SydLexia.com - The Forums :: View topic

Posted: Sep 09 2009 11:20 pm

Right, so I go to this Military Vet's forum. Great people there. Someone posted this there:

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 game. 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.

Something to consider if you have a GPS - don't put your home
address in it. Put a nearby address (like a store or gas station) so you
can still find your way home if you need to, but no one else would know
where you live if your GPS were stolen.

MOBILE PHONES
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When they rushed down to the bank, the bank staff told them all the money was already withdrawn.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 Within 20 minutes he had withdrawn all the money from their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 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.

Now, half of me wants to say this is probably cut/pasted from an alarmist "pass this on before someone you know DIEZ" chain email based on third hand accounts and urban legends. The other half of me thinks its not entirely implausible. What say you guys? Should I start renaming my cell phone contact list people now? Laughing

2010 SLF Tag Champ Joined: Jun 07 2006 Posts: 12294

personally, I don't have any addresses saved in my GPS. I just use the "recent destinations" icon to get home, since i know which address is mine.

my cellphone has everyone labeled first name, last name. I didn't do any of this to be safe, but I guess it works.

Title: Hugh Joined: Sep 23 2007 Posts: 1591

Eh, it just sounds like basic alarmist bullshit. I don't see why you'd rename your contacts, unless of course they're idiots who'd hand over your PIN or whatever that easilly.

The problems that cause most of the stuff like this is people being idiots, not the technology. You could be just as stupid fifty years ago; it's assumed you won't be, the same way you assume a Nigerian prince doesn't really need your help getting money out of the country. And I realize I'm a bit old fashioned, but I was taught not to prominantly display valuables in my car. Sure a GPS is a bit different, but still, I'd tuck the fucker away when not in use, especially if I'd be saving my home address and other such information in it.

Posted: Sep 10 2009 12:02 am

it sounds like an extreme 'what if?' scenario, but they are reasonable suggestions.

Posted: Sep 10 2009 12:14 am

This is all alarmist bullshit, especially the second one:
1. If your husband is stupid enough to text you the pin to your joint bank account, you deserve to be robbed
2. There is a limit to how much you can take out of an ATM. Unless your balance was $20, they can't clear out your account.

With the first one, who leaves money in their car in a parking lot at a huge sporting event? Either you leave it at home cause you don't wanna bring it, or you bring it inside to get overpriced beers.

Joined: Nov 02 2008 Posts: 725

What about Jeebus' article about the movie he wanted to write about the robotic eagles?

Posted: Sep 10 2009 01:37 am

Dr. Jeebus wrote:

This is all alarmist bullshit, especially the second one:
1. If your husband is stupid enough to text you the pin to your joint bank account, you deserve to be robbed
2. There is a limit to how much you can take out of an ATM. Unless your balance was $20, they can't clear out your account.

With the first one, who leaves money in their car in a parking lot at a huge sporting event? Either you leave it at home cause you don't wanna bring it, or you bring it inside to get overpriced beers.

Pretty much summed up my initial thoughts on seeing this. 1-UP

Posted: Sep 10 2009 02:36 am

I did kinda learn from that first one there, just like CSI taught me how to properly murder a person and leave no proof. =p

I imagine the GPS and garage door key could've been small enough to take with them.

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

GPS: This is why we have home owner's insurance.
Cell: This is why banks have cameras on ATMs and will replace any money stolen via fraudulent means.

Posted: Sep 10 2009 08:36 am

I saw this on Glenn Beck, I think he said Obama did it.

Posted: Sep 10 2009 09:49 am

They both sound like that one e-mail that went around about the girl getting raped and murdered by a man posing as a plainsclothes cop.

Posted: Sep 10 2009 11:31 am

Ash Burton wrote:

I saw this on Glenn Beck, I think he said Obama did it.

Banned Joined: Sep 13 2008 Posts: 3129

Technology is a gray line.

Wether it's the enemy or friend it all depends on who's weilding it

Title: Titlating Joined: Dec 17 2007 Posts: 5042

Ash Burton wrote:

I saw this on Glenn Beck, I think he said Obama did it.

He did, but only to white people.

Posted: Sep 10 2009 02:37 pm

Optimist With Doubts wrote:

Ash Burton wrote:

I saw this on Glenn Beck, I think he said Obama did it.

He did, but only to white people.

Gotta pay for health care reform, one car stereo at a time...

Posted: Sep 10 2009 03:24 pm

There is also an a limit on how much money you can withdraw from a physical bank before they start asking questions. At most banks, once you hit $10,000, they start asking you what the fuck is wrong with you.

However, I do not like the popular cellphone application Loopt. I don't need people knowing where I am 24-7. Especially people I owe money to.

Posted: Sep 12 2009 02:30 am

I got bored one night and edited my entire contact list in to 1337, now I sometimes have trouble figuring out who I'm calling. Confused

Joined: Feb 16 2008 Posts: 832

If technology is an enemy all you'd have to do is cast bolt on it a few times anyway.

Joined: Nov 02 2008 Posts: 725

Blackout wrote:

I got bored one night and edited my entire contact list in to 1337, now I sometimes have trouble figuring out who I'm calling. Confused

At least other people can't find out who you talk to.