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AIBU?

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Original poster

Air tag tracking me but I don't own one

238 replies

frustratedplusone · 01/03/2025 23:54

Hi just need a bit of advice on how these work. Last day or two my phone keeps telling me im near an air tag .. but I don't own one. From history it's only tracking me when I'm in my car. It shows every journey I made today. I asked my soon to be ex partner as he has one and he said why do I have his air tag on my phone? .. I don't have his on my phone! I never received notifications on his whereabouts when he used it and the history is only tracking where i have been not anyone else. He said he's not put it in my car but we are going through a break up due to emotional abuse on his part so I don't want to demand to see his as trying to avoid further conflict, is there any explanation for this other than he has hid one in my car? Only me and my DD been in car she's 9 and doesn't have one.

OP posts:
IDoWhateverItTakes · 02/03/2025 14:06

frustratedplusone · 02/03/2025 00:30

Ok thank you. I'll have a look tomorrow... daughter only 9 so she's not got one and others that have been in car are her friends and it was tracking before I picked them up. Was hoping for a less sinister reason, oddly didn't even suspect him until this evening when I sat and thought about it... he is controlling and abusive but not done anything like this before. He said he's not getting notifications when I asked him but I assume he must be able to log in and see where I've been. Thank you all will get this sorted tomorrow x

You already know he's controlling and abusive; this is absolutely a controlling thing to do and it's not at all uncommon. So yes, he's probably done this.

I'd also check your phone/laptop/table for apps you don't recognise.

Zonder · 02/03/2025 14:12

Did you find it?

Wtafdidido · 02/03/2025 14:28

Check around your wheel arches as they are a great way for burglars to work out when is best to break into a home. Beef up your security. And immediately go to a garage and have them look as they will k ow the most likely places. If you are concerned for your safety talk to the police.

MzHz · 02/03/2025 14:58

@frustratedplusone you said he is controlling and abusive but not done anything like this before

I’m assuming you’ve not rumbled his abuse before? You’ve not left him before…

he thinks you’ve got someone else, i mean, OF COURSE YOU HAVE SOMEONE ELSE, (in his head) you’re not leaving him because of him, his behaviour or how he treats you?

Jesus Christ there is no way he’d ever be able to have that thought enter his head…

be careful. Get this tag out of your car asap and get rid of it. Ideally on a Eurostar train or something 🤣🤣🤣

I think you need to consider having a chat with your local police too.

AnxiouslyAwaitingSpring · 02/03/2025 14:59

GauntJudy · 02/03/2025 13:59

Do garages really check vehicles for airtags? Seems like a weird thing to ask them to do. I mean they wouldn't find a dropped earring just cos it happens to be in a car??

Of course it's not weird! Mechanics know all the little crevices and more importantly how to get to them and have all the tools to do so

Dotjones · 02/03/2025 15:06

Drive it to somewhere like a supermarket car park and use your phone to activate the sound, this should make it easier to find (at the very least confirm there is a tracker and give you an area to focus the search). If you find an air tag and remove it, beware that this doesn't mean you are safe. Air tags are just an easy, inexpensive form of tracking for people who want to track someone without any hassle. There are plenty of other devices that he could plant on your vehicle to track you that won't be flagged up by your phone, that's why you need to get the police involved.

Confusedmeanderings · 02/03/2025 15:15

I hope you find it OP

YourWildAmberSloth · 02/03/2025 15:29

Don't wait. He knows that you suspect him, so he will probably try to remove it. I would get your car searched now. You have said yourself, he is controlling and abusive and you are going through a breakup, what more do you need? Contact the police for advice today.

Dolphinnoises · 02/03/2025 15:47

ReadingRubbish · 02/03/2025 11:40

@Dolphinnoises
The AirTag needs to “see” its owner on a regular basis or it starts to beep.

I don't think that's true.

