DIL Received IPhone Alert That Airtag Is Tracking You In Rental Car!

[MICKIMINI]

My son just called from NYC metro area where they are staying for a few days. They picked up a rental car yesterday at a major airport. Our DIL got an alert that an airtag is tracking her not long after they picked up the car. They could not find it in the car and called PD. PD did respond and found it buried in the driver seat upholstery and told them to return the car immediately. They are totally creeped out but glad they reported it. They will be coming up to ME and then to see us in NH on Christmas. How scary to think whoever placed this in that car could track them. The car will be in our garage when they are here and the perp would have known our (remote) location. I don't know if there is a way to find out if there is one in a rental car or not. Just an FYI to take an alert seriously if you get one on your phone!

Scary!

 

[Sandisw]

Wow…is there a setting on her phone that is active to enable that alert?

I don’t have any air tags so just wondering how the AirTag in the car was recognized by her phone.

 

[ehh]

My son just called from NYC metro area where they are staying for a few days. They picked up a rental car yesterday at major airport. Our DIL got an alert that an airtag is tracking her not long after they picked up the car. They could not find it in the car and call PD. PD did respond and found it buried in the driver seat upholstery and told them to return the car immediately. They are totally creeped out but glad they reported it. The will be coming up to ME and then to see us in NH on Christmas. How scary to think whoever placed this in that car could track them. The car will be in our garage when they are here and the perp would have known our (remote) location. I don't know if there is a way to find out if there is one in a rental car or not. Just an FYI to take an alert seriously if you get one on your phone!

Scary!

If they're getting the alert shortly after taking the rental, like they haven't done anything but drive since taking possession of the vehicle, the prior renter of the vehicle probably left it in the car and forgot to take it out when they were done with the car.

I've forgotten a SunPass in a rental car and almost forgotten my rental car AirTag multiple times. Can be hard to find the right balance of hiding it enough to be useful in case something happens to the rental and recovering it at the end of the rental period.

 

[The Jackal]

We have gotten the same alert a few times at WDW. Fortunately it must have just been some nearby us with one that was going the same way for a while. You have the ability to listen to sounds that the AirTag can pick up. Got to give Apple some major credit for letting people know about the AirTag. If Disney IT was in charge of something like this it might work around 1 day a year.

 

[Chili327]

Wow…is there a setting on her phone that is active to enable that alert?

I don’t have any air tags so just wondering how the AirTag in the car was recognized by her phone.

It should notify you automatically. I have had other peoples bikes in my vehicle and got a notice that freaked me out until I realized it was just their bike.

*if you have an iPhone*

 

[Sandisw]

It should notify you automatically. I have had other peoples bikes in my vehicle and got a notice that freaked me out until I realized it was just their bike.

So if there is an AirTag nearby and you have an iPhone it lets you know?

There isn’t anything like an AirTag app or anything I would have to have loaded?

As I said, I don’t have them and no idea how they work.

 

[MICKIMINI]

The PD found a slit in the driver seat upholstery. They told son and DIL it was likely placed there for an illegal purpose by a prior renter. They said this is not common, or at least finding one hidden deep within the upholstery in a rental car.

I am very low tech, but I think it is a safety feature to alert you if a tracker is with you somehow. I'll get more info when kids are here in a few days!

 

[Chili327]

So if there is an AirTag nearby and you have an iPhone it lets you know?

There isn’t anything like an AirTag app or anything I would have to have loaded?

As I said, I don’t have them and no idea how they work.

Correct if you have an iPhone it should be automatic.

Would be shady marketing if Apple set it up that way on purpose, but I’m sure there is probably an app to defect things like that if you had an android too.

 

[davidhr]

Correct if you have an iPhone it should be automatic.

Would be shady marketing if Apple set it up that way on purpose, but I’m sure there is probably an app to defect things like that if you had an android too.

There’s an app for android.

 

[ClaraOswald]

So people alerts when airtags are nearby?? So....the airtags in my luggage are ending up alerting people?

 

[Dave006]

So if there is an AirTag nearby and you have an iPhone it lets you know?

You do need to have some Apple settings enabled.

• If you have an iPhone or iPad, Tracking Notifications will send a notification to your Apple device. This feature is available on iOS 14.5 or later, and iPadOS 14.5 or later. To receive alerts, make sure that you:
  • Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services, and turn Location Services on.
  • Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > System Services. Turn Find My iPhone on.
  • Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > System Services. Turn Significant Locations on to be notified when you arrive at a significant location, such as your home.
  • Go to Settings > Bluetooth, and turn on Bluetooth.
  • Go to Settings > Notifications > Tracking Notifications, then turn on Allow Notifications.
  • Turn off airplane mode. If your device is in airplane mode, you won't receive tracking notifications.

