Heads up about GPS Nav and Moile phone data

Submitted: Tuesday, Aug 11, 2009 at 13:21
ThreadID: 71406 Views:3335 Replies:2 FollowUps:2
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This will give us something to think about with all our new electronic technology.... especially the GPS warning.
Many people have their HOME location keyed into their Navman unit. Remove it, or else put in the Local Police station as your home address.


GPS

A couple of weeks ago a friend told me that someone she knew had their car broken into while they were at a football match. Their car was parked on the green which was adjacent to the football stadium and specially allotted to football fans. Things stolen from the car included a garage door remote control, some money and a GPS which had been prominently mounted on the dashboard.

When the victims got home, they found that their house had been ransacked and just about everything worth anything had been stolen.

The thieves had used the GPS to guide them to the house. They then used the garage remote control to open the garage door and gain entry to the house. The thieves knew the owners were at the football game, they knew what time the game was scheduled to finish and so they knew how much time they had to clean out the house. It would appear that they had brought a truck to empty the house of its contents.

MOBILE PHONE

I never thought of this.......
This lady has now changed her habit of how she lists her names on her mobile phone after her handbag was stolen. Her handbag, which contained her cell phone, credit card, wallet... etc...was stolen. 20 minutes later when she called her hubby, from a pay phone telling him what had happened, hubby says 'I received your text asking about our Pin number and I've replied a little while ago.



When they rushed down to the bank, the bank staff told them all the money was already withdrawn. The thief had actually used the stolen cell phone to text 'hubby' in the contact list and got hold of the pin number. Within 20 minutes he had withdrawn all the money from their bank account.

Moral of the lesson:
Do not disclose the relationship between you and the people in your contact list. Avoid using names like Home, Honey, Hubby, Sweetheart, Dad, Mom, etc.....
And, very importantly, when sensitive info is being asked through texts, CONFIRM by calling back.
Also, when you're being texted by friends or family to meet them somewhere, be sure to call back to confirm that the message came from them. If you don't reach them, be very careful about going places to meet 'family and friends' who text you.


Hope this might save 1 or 2 of you some future grief

Cheers
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Reply By: MrBitchi (QLD) - Tuesday, Aug 11, 2009 at 13:26

Tuesday, Aug 11, 2009 at 13:26
Urban legend....


Snopes
AnswerID: 378509

Follow Up By: Gone Bush (WA) - Tuesday, Aug 11, 2009 at 13:29

Tuesday, Aug 11, 2009 at 13:29
My first thought too, Mr B.

Anyone who puts their HOME in their GPS should also put a pin number on it to prevent access. Same with their phone.

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Reply By: Nargun51 - Tuesday, Aug 11, 2009 at 14:09

Tuesday, Aug 11, 2009 at 14:09
Refer you to Snopes.com:

The reference you made to your “friend” is a verbatim transcript of the email they use as an example under the heading GPS Burglary. The rider you have put about mobile phone usage is also a direct steal from the Snopes web site

Snopes classifies this as Partly true

The reason I went looking for this is that Australians spell the word ‘Mum’, Americans spell in as you have in your email ‘Mom’
AnswerID: 378511

Follow Up By: Member - The Bushwhackers -NSW - Tuesday, Aug 11, 2009 at 18:45

Tuesday, Aug 11, 2009 at 18:45
Yes, had these examples in emails a few times over the last couple of years, like you say, the spelling of 'Mom' gives you a hint... also 'cell phone', not commonly used in Oz
Dave

P.S. Just used spell check, and 'mom' comes up as incorrect spelling...lol
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