NEW York Attorney General Letitia James issued a warning to consumers about potential bad actors using Apple AirTags to track people’s locations and their belongings.
Consumers have reported finding unknown AirTags attached to their cars, in their purses, coat pockets and other property.
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Other people reportedly received alerts on their phones that their location was being shared, even when the targets couldn’t find an AirTag or other connected accessory.
“Across the country, Apple AirTags are being misused to track people and their belongings to cause harm,” said James in a press release.
“Tracking people without their awareness or consent is a serious felony and will not be tolerated by my office. I urge all New Yorkers to pay close attention to their belongings and follow the tips provided by my office to stay safe.
“New Yorkers’ safety is my top priority and my office will continue to do everything in its power to protect New Yorkers.”
Apple AirTags are small tracking devices used to act as key finders for people to locate their personal items.
However, scammers have been using the small devices on people’s personal belongings in an effort to track them.
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It’s unknown if this issue is happening in states outside of New York State but here are tips James recommended that people can take to protect themselves and their property.
Pay attention to unfamiliar beeping. When an AirTag is separated from a connected device for some time, it will begin beeping.
Try to locate the source of the noise at the tags can be found in multiple places including bags, pockets and under cars. If you find the AirTag, you can hold your phone up to it to receive information on it, including its serial number.
Write down the information and disable the AirTag. Be sure to call your local law enforcement for assistance.
If you receive a notification that reads “Item Detected Near You”, tap the message and it will allow you to detect the AirTag.
If you own an Android device, download the Tracker Detect app from the Google Play Store. This helps you track any unfamiliar AirTags within your Bluetooth range.
Another recommendation is to update your device’s operating system. Apple is implementing new safety measures. Updating your device regularly will help keep you safe from these malicious attacks.
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