From your link:

Air tag tracking me but I don't own one
godmum56 · 02/03/2025 15:48

Comtesse · 02/03/2025 13:08

It’s literally in the opening post where he is described as “soon to be ex partner”…….

Show quote history

Oops sorry

BertieBotts · 02/03/2025 16:01

Just to play devil's advocate for a moment. Is it possible that something of his with an airtag in/on has made its way into your DD's hands/pocket/bag and then she's accidentally dropped it in the car and not realised?

Biscuitsnotcookies · 02/03/2025 16:44

For your own safety I think you should report this to the police. If he continues to harass you this will greatly assist you secure a restraining order.

I would be locking down and changing my passwords and password prompt questions on all of my bank, emails, comms and all of my private accounts. As well as taking all important documents, passports etc out of the house and somewhere secure.

You need be far more careful op. You can not afford to be complacent, and should contact a stalking charity for advice and support. You cannot trust him.

Biscuitsnotcookies · 02/03/2025 16:49

The fact is he knew about the air tag, he simply told you he didn’t receive notifications. He could easily check your tracking history daily without notifications.

My dh for instance would be beyond horrified to find out I had a tag in my car, and would be out there himself hunting for it, your dh is almost certainly 100% behind this, his reaction is very telling.

Hekett · 02/03/2025 16:54

Your ex is a bit of an idiot, isn’t he?

Contact the police for advice!

greengreyblue · 02/03/2025 17:14

Wake up op! He’s controlling and abusive and you didn’t suspect him! 🤦🏼‍♀️

ZebedeeDougalFlorence · 02/03/2025 17:21

The fact that he asked you why you have his AirTag on your phone is a red flag. He was gaslighting you. He is guilty as hell. As others have suggested get garage to find it for you.

HardenYourHeart · 02/03/2025 17:33

I take it you have an iPhone. iPhones warn their users if an air-tag has been traveling with them for more than 24 hours. (I think it was 24 hours). You don't have to have it set up on your phone for it to warn you.

This was implemented after Apple received numerous complaints about air-tags being used for the purpose of cyber stalking. Thankfully your soon-to-be-ex is an idiot and doesn't know this. However, he definitely put it somewhere in your car.

LT1233 · 02/03/2025 17:46

My ex husband tracked my car by throwing an old phone in the bottom of my boot when we split up. I'm also fairly sure he put a key logger on my laptop too.

It's kind of funny now as we're playing amicable/happy families 16 tears later, but I know and he knows what a sly little dick he is without it ever being spoken about, which I love because he loves everyone to think he's just the world's best good egg.

OP, probably gee'd up by some of his friends, he's almost certainly put it in your car and probably shit the bed that you've found out about it instantly. I hope you manage to find it and get some more concrete proof that it's him - he's trying to pin some shit on you so he can tell the world that you're a monster and that you're the reason for everything that's ended your relationship.

cheziebabe · 02/03/2025 17:48

he is defo tracking you and will continue to do so. look on Google how to find it. he will be doing other stuff too in advance of split so change your passwords several times now and later. have you got home cams? he'll be accessing. think of how he can access stuff it's about him feeling in control.

Waterweight · 02/03/2025 18:13

Errr. Sorry but surely if your going through a break up with somebody you deem abusive & your phones saying there's an airtag in your car you'd just call the police

FuckingBamboo · 02/03/2025 18:31

Your ex has put it in your car. He admitted it was his. Of course he’s not going to admit it that he did it as that’s criminal behaviour. The kind of person that tracks you isn’t the kind of person to admit to doing it are they.

CleansUpButWouldPreferNotTo · 02/03/2025 18:35

I read that a good place to look for hidden trackers is in the boot in the spare tyre well, and also around the inside of the spare tyre.

HallidayJones6779 · 02/03/2025 19:09

Hope you found it OP!

BitOutOfPractice · 02/03/2025 19:21

I've had a family member this happened to. He also put an Alexa device under her bed to listen in to her. Fucking creep.

Stay safe OP. This man is dangerous.

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