Cease and Desist Letter for Online Harassment — Free Template
Online harassment can include repeated messages, comments on your posts, fake accounts, sharing your personal information, or encouraging others to target you. A cease and desist letter for online harassment documents what has happened on each platform and tells the person to stop and take the content down.
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Free to preview[Your full name or business name]
[Your mailing address]
October 15, 2026
[Who the letter is to]
Re: Cease and desist — Harassment or repeated unwanted contact
Dear [Who the letter is to],
I am writing to formally demand that you stop the conduct described below. Since approximately [When the conduct started (approximately)], you have engaged in the following: Harassment or repeated unwanted contact.
[What they have been doing]
This conduct is unwelcome and unauthorized, and it must stop immediately. I specifically ask that you:
[What you want them to do]
Please confirm in writing, within 10 days of the date of this letter (by October 25, 2026), that you have done so and that the conduct will not continue.
I have kept records of this conduct, and I am keeping a copy of this letter and proof of delivery. If the conduct continues or I do not receive your written confirmation by that date, I intend to pursue the remedies available to me, which may include reporting the matter to the appropriate authorities or filing a claim in court.
I would prefer to resolve this without further action. Please direct any response to me in writing at the address above.
Sincerely,
[Your full name or business name]
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Capture evidence before anything disappears
Screenshot every message, comment and profile, making sure the account name, date and URL are visible. Save links, not just images. Harassers often delete content once they receive a letter, so collect evidence first.
Keep a simple log listing the date, platform, account and what was posted. A clear timeline makes your letter stronger and is exactly what platforms, police and courts ask for.
Report to the platforms too
Every major platform has rules against harassment, impersonation and posting someone's private information. Report each account and post using the platform's tools, and use block and privacy settings to limit what the person can see.
Impersonation accounts and posts that share your home address are often removed quickly when reported. Your letter addresses the person; platform reports address the content.
When to involve police
If the person threatens you, posts your address or encourages others to harm you, report it to local police. Many states have laws covering cyberstalking and online threats, and police may also be able to request account records.
If you know the person's real identity, a court may be able to issue a protective order covering online contact. Keep your letter and log, since they show the harassment continued after you told them to stop.
What to do, step by step
Write down what happened
List the dates, places and messages involved before you start. Save screenshots, URLs, voicemails and copies of anything that shows the conduct.
Fill in your letter
Answer the questions above. Describe the conduct factually and say exactly what you want the other person to do — vague demands are easy to ignore.
Keep the tone calm and firm
Avoid insults, exaggeration and threats you don't intend to carry out. A measured letter is more persuasive and looks better if it is ever shown to a judge.
Send it in a way you can prove
Mail it by certified mail with return receipt, and email a copy if you have an address. Keep a copy of the letter and the receipt together.
Decide on your next step
If the deadline passes and the conduct continues, keep documenting it. Depending on the situation, that may mean a police report, a protective order, a takedown notice or a claim in court.
What if they ignore your cease and desist letter?
A cease and desist letter is not a court order, so it can't force anyone to stop on its own. What it does is put the other person on clear, dated notice — which matters later, because continuing after a written warning is often treated as deliberate.
Your next step depends on the conduct. Ongoing harassment or threats can be reported to the police, and many courts offer civil protection or anti-harassment orders that people can request without legal help. For copied photos or writing, most websites and hosting companies have a copyright takedown process. Defamation, trademark and business disputes are usually resolved in civil court, where a judge can award damages or order the conduct to stop.
Whatever you do next, keep every message and record. Your letter, your proof of mailing and a log of what happened afterward are the core of any complaint or claim.
Example cease and desist letter for online harassment
A filled-in sample with made-up details, so you can see the finished result.
Dana Whitfield
742 Cedar Lane, Riverton, OH 44101
October 5, 2026
Blake Moreno
PO Box 518, Riverton, OH 44102
Re: Cease and desist — Harassment or repeated unwanted contact
Dear Blake Moreno,
I am writing to formally demand that you stop the conduct described below. Since approximately July 9, 2026, you have engaged in the following: Harassment or repeated unwanted contact.
Since July 9 you have left more than 50 hostile comments on my Instagram and TikTok posts, created at least two fake accounts using my name and photos, and posted my home address in a public Facebook group on September 4. I have screenshots of each post with dates and account names.
This conduct is unwelcome and unauthorized, and it must stop immediately. I specifically ask that you:
Stop commenting on, messaging or tagging me on any platform, delete the fake accounts and the post with my address, and do not create new accounts to contact me.
Please confirm in writing, within 10 days of the date of this letter (by October 15, 2026), that you have done so and that the conduct will not continue.
I have kept records of this conduct, and I am keeping a copy of this letter and proof of delivery. If the conduct continues or I do not receive your written confirmation by that date, I intend to pursue the remedies available to me, which may include reporting the matter to the appropriate authorities or filing a claim in court.
I would prefer to resolve this without further action. Please direct any response to me in writing at the address above.
Sincerely,
Dana Whitfield
Frequently asked questions
What if I only know their username?
You can send the letter as a direct message or email to the account, and keep a screenshot showing it was sent. The mailing address field is optional. Reporting the account to the platform is especially important when you do not know who is behind it.
Is online harassment illegal?
Some online harassment breaks the law, such as threats, stalking or posting intimate images without consent, and laws vary by state. Other harassment breaks platform rules without being a crime. A cease and desist letter is useful either way because it documents that you told the person to stop.
Should I respond to the harasser publicly?
Usually not. Public replies can escalate the harassment and draw in more people. Keep your response private and in writing, report the content, and let your letter and records speak for you.
Is a cease and desist letter legally binding?
No. It is a formal written demand, not a court order, so the recipient isn't legally required to obey it. It still matters: it shows you asked clearly, gives the person a chance to stop, and creates evidence that any later conduct was knowing rather than accidental.
Can I write a cease and desist letter myself?
Yes. Anyone can send one — there's no special form or license needed. What makes it effective is being specific: identify the conduct, the dates, what you want stopped, and a deadline. Many people send their own letter first and seek legal help only if the conduct continues.
FairLetter is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Letters are templates you customize and send yourself.