If you’re worried that one of Apple’s trackers is following you without consent, try these tips.
When the AIRTAG launched in 2021, cybersecurity experts expressed concern that the tracking device would be exploited by stalkers.
Since it’s release; multiple women reported frightening encounters where AirTags were used as stalking devices that could be slipped in a purse or taped to a car. Police departments across the United States issued warnings about the potential criminal uses of AirTags.
Here is just one story from Ken and Kellie Johnson of Wichita Falls Texas who found an APPLE AirTag inside their vehicle without their knowledge. Luckily they found it before anything horrible happened, but this is something everyone needs to be aware of.
On Thursday, January 4th, 2024, I went to the Wichita Falls Municipal Airport to pick up my daughter and her boyfriend around 2pm. I pulled up to the front and they were there waiting so I didn’t park or leave my car unattended. I took them to eat at Branding Iron before heading home and parked between Branding Iron and Club Sip. We didn’t stop any other places or leave the car unattended at any other point.
That evening, I got a notification that there was an APPLE Airtag moving with me and that the owner of the APPLE Airtag could see its location. I had never seen that notification before so I, instinctively, swiped it away.
I realized, after the fact, what it had meant and told my daughter…she thought I was exaggerating because I have an andriod and she has an iPhone, so she felt it made more sense that SHE would get the notification… We discussed it casually over the next few days but essentially “let it go” and didn’t take it all that seriously.
Then on that Sunday, January 7th, 2024, my daughter and her boyfriend took my car and went to the movies, later that evening when she got home, she got the same notification that I previously disregarded.
(photo attached, showing our beloved Koda as her screensaver as proof that this is indeed OUR photo and not from any other posts!)
She opened the notification and then she, her boyfriend and my husband (Ken) went outside to “Play Sound” and attempt to locate the APPLE Airtag. Unfortunately, the notification DOES disappear or is no longer active after a period of time (a few days maybe). They weren’t able to find the APPLE Airtag that night therefore we had to wait for the next notification to pop up to try to locate it again.
My husband took my daughter and her boyfriend to the airport early in the morning of Tuesday, January 9th in my car and got the notification as well. It was definitely INSIDE the car and after several days (On Saturday January 13th) we FINALLY found the actual APPLE AIRTAG.
My first instinct was to deactivate it, which I did by pushing down on the silver top and twisting… then I called APPLE. Spoiler alert – they are incredibly unwilling to work with law enforcement to release any owner information. They stated that there is a lengthy process for law enforcement to go through and there HAS to be proof of an actual crime before they would be willing to work with them.
Having young daughters, this was EXTREMELY concerning and disappointing to learn about. I wasn’t expecting them to give ME information, but was hopeful that law enforcement could handle the situation.
I did contact Branding Iron to see if they had exterior cameras, they do NOT. I contacted Club Sip to see if they have exterior cameras towards the Branding Iron parking lot, they do NOT. I was hoping for proof “a crime was committed” to help any further investigations. (No I was not expecting to acquire the footage myself, but for the proper authorities to have proof of a crime as APPLE requested)
There IS some very encouraging news to come from our story though and that was when I reached out to WFPD. The dispatcher did mention that Apple AirTags ARE turned in a lot, and she urged me to come make a report, HOWEVER, we live in Archer County, so she also advised me to contact them as well. I contacted Archer County Sheriff’s Office to ask what THEY thought I should do about this APPLE AIRTAG and THAT dispatcher was thoroughly concerned as well and immediately sent officers to my house. I even begged her to have them wait until I dried my hair and put on some makeup and she informed me “absolutely NOT, that is not the way this works” LOL I was NOT prepared for them to be so “Johnny on the Spot”, but, I am very thankful for their dispatcher’s persistence, definitely gives me peace of mind!
The lovely and concerned officers looked over my car, talked to me for a very long time in depth about different scenarios and possibilities and asked the personal questions, I showed them where my husband found it and they DO currently have it in their possession. They were wonderful and so stinking quick to respond!
While they ARE going to investigate, the sad part is that whomever it is connected to will just say that it was lost or stolen, if they are ever even found. But, I am hopeful that our situation will bring public light to this VERY serious issue and give our LEO’s some experience in how to navigate these investigations so that they can quickly help those in immediate danger in the future.
*IF YOU ARE A STALKING VICTIM, PLEASE BE AWARE THAT, EVEN WHEN THE APPLE AIRTAGS ARE FOUND, THERE ARE NO CONSEQUENCES TO THE OWNER! APPLE IS NOT WILLING TO ASSIST LEO’s UNLESS AN ACTUAL CRIME OCCURS! I never realized that there was zero consequence for tracking a stranger, but everyone SHOULD know… Because the ones doing this definitely already know!
Extra Info:
- There were PERSONAL LEO friends aware of the situation and giving advice, I didn’t just wait until we found it.
- My car does not, nor has it ever had a lien on it, we bought it outright, so it is not from a lienholder.
- My husband isn’t tracking me and playing it off…we have Life360, so he is openly aware of my very boring whereabouts.
- I do NOT now, nor have I ever had a stalker (that I am aware of, guess he was really good if one ever existed)
Things we learned from this experience:
- “tagging” of cars is a REAL thing, even in our small town of Wichita Falls.
- APPLE does NOT care if their products are used to commit crimes and they are not at all concerned with public safety
- DO NOT ignore the random notifications you get on your phone, finding it immediately could save you (the notifications are sent hours after the interaction).
- Law Enforcement DOES take these things very seriously even when their hands are tied, and APPLE limits their authority (they are already well aware of this issue)
- The notifications DO time out so don’t put off your search for it.
- To deactivate one, push on the silver and twist and the top pops right off and the battery falls out. You can put it back together and it will no longer be tracked.
Without a device on hand, you must rely on visual and audible clues to find any hidden AirTags. The circular white disc is slightly larger than a quarter. As reported by The New York Times, Ashley Estrada discovered an AirTag lodged under her license plate, and her video documenting the incident was viewed over 20 million times on TikTok.
Apple’s handy trackers have been used to track people’s location against their consent, but there’s a way to find out if an AirTag is tracking you. Here’s what to do.
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