WASHINGTON - Looking back, some victims of crime realize they could have seen they were in danger, specifically in cases of violence against women. Rape experts and counselors say that's the case because rapists often use a subtle system to target their victims -- something women aren't even aware of until it's too late.

One rape victim, Noel, who for her safety wished not to reveal her real identity, said she met her alleged rapist while vacationing in Jamaica. "And for some reason, I just, the moment I looked at him, I had a very strong sense of fear," she said. For the next five days of her trip, her rapist tried to gain her trust by making friends with her friends.

"And he'd bring us fruit, have his sister make us jewelry," she said.

Eventually, she doubted her own judgment and agreed to go for a walk on the beach with him. She said the man raped her on the beach that night. "He said I've been planning this for five days, and I'm going to rape you… he used that word, I'm gonna rape you," she said.

Rape counselor and author Marty Langelan says rapists commonly use the same sort of targeting to select a victim. "To test our reactions to see if we're gonna be easy targets for assault, said Langelan. "Ya know, rapists are not looking for a fair fight."

Such testing can be so subtle, some women may not even realize it's happening to them. We've been harassed so many times, we try and put on blinders and pretend it's not happening," said Langelan. Not all harassers are rapists, however. "The one time out of 10 the guy is testing us, if you pretend to ignore it, well then you look weak," she said.

Experts said there are ways for women to protect themselves, starting with something Noel said she didn't do that week on vacation -- trust your instincts.

Based on her research, Langelan says roughly one out of 20 harassers is a rapist.

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On the Web: Rape,Abuse and Incest National Network; DC Rape Crisis Center