A Mobile Phone and GPS Warning

Glenn Dawes · #1 26-02-2009, 08:26 AM

Hi all,

I must admit I have mixed feelings about general, none astronomy topics being discussed on IIS but I thought this was important enough to share with you all. This is a copy of an email I got at work - food for thought.

Glenn

"In case you haven't read this yet. This gives us something to think about with all our new electronic technology. Take extra precaution.

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 up 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told them all the money was already withdrawn.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withdrawn all the money from their bank account.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 :
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 text 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.

*PLEASE PASS THIS ON
* I never thought about THAT! As of now, I no
longer have 'home' listed on my cell phone."

RB (Andrew) · #2 26-02-2009, 08:59 AM

Thanks Glenn,

I knew about the GPS, never set your home address on there, it's best if you need to set it, to have it set to an approximate local in the area.

But the mobile phone scam is a new one to me.

Scary stuff !

badchap · #3 26-02-2009, 10:43 AM

This email reads to me like one of those "Warning - pass this on to everyone you know !" emails that do have some truth to them, but are a bit misleading, skimming over the more important points, and probably not really being about a specific incident.

The lesson about the GPS is not that 'home' was programmed into it, but that a GPS was left in a parked car in the first place !
You should also avoid leaving any bills, reciepts or other correspondence with your address or other personal details on it in your parked car.

The moral of the mobile phone story as stated in that email, should actually be the same caution that banks and other financial institutions repeatedly issue - do not reveal your PIN to anyone.

As far as having 'home' or husband/mother/father etc., programmed into your mobile phone, I don't see how it's any worse than some people having "ICE" (in case of emergency) in their phone contact list, as ICE is more than likely to be someone of significance to the mobile phone owner.

Bosco !
Bosco !
Bosco !

iceman (Mike) · #4 26-02-2009, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by badchap

This email reads to me like one of those "Warning - pass this on to everyone you know !" emails that do have some truth to them, but are a bit misleading, skimming over the more important points, and probably not really being about a specific incident.

That's how I read it at first, too.

There could be some quite valid points in it but at first read, it sounded like a chain mail to me

Barrykgerdes · #5 26-02-2009, 11:13 AM

That "Warning" has been around for quite some time. I have seen it a few times. While it is a worthwhile message. It is only a warning and is probably not factual. Most people recieving a text message asking for their PIN number would immediately "smell a rat". The first thing you are told when it is issued is do not disclose it to anyone.

Barry

rider · #6 26-02-2009, 11:20 AM

I find it slightly unsettling that there are people sharing the roads with me, that need a GPS to find their home.

Rider

WhiteStarLine (Bill) · #7 26-02-2009, 11:46 AM

I'm always a bit sceptical about these 'cute' manufactured warnings, always accompanied by the rejoinder to 'pass this on to anyone in your email list'. The GPS one sounds like a very targeted operation (vehicle theft accompanied by full on home clearance operation with pre-planned truck). That level of planning does not sound like a "here's a GPS, let's click on the Home button and see where it leads us". Until they turned up with truck in tow, how do they know the whole family went to the football.

Of more serious concern these days is identify theft and I note that a significant number of IIS members have their photo, actual name, date of birth and even their exact latitude and longitude (hint: geolocation reveals address from lat / lon). You need to be authenticated to join but that is not too hard (no offence Mike!). Then, they post which astronomy camps they intend attending!

I'm no different, so please don't think I'm having a go at anyone - life is all about risk management . . .

On the positive side, most IIS members readily show pictures of their equipment that is obviously so expensive, there cannot be anything left of any value in the house. And I'm not aware of many drug addicts asking the local pub patrons if anyone wants a cheap Nagler . . .

Cheers,

Bill (no photo, as I don't know how to attach it)
123 Main St Newville 4018
Not home 9:00 - 4:30 pm
Alarm code 3452-4834
Laundry door lock currently broken
National Australia bank acct #301-348146J pin 0000
Visa 5163-4562-3921-9454 (3 digit rear code 376)
Driver's license 4521-JF3
LCD TV, quick release bracket model

xelasnave · #8 26-02-2009, 12:00 PM

I will never leave the house again
alex

RB (Andrew) · #9 26-02-2009, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by badchap

I don't see how it's any worse than some people having "ICE" (in case of emergency) in their phone contact list, as ICE is more than likely to be someone of significance to the mobile phone owner.

LOL if anyone steals my mobile and tries to ring ICE they'll get Mike Salway.

[1ponders] (Paul) · #10 26-02-2009, 12:51 PM

thunderchildobs · #11 26-02-2009, 01:12 PM

From google

Results 1 - 10 of about 49,800 for A couple of weeks ago a friend told me that someone she knew had their car broken into while they were at a football. (0.34 seconds)

Seems a like a viruis email to me

PS
Did you know that mars will be as big as the full moon in august

iceman (Mike) · #12 26-02-2009, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thunderchildobs

PS
Did you know that mars will be as big as the full moon in august

ROFL!

Also ROFL at RB!

Miaplacidus (Brian) · #13 26-02-2009, 01:35 PM

Yes, double ROFL from me too.

Bill, what draw do you leave your Naglers in?

Regards,

Brian.

Ric · #14 26-02-2009, 02:25 PM

In this electonic age where everyone is going hi-tech it comes as no surprise to me that the criminals are going the same way.

Cheers

[1ponders] (Paul) · #15 26-02-2009, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ric

In this electonic age where everyone is going hi-tech it comes as no surprise to me that the criminals are going the same way.

Cheers

The criminals are waaaayyy ahead of us Ric

Well some of us anyway

darrellx (Darrell) · #16 26-02-2009, 03:09 PM

Hi all

For what its worth, a similar email did the rounds in 2002/3 (I seem to remember), just after a new batch of the Nigerian scams came out. There may be a hint of truth in it, but I believe it is just another chain-mail hoax. Though it does hi-light some prudent practices that everyone should be away of.

Darrell

Analog6 (Odille) · #17 26-02-2009, 03:10 PM

Glenn, I never thought of these things. The text one wouldn't worry us as my hubby doesn't know how to send one and would ring me, but it is scarey just the same. I have passed this on to my Cat World forum, mostly ladies there who'll be glad of the heads up.

Jen · #18 26-02-2009, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RB

LOL if anyone steals my mobile and tries to ring ICE they'll get Mike Salway.

Quote:

Originally Posted by thunderchildobs

From google

Results 1 - 10 of about 49,800 for A couple of weeks ago a friend told me that someone she knew had their car broken into while they were at a football. (0.34 seconds)

Seems a like a viruis email to me

PS
Did you know that mars will be as big as the full moon in august

gman (Grant) · #19 26-02-2009, 07:36 PM

One thing you should do when leaving your car is remove the GPS holder from the windscreen and clean the window of the mark left by the suction cup.
Thieves do target cars that can be clearly seen to possibly contain a GPS unit.
Easily carried and sold

How many people take their GPS unit every where with them or just take it off and put it in the glove box or under the seat