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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:
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6
RampantIvy · 03/04/2022 07:37

Being an Android household I have never heard of this. This thread has been an eye opener, so I am going to watch the videos and educate myself.

urbanmist · 03/04/2022 07:39

I don’t know much about these, but could it be in the flat next door? My iPhone picks up next doors WiFi and even connects to their printer. If the walls are thin, it could be that.

FTEngineerM · 03/04/2022 07:42

I had one of these notifications the other day because I was with DP all day and he had his AirPods on him.

There’s options to stop it tracking you, to make a noise, you just have to tap on the notification and it takes you to the settings to be able to locate it and/or disable it.

Mellowyellow222 · 03/04/2022 08:00

@urbanmist

I don’t know much about these, but could it be in the flat next door? My iPhone picks up next doors WiFi and even connects to their printer. If the walls are thin, it could be that.
The airbag was travelling with her - so this isn’t the issue.

I borrowed my sisters keys which have an air tag. I got an alert showing me that the airbag was travelling with me after a few hours, it showed my route very accurately.

They are quite big so should be easily found. They are also £30 each so if someone has deliberately dropped it into this girls belongings they are happy the lose £30 to see her whereabouts.

Does she have her own air tag. Sometimes mine do this for some reason. I have a few - on my keys, on my car, on my bag and on my bike.

Also if I am out with my sister her tag sends me the stalker alert too.

Inklingpot · 03/04/2022 08:01

Some people posting on this thread don’t seem to understand that air tags are not minute Russian spy tracking devices the size of a pin head.

Dd notified of new Apple tag with her since early hours - advice?
FiveForAPound · 03/04/2022 08:02

Yes @Blondeshavemorefun you would get a notification that an AirTag has been 'travelling with you' after a few minutes. My dh had one on his car keys and if I take his car I get a notification every time.

They are much too big to be stuck on your shoe or inside a shoe.

Mellowyellow222 · 03/04/2022 08:04

@Inklingpot

Some people posting on this thread don’t seem to understand that air tags are not minute Russian spy tracking devices the size of a pin head.
Exactly 😂😂😂. They are quite chunky too.

They have been deliberately made larger. Which is a pain because I would like to put one on my cats collar but they are too big. My parents have one on the dog though. Very handy.

Justleaveitblankthen · 03/04/2022 08:04

Do you know if Android notify you in the same way with their own version please?

QuillBill · 03/04/2022 08:04

*There are other tracking devices and there have been before airtags came out, so I don't get the demonizing of Apple specifically. Tile is one example, we also have a device in our camper called a Spot that tracks by GPS.

*I agree.

Mellowyellow222 · 03/04/2022 08:07

They can be slotted into a card like a credit card.

I have never seen a credit card as thick as an airbag.

Everyone posting in this thread needs to Google air tags and see what size they are! They are a chunky disc about the size of and old 50p but fatter.

tempester28 · 03/04/2022 08:08

I am sure you have thought of every possibility, but is it a coincidence that her friend stayed? is it possible that her friend may the victim of the tracking and has unknowingly left something behind in the flat?

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 03/04/2022 08:09

@Askingforfriend

There are other tracking devices and there have been before airtags came out, so I don't get the demonizing of Apple specifically. Tile is one example, we also have a device in our camper called a Spot that tracks by GPS.

We have them, I bought some because I lost my keys one day and it has some really expensive to replace keys on there. Luckily I was able to backtrack and find them but I was scared of how much money and pain in the neck it would have been to replace them and put a tag on them.

Tile’s user base is limited to everyone who has a Tile and is running the app. AirTags use all iPhones so the user base is enormous and in many places the coverage is near 100%.
spotcheck · 03/04/2022 08:11

@Gingernaut

It's the size of a coin.

She needs to systematically search every part of her bag and coat and not be so stupid as to leave her bag and coat unattended again.

Behave. There's no need for such a harsh comment. This is OP's daughter.
GoldenOmber · 03/04/2022 08:11

Does your daughter have some Apple device that could have been accidentally swapped with the friend who was staying? AirPods are easy to mix up, and it would explain why she can’t see any obvious AirTags.

I’d rule that out before going straight to explanations about stalkers sewing AirTags into the lining of her bag, if I were you.

FiveForAPound · 03/04/2022 08:12

Size and Weight
â–ª Diameter: 1.26 inches (31.9 mm)
â–ª Height: 0.31 inch (8.0 mm)
â–ª Weight: 0.39 ounce (11 grams)

Dd notified of new Apple tag with her since early hours - advice?
Patchbatch · 03/04/2022 08:14

Unless she was carrying tonnes of stuff on your walk that should narrow it down a lot and should be fairly easy to search- they are small but not miniscule. Unless it was the friend (does seem odd in honesty that they happened to be staying when it activated), then if it was something devious when she was out and about its very unlikely they would have had a chance to hide it particularly well, or sew it into the fabric or whatever.

MNCar · 03/04/2022 08:31

This thread is enlightening!

Myalternate · 03/04/2022 08:41

@MNCar

This thread is enlightening!
Isn't it just! But I'm still unsure how they operate. For example, I have a tracker on my car for obvious reasons and if it had been stolen, the thief would not be aware it was being tracked. However, if it was an Airtag wouldn't it just alert the thief via their own iphone ?
Mellowyellow222 · 03/04/2022 08:42

@Cervinia

I wondered about stuck to the sole of her shoes too. Some of those sticky carpets in clubs or gum on the pavement.
I can’t imagine how you wouldn’t notice an air tag on your shoe. They are so chunky you would be able to walk properly.

As for the lady who said some one found on hidden in her bra???? How would you not notice😂😂😂. They aren’t tiny

Theunamedcat · 03/04/2022 08:46

Maybe her bra isn't tiny? Or padded? I'm not saying it's probable just that it's not impossible

BabbleBee · 03/04/2022 08:47

@Mellowyellow222 I have one on my cat, it sits quite nicely in a holder on his collar. It doesn’t dangle down, it was a bit too big / heavy for that. I don’t find it that effective though, we can’t have enough iPhones in our area!

QuebecBagnet · 03/04/2022 08:47

But I'm still unsure how they operate. For example, I have a tracker on my car for obvious reasons and if it had been stolen, the thief would not be aware it was being tracked. However, if it was an Airtag wouldn't it just alert the thief via their own iphone

Only if they had an iPhone or an android app. And even then I think it would take a few hours to get the alert. Most people would hopefully already be tracking their car by then. Plus even if they get an alert they have to find it. Most people aren’t just going to pop it in the glove box.

Blondeshavemorefun · 03/04/2022 08:48

@FiveForAPound

Yes *@Blondeshavemorefun* you would get a notification that an AirTag has been 'travelling with you' after a few minutes. My dh had one on his car keys and if I take his car I get a notification every time.

They are much too big to be stuck on your shoe or inside a shoe.

Thanks @FiveForAPound

So if was on a walk with op dd but not at the takeaway then must be in her coat or bag is that right

PandaPando · 03/04/2022 08:51

Check all your things? If you did the walk with her and she’s checked everything could it be tracking you and it’s just her device flagged it up but it’s actually attached to you??

Mummyoflittledragon · 03/04/2022 08:51

I hope your dd has found the AirTag. I only read about these things the other day and it is really scary stuff.

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