Dave

 

[intamin]

Correct if you have an iPhone it should be automatic.

Would be shady marketing if Apple set it up that way on purpose, but I’m sure there is probably an app to defect things like that if you had an android too.

Even with Android, mine came with the notification automatically enabled. I recently switched from iPhone to Android after being an iPhone user for 14 years and my android recognized that I had an "unknown" airtag that was actually just the airtag attached to my keys. Most iPhones and Androids should have it enabled automatically unless you disable the setting.

 

[davidhr]

So people alerts when airtags are nearby?? So....the airtags in my luggage are ending up alerting people?

Only when they remain close to them for a relatively long period of time.

 

[gottalovepluto]

So people alerts when airtags are nearby?? So....the airtags in my luggage are ending up alerting people?

No. The air tag and person need to be in close approximation and moving together for a certain amount of time.

iPhone user here and air tag user. I’ve never had an alert about being followed by an air tag.

 

[gottalovepluto]

The PD found a slit in the driver seat upholstery. They told son and DIL it was likely placed there for an illegal purpose by a prior renter. They said this is not common, or at least finding one hidden deep within the upholstery in a rental car.

I am very low tech, but I think it is a safety feature to alert you if a tracker is with you somehow. I'll get more info when kids are here in a few days!

Yes it’s a safety feature. After air tags were introduced they were quickly utilized by stalkers, etc as now anybody could track practically anything.

Thank you for sharing the story. Idk if I would have taken it seriously enough to call the police in their situation but I sure will now! I wonder if it could have been placed there by the prior occupant to set them up to have the car stolen from them? Scope it out, confirm your equipment can jack it, give it back to the company and just pick it up when it’s out under someone else’s name. Thank goodness whoever put the AirTag in there was an idiot without a full understanding of them!

 

[Chili327]

So people alerts when airtags are nearby?? So....the airtags in my luggage are ending up alerting people?

Only when they remain close to them for a relatively long period of time.

Yep this. Only if you actually follow them around or they follow you around. I suppose it could mistakenly happen on bus or train type of situations.

 

[Flash_Sloth]

Yep this. Only if you actually follow them around or they follow you around. I suppose it could mistakenly happen on bus or train type of situations.

Yes, I had this happen earlier this year. After an Alaska cruise, we did a land tour by bus & train. We were around the same other guests on the tour for a few days. I received notices that their AirTags were following me, and I'm sure they got notices that my AirTags were following them. Completely understandable in that situation.

But that is a little creepy having one hidden in a rental car.

 

[irlandaise]

What to do if you get an alert that an AirTag, set of AirPods, Find My network accessory, or compatible Bluetooth location-tracking device is with you​

https://support.apple.com/en-us/119874

I'm not clear on whether the Tracker Detect app gives you more information about AirTags than the built-in Android alerts. I don't have an Android phone so I can't test that.

 

[MICKIMINI]

So people alerts when airtags are nearby?? So....the airtags in my luggage are ending up alerting people?

Never thought of that! I finally bought two and stuck them in our checked luggage for our last WDW trip in October!

 

[MICKIMINI]

Yes it’s a safety feature. After air tags were introduced they were quickly utilized by stalkers, etc as now anybody could track practically anything.

Thank you for sharing the story. Idk if I would have taken it seriously enough to call the police in their situation but I sure will now! I wonder if it could have been placed there by the prior occupant to set them up to have the car stolen from them? Scope it out, confirm your equipment can jack it, give it back to the company and just pick it up when it’s out under someone else’s name. Thank goodness whoever put the AirTag in there was an idiot without a full understanding of them!

That idea is terrifying! The PD didn't elaborate on theories other than to get that car back to the airport and out of their hands asap. You have to have a driver's license and a credit card to rent a car. I was thinking the prior renter may have transported (mule) an illegal substance and the "owner" tracked the goods. Last year, their rental car smelled like pot. We left it in the garage with all the windows open for two days to air it out (900 sf garage at 40 degrees - lots of open air) which helped a bit. Again, picked up at a NYC metro airport.

We moved north to be in a remote area and the idea of someone being able to track a vehicle parked in our garage is just frightening. No one would have a reason to drive up our mountain unless they lived around here. We see delivery trucks, utility trucks and pick up trucks in the winter. Last summer (our first here) we saw Bentley's, Rolls Royce and all brands of crazy expensive vehicles driving around our area. Summer is when the rich descend on the lakes region. We've felt somewhat insulated from crime, but I think it is now everywhere. I've seen more NH troopers on the highways lately than any time I can remember and I appreciate the fact they are there. It has to be a response to more crime coming into NH which is sad.

I am grateful my son and DIL are safe firstly and secondly the PD responded to their call. A warning to all. Thank you all for your kind words. disboards family is wonderful!