How to Evade People Following You

Here’s a guide to techniques, including how to change your appearance and behavior on the fly to throw off anyone tracking you.

SHTF & SECURITYPRIVACY

9/3/20247 min read

Techniques on How to Avoid Being Followed: Mastering the Art of Disappearing

In today's world, the ability to evade someone who may be following you—whether it’s for personal safety or to avoid unwanted attention—can be a critical skill. Whether you’re navigating a city, traveling in unfamiliar areas, or just trying to lose a tail, knowing how to shake off someone following you is essential. Here’s a guide to techniques, including how to change your appearance and behavior on the fly to throw off anyone tracking you.

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The first time I realized just how critical it was to understand my surroundings, I was working with a high-profile client who’d been receiving anonymous threats, which we traced back to an abusive ex-boyfriend. As she exited the office building late one night, the dim streetlights painted long shadows across the pavement. A subtle shift in the rhythm of footsteps behind her caught her attention. A quick glance at the reflection in a nearby window confirmed her suspicion—she was being followed. The client never even noticed the true danger of someone being that close to her. That experience underscored the necessity of vigilance and awareness—skills that can mean the difference between safety and disaster. While knowing what combat items are needed for SHTF is crucial. Similarly to having a home defense plan. Awareness of your surroundings should be number one. In reality, you may not even have the option to even defend yourself, such as when a drone attack happens. In most cases running and hiding is the best approach. I teach clients that there are four stages for disasters, including being followed: avoidance, evasion, escape, and engagement. While escape or evacuation during a disaster is critical, similar to engaging the enemy, avoidance and evasion are just as important and preventative. They also force to consider cardio and how to stay physically and mentally fit during a disaster.

Understanding your surroundings isn’t just a skill; it’s a mindset. Every environment has its tells, its patterns. In a crowded urban center, people move with purpose. A sudden change—a person loitering too long, someone shadowing your route at a distance—stands out like static in a symphony. Rural areas, on the other hand, offer fewer distractions, making any deviation from the norm even more conspicuous. To identify a tail, you need to become a student of your environment, attuned to its rhythms and anomalies.

The art of detection begins with observation. Most people walk through their daily lives in a state of semi-awareness, focused on their phones or preoccupied with their thoughts. A practiced eye, however, scans the horizon, taking mental snapshots of faces, movements, and vehicles. It’s not about paranoia but preparation. When you’re aware, you notice patterns—the man with the newspaper who was at the café an hour ago and is now at the bus stop across the street, or the car that’s taken three turns in the same direction as you.

Evading a tail requires more than detection; it demands decisiveness. The key is to verify without revealing your suspicions. If you believe someone is following you, take a planned detour. A busy area—a market, a crowded plaza—can be a perfect place to disappear in plain sight. Use reflective surfaces, like windows or mirrors, to track your follower without turning your head. If you’re driving, alter your route. Make three consecutive right turns or take an unexpected exit, while keeping a mentally prepared state of mind for such as disaster. The objective isn’t to panic but to confirm and react calmly.

Technology has added a new layer of complexity to personal security. GPS tracking, drones, and surveillance cameras can amplify the risks of being followed. However, the principles remain the same. A person intent on tailing you will reveal themselves through their actions—their persistence, their attempts to blend in while staying close. Recognizing these cues can help you adapt your strategy and stay one step ahead.

I’ve seen firsthand how a lack of awareness can escalate a situation. One client, oblivious to the signs of surveillance, nearly walked into an ambush simply because they assumed their routine was too mundane to warrant attention. Routine is the enemy of security. Varying your schedule and routes disrupts predictability, making it harder for anyone to anticipate your movements.

Maintaining control is the ultimate goal. Panic and erratic behavior can embolden a pursuer. Confidence, on the other hand, can deter them. If you’re aware of your environment, you can take measures to put distance between yourself and a potential threat without drawing attention. Blend into the crowd when necessary; become invisible by being unremarkable. The less you stand out, the harder you are to follow.

The discipline of situational awareness is one of vigilance, intuition, and preparation. In my line of work, I’ve learned that the best defense is often the one your adversary never sees. Understanding your surroundings isn’t just a precaution; it’s a skill that keeps you ahead of danger and in control of your destiny.

1. Assess the Situation

Before taking any drastic measures, it’s crucial to assess whether you’re actually being followed. Use reflective surfaces like windows, mirrors, or even your phone screen to discreetly check behind you. Slow down, stop to tie your shoe, or make a sudden turn to see if the person mimics your movements.

