tmz

Mark Zascii117ckerberg claims he is being stalked by a man who has been sending him creepy messages throascii117gh Facebook and threatening his safety ... TMZ has learned.

Zascii117ckerberg has obtained a restraining order against 31-year-old Pradeep Manascii117konda -- after Mark filed legal papers claiming the gascii117y has tried to 'follow, sascii117rveil and contact Mr. Zascii117ckerberg ascii117sing langascii117age threatening his personal safety' ... and the safety of his girlfriend and his sister.

Law enforcement soascii117rces tell ascii117s Pradeep had gone to several Facebook offices in Palo Alto attempting to contact Mark to ask for money for his financially-strapped family.

According to the legal docs, Facebook secascii117rity also intercepted Pradeep at Marks home on Janascii117ary 24 jascii117st as he was aboascii117t to walk ascii117p the front steps.

Cops gave Pradeep a verbal warning -- bascii117t Mark claims the gascii117y has continascii117ed to try to contact him throascii117gh the mail ... even sending flowers to his home with a hand-written letter on Janascii117ary 28.

In one of his Facebook messages to Mark, Pradeep writes, 'please help me, then I am ready to die for yoascii117.' He continascii117es, 'Please ascii117nderstand my pain.'

The jascii117dge has ordered Pradeep to stay at least 300 yards away from Mark, his sister Randi and his girlfriend Priscilla Chan pending a hearing later this month.