker who tracked down her personal information despite only knowing her first name, in a chilling real-life echo of new Netflix drama Dirty John.
Businesswoman Rhiannon Stalley, from Brisbane, was subjected to a torrent of abuse after a man she ‘matched’ with on dating app Bumble found her Facebook page, mobile number and even her business listing.
Her ordeal began just days after she ‘matched’ with the man known only as Diz Kapone, although Ms Stalley says she never actually spoke to him.
Businesswoman Rhiannon Stalley (pictured) from Brisbane, was subjected to a torrent of abuse after an obsessive man she ‘matched’ with on dating app Bumble
The 30-year-old claims that once Kapone discovered her personal details he started sending her deranged messages, in what appeared to be a bizarre vendetta he’d manifested because the pair had not hit it off on the dating app.
In one message Kapone calles Ms Stalley ‘a deadset absolute f***wit’, and in another Facebook message he wrote: ‘Wow…you are a piece of work’, The Courier Mail reported.
‘On Bumble you let the match almost expire then I extended for another 24 hours and now that’s almost expired.
‘What is the f***ing point of you swiping on these apps if you don’t talk to your matches?
The 30-year-old (pictured) claims after Kapone had discovered her personal details he started sending her deranged messages
‘Seriously don’t waste people’s f***ing time you moron! Deadset absolute f***wit,’ one disturbing message read.
However, Kapone didn’t stop there, and alarmingly he managed to find Ms Stalley’s mobile number online.
The situation took an even more twisted turn when Kapone attacked Ms Stalley’s catering business Platter to Plate.
The stalker found Ms Stalley’s business’ Google listing, and posted a scathing review.
‘Can’t communicate properly, go elsewhere,’ it read.
The situation took an even more twisted turn when Kapone found Ms Stalley’s business’ Google listing, and posted a scathing review (review pictured)
Ms Stalley (pictured) said despite the barrage of abuse she tried to have a ‘bit of a laugh’ about it at first
Ms Stalley said despite the barrage of abuse she tried to have a ‘bit of a laugh’ about it at first.
‘I’m someone who has a pretty thick skin so when I got the first message I had a bit of a laugh but when he tracked down my business and got my number I got really scared about what would have happened if I had actually started talking to him,’ she said.
‘I’m a bit old school, I just wanted to meet someone the normal way so when I got Bumble I didn’t have the notifications on and I had a pretty busy week so hadn’t even had time to contact him after the match,’ Ms Stalley explained.
She also noted that the unknown man had clearly gone to a lot of effort to find her social media profile, and must have searched through every Rhiannon in Brisbane to find her.
Angered that Kapone could have had a negative impact on her business Ms Stalley fired back a response which exposed the true nature of his review.
‘We note this review came off the back of a Bumble match that we didn’t reply to for a few days and that angered you to the point of messaging us on a personal Facebook page, sending a text message using derogatory language and also leaving us this review,’ the response read.
Ms Stalley has since reported the man to Bumble and the dating service has removed him from the platform.
Ms Stalley also added that shows such as Dirty John were particularly ‘prevalent’ and were vital in showing people that this type of situation can happen in real life.
Ms Stalley (pictured) has since reported the man to Bumble and the dating service has removed him from there platform
Her awful ordeal comes shortly after a cyber-security expert warned that an increasing number of women are reportedly experiencing similar harassment.
Australia eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said social media companies should do more to prevent this kind of behaviour.
She also noted that two of out of three complaints lodged with her office were from females.
Dirty John is the new offering from Netflix which sees successful businesswoman Debra turn to internet dating in a bid to try and find Mr Right.
And it appears she’s hit the jackpot after meeting charming Dr. John, but not everything is as it seems and Debra is soon drawn deeper into world of lies and psychological manipulation.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Ms Stalley for comment.
Ms Stalley also added that shows such as Dirty John (trailer stock image pictured) were particularly ‘prevalent’ and were vital in showing people that this type of situation can happen in real life