What to Do:

Vary Your Speed: Walk at a normal pace, then suddenly slow down or speed up to see if your follower adjusts accordingly.
Make a Sudden Turn: Quickly change direction, such as turning into a side street or entering a store. This can help you confirm if someone is trailing you.
Double Back: If safe to do so, make a loop or retrace your steps. This can throw off a casual follower and confirm their intentions.

2. Head to a Public Restroom for a Disguise Change

If you confirm that you’re being followed, one effective way to shake off a tail is by changing your appearance. A public restroom offers an ideal place for a quick and discreet disguise change.

How to Change Your Appearance:

Carry a Change of Clothes: A lightweight, easily stowed outfit in neutral colors can make a huge difference. A simple shirt, jacket, or hat can drastically alter how you appear to someone following you.
Change Your Shoes: Swapping shoes can alter your gait and make you harder to recognize. Consider keeping a pair of sneakers or flats handy.
Ditch Your Old Clothes: After changing, stash your old clothes in a trash bag or leave them in the restroom. This eliminates any clues about your previous appearance.

3. Adopt a New Gait and Posture

Once you’ve changed your outfit, altering the way you move can make you even harder to recognize. Walk with a different gait—perhaps more briskly or slowly than before. Change your posture: if you normally walk upright, try slouching or vice versa.

Tips for Changing Your Gait:

Limp Slightly: A subtle limp can change your entire walk. Practice this beforehand to make it look natural.
Use a Prop: Carrying a bag in a different hand or using an umbrella can further alter your profile.
Slow Down or Speed Up: Adjusting your pace can make you less recognizable to someone used to your previous movement patterns.

4. Use Accessories to Transform Your Look

Small accessories can have a significant impact on your appearance. Items like glasses, hats, or scarves can make you look like a completely different person.

Key Accessories:

Eyeglasses: Even non-prescription glasses can dramatically change how your face is perceived.
Hat or Yarmulke: Headwear like a baseball cap, beanie, or yarmulke not only changes your appearance but also adds cultural context that might mislead your follower.
Scarf: A scarf can cover your neck and lower face, obscuring key facial features.

5. Blend Into a Crowd

After changing your appearance, blending into a crowd is a powerful way to disappear. Crowded places like shopping malls, public squares, or busy streets provide the perfect environment to lose a tail.

How to Blend In:

Engage with Strangers: Strike up a brief conversation with someone in the crowd. This not only makes you look more natural but can also help you merge seamlessly with the group.
Walk with Purpose: Move confidently and with purpose. Avoid looking around nervously, as this can attract attention.
Match the Crowd’s Pace: Adapt your pace to match the crowd around you. This will help you disappear into the sea of people.

6. Use Deceptive Techniques

If you’re still being followed, consider using more advanced deceptive techniques to confuse and lose your pursuer.

Effective Deceptive Techniques:

Enter and Exit Multiple Stores: Enter a busy store, but instead of exiting through the main entrance, use a secondary exit or leave through an adjacent store.
Use Public Transportation: Get on a bus or subway, then get off at the last second before the doors close, leaving your follower stuck on board.
Taxi Trick: Hail a taxi, give an address a few blocks away, and once you’re out of sight, ask the driver to change direction. Pay with cash to avoid leaving a traceable digital record.

7. Use Technology Wisely

Your smartphone can be both a help and a hindrance when trying to evade someone. Be mindful of its use, as it can be tracked if you’re not careful.

Smartphone Tips:

Turn Off Location Services: Disable GPS and any location-sharing apps that might give away your position.
Use Burner Phones: If you suspect you’re being tracked digitally, use a burner phone that isn’t tied to your identity.
Utilize Apps Discreetly: Use messaging apps with end-to-end encryption to communicate your situation to a trusted friend or contact.

8. Seek Help if Necessary

If you feel threatened or in danger, don’t hesitate to seek help. Entering a police station, fire station, or even a large, well-populated business can offer safety and assistance.

Seeking Help:

Approach Security: If in a public place like a mall or airport, approach security personnel and discreetly explain your situation.
Find a Safe Space: Public spaces with high visibility and lots of people are usually safer.
Contact Authorities: If you’re in immediate danger, call the police and give them as much information as possible.

9. Final Check: Ensure You’re Not Being Followed Again

After employing these techniques, take a moment to reassess your situation. Use the same methods you used to initially confirm you were being followed to make sure your pursuer is no longer on your trail.

Reconfirm Your Safety:

Change Direction Multiple Times: Take random turns and pauses to ensure no one is tailing you.
Keep Moving: Avoid staying in one place too long, as this gives a follower time to catch up.
Reassess Your Appearance: Double-check that your disguise is holding up and make any necessary adjustments.