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Parents of adult children

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Original poster

Dd notified of new Apple tag with her since early hours - advice?

346 replies

iknowimcoming · 02/04/2022 21:05

Dd is 22, at uni, lives alone in flat with 24 hour reception (manned 24 hours) we visited her yesterday and went for brunch this morning, this evening she's had a notification that a new AirTag has been with her since 5.01am and shows the walk we took to and from the cafe this morning. She's checked everything and can't find anything, has anyone had this and it's been a mistake or should we be very concerned?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
WeddingHangover · 04/04/2022 21:58

Maybe the Mum is the one that had the air tag planted!

Original poster
iknowimcoming · 04/04/2022 22:23

@WeddingHangover

Maybe the Mum is the one that had the air tag planted!

What and then I completely forgot I did it? It's not an episode of Scooby Doo Hmm

OP posts:
Crinkle77 · 04/04/2022 22:25

@thatsgotit

This so-called innovation is fucking ridiculous. Society does not need this.
Yes I agree. We'll all become brain dead because we've lost the ability to think for ourselves and rely on technology to do it for us.
ColdinNovember · 04/04/2022 23:12

I had this and concluded it was a glitch, likely a neighbour air tag. It looked like it had followed me to work but actually the airtag was just at my house and my location settings picked up the rest of the tracking.

greenlynx · 04/04/2022 23:16

Hope there is an innocent explanation OP. Good that your DD took it seriously and sensibly.

Whalewhisperer · 04/04/2022 23:22

.

Flickflak · 04/04/2022 23:44

This reply has been withdrawn

Message from MNHQ: This post has been withdrawn

Pixiedust1234 · 04/04/2022 23:44

Hopefully the Apple staff are right and its just a glitch

Dipsydoodlenoodle · 04/04/2022 23:47

@Theunamedcat

I have an android and after reading another thread I downloaded a scanner and scanned turns out there was one stuck to my car I threw it down the drain honestly no idea how long it was there I scan regularly now surprisingly my ex has an apple phone
Oh which one? Interested in this now. Clueless android user here.
MrsGrumpyKnickers · 04/04/2022 23:51

Wow, I’ve never even heard of these and only half understand having read all of the above. Good luck getting it found and disabled op.

Pawtriarchal · 04/04/2022 23:58

@Flickflak

Is there a way for your iPhone to refuse to be tracked?
It’s not her iPhone though - it’s a (potential) tracker device that pings off iPhones. She just knows about it because she has an iPhone. If she didn’t, she would possibly be oblivious unless she’d downloaded the relevant app.
BluebellsGreenbells · 05/04/2022 00:00

Can she not ask a friend or friends to take a walk with her coat and bag and see if it moves?

She must have some friends to help?

Sswhinesthebest · 05/04/2022 00:25

So strange

RandomCatGenerator · 05/04/2022 00:32

Do they eventually run out of juice and die?

Summercally · 05/04/2022 00:39

Does she drive? I’ve heard this happen before a few times and the tag has been placed under a license plate.

KittensTeaAndCake · 05/04/2022 00:51

@RandomCatGenerator

Do they eventually run out of juice and die?
Yes they do but the battery takes ages to run out. My cat lost one of his and I couldn't find it (too deep in bramble) but it still shows up on my phone. It's been missing a few months (he had it a month or so before that) and it has about half battery life left.
CircleofWillis · 05/04/2022 00:54

*WeddingHangover
Maybe the Mum is the one that had the air tag planted!

What and then I completely forgot I did it? It's not an episode of Scooby Doo*

I think wedding meant that the air tag could be on you.

ThelmaDinkley · 05/04/2022 01:00

Like an episode of Black Mirror. Hope it gets sorted for you.

Laurengreenhow · 05/04/2022 01:53

Hope you get to the bottom of this and apple come up with an explanation soon

TheRealMrsMac · 05/04/2022 01:54

Just be aware that in accommodation the janitors, maintenance, security and reception staff and landlords are not always good guys.

Like everyone, I hope this is 'just' a technical glitch on this occasion.

Askingforfriend · 05/04/2022 03:30

Apple is being demonized. Ok so tile only works if you have the tile app. The other example I gave was a GPS tracker that only needs to be able to see the sky. It lives in our camper van. There are also SIM card driven trackers. If you want to track someone for sinister reasons you don't need an apple air tag, in fact it is a bad choice because it chirps and notifies the person if they have an iphone.

I doubt MI5 uses air tags for instance.

baroqueandblue · 05/04/2022 03:46

@Askingforfriend and if the person it has been used to 'track' doesn't have an iphone, are they then completely oblivious to the fact that someone with malicious intent knows how to find them? Because presumably then that unsuspecting person could be alone somewhere and the person who planted the tag can do whatever they set out to do, based on them knowing where and when their prey is? Or have I misunderstood the whole concept of what air tags can do?

PriamFarrl · 05/04/2022 07:25

@Asoul80

So these tags are for what exactly? If somebody steals your item and they have an iPhone, apple contact them to let them know its tagged?! Also, you're protected from stalkers only if you own an iPhone?
I have one on my keys. I tend to put my keys down somewhere, leave them in bags, in the pockets of coats etc. I can make it make a sound so I can find them. It also come up with something on my screen to show me which direction they are in.

Perfectly harmless and helpful.

FavouritePi · 05/04/2022 07:42

Yes, they can be used for what you use them for but they are hardly 'perfectly harmless'. Just like the other trackers that can also be used for sinister reasons.

Hopefully Apple can find a way to avoid this kind of issue in the future. I'm not going to put the case I read about here because I don't think OP needs the anxiety but they can be dangerous in the wrong hands. I do hope it's just a glitch.

IndiaRose22 · 05/04/2022 08:14

I think she meant someone planted it on you not your DD