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

[ClaraOswald]

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

That's what we do as well. It's nice to be able to pull up the app and see that our bags made it onto the plane with us. I'm always paranoid about them being left behind.

 

[davidhr]

I’d add that, while it could have been placed there with bad intentions, it could have been accidentally dropped (AirTags are used for wallet, keychains, etc) by the prior renter if it was in the driver seat.

While you get a notification if you let your AirTag behind, it’s easy to miss the notification if you’re in a hurry. Like to get a flight.

 

[ClaraOswald]

I’d add that, while it could have been placed there with bad intentions, it could have been accidentally dropped (AirTags are used for wallet, keychains, etc) by the prior renter if it was in the driver seat.

While you get a notification if you let your AirTag behind, it’s easy to miss the notification if you’re in a hurry. Like to get a flight.

See below: it was actually place inside the upholstery so definitely sounds like bad intentions. (Unless the rental company placed it there maybe??)

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!

 

[Brian Noble]

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.

This was my reaction too.

 

[Brian Noble]

See below: it was actually place inside the upholstery so definitely sounds like bad intentions.

Or they set it next to them on the seat, sat down, and it slipped into the opening.

Yes, there's a chance that Bad Intentions were involved, but the most likely explanation is very benign. Renting a car only to tag it and do Something Nefarious to the next driver---the driver that you don't even know---is a pretty expensive way to Do Crimes. It's a moderately expensive way even if it was some minimum wage rental car employee, because those tags are not cheap.

 

[davidhr]

See below: it was actually place inside the upholstery so definitely sounds like bad intentions. (Unless the rental company placed it there maybe??)

Didn’t read that part. That might change things. Still possible it wasn’t on purpose, but who knows. Better be safe than sorry.

FYI for everyone reading this. When your iPhone detects an airtag, you can use the notification to make it play a sound. After you find it you can tap the AirTag with your iPhone and it’ll let you disable it (you can also remove the battery) and see the last 4 numbers of the phone it has been linked to (you might recognize it). That will stop the tracking.

That’s also why the android app is needed as it gives you more options and information.

 

[MICKIMINI]

See below: it was actually place inside the upholstery so definitely sounds like bad intentions. (Unless the rental company placed it there maybe??)

PD quite sure criminals placed it there! I am so glad they reported it!

 

[MICKIMINI]

I’d add that, while it could have been placed there with bad intentions, it could have been accidentally dropped (AirTags are used for wallet, keychains, etc) by the prior renter if it was in the driver seat.

While you get a notification if you let your AirTag behind, it’s easy to miss the notification if you’re in a hurry. Like to get a flight.

Someone intentionally sliced open the drivers seat and buried it deep in the upholstery. I can see if it was dropped on the seat, but that was not the case. The PD found it.

 

[MICKIMINI]

See below: it was actually place inside the upholstery so definitely sounds like bad intentions. (Unless the rental company placed it there maybe??)

PD did not believe it was the rental company. It was bad guys.

 

[irlandaise]

I finally bought two and stuck them in our checked luggage for our last WDW trip in October!

Wasn't it great knowing where your luggage was? I love it when I'm sitting at the gate and can see that my bag has moved from the terminal to the plane.

 

[MICKIMINI]

Or they set it next to them on the seat, sat down, and it slipped into the opening.

Yes, there's a chance that Bad Intentions were involved, but the most likely explanation is very benign. Renting a car only to tag it and do Something Nefarious to the next driver---the driver that you don't even know---is a pretty expensive way to Do Crimes. It's a moderately expensive way even if it was some minimum wage rental car employee, because those tags are not cheap.

The PD thinks the car was driven from TX to NYC. There was a cut on the seam on the upholstery. Very intentional. It is just scary to think that you are being tracked even though you obviously were not the one originally targeted.

 

[MICKIMINI]

Wasn't it great knowing where your luggage was? I love it when I'm sitting at the gate and can see that my bag has moved from the terminal to the plane.

Clean underwear! Yay!

 

[Lewisc]

The most likely explanation...A previous renter had the air tag on the keychain that had the rental car keys. The renter removed the tag as he was retuning the car. The tag slipped and went into a crack in the seat. Cheaper to replace the tag then pay the rental agency for damages to the seat that would be necessary to retrieve the tag.

Second likely a renter spouse was using the car. The renter wanted to make sure spouse wasn't going to any alternate locations.

A car thief isn't likely to target a regular rental car. A rental agency isn't going to use an airtag for vehicle tracking. Commercial solutions are used.

 

[MICKIMINI]

The most likely explanation...A previous renter had the air tag on the keychain that had the rental car keys. The renter removed the tag as he was retuning the car. The tag slipped and went into a crack in the seat. Cheaper to replace the tag then pay the rental agency for damages to the seat that would be necessary to retrieve the tag.

Second likely a renter spouse was using the car. The renter wanted to make sure spouse wasn't going to any alternate locations.

A car thief isn't likely to target a regular rental car. A rental agency isn't going to use an airtag for vehicle tracking. Commercial solutions are used.

The PD found an intentional slit in the upholstery (side not seat). It was not an accident. Likely a mule being tracked. TX to NYC.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Or they set it next to them on the seat, sat down, and it slipped into the opening.

Yes, there's a chance that Bad Intentions were involved, but the most likely explanation is very benign…

Oh c’mon, they slit the apolstery and buried the air tag in it. OP didn’t say they rented a piece of crap car so it was likely a fairly new, normal fleet car- that apolstery doesn’t slit itself

The only q that will never be answered is were they being tracked or was the prior occupant tracked.

 

[gottalovepluto]

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

Side note- Apple and UA are now connected so people can send their air tag info to UA for tracking bags if their luggage is lost. I think Air Canada too.

Many more airlines are getting lined up as well!

 

[pzw90]

Doubtful but could be a nefarious group that targets tourists. Especially if they copied the key.
You grab your rental early and have time to check-in, so you stop at some attraction. Leaving all your bags in the car while you step away. Only takes seconds to clear out the car and trunk then rifle through the bags later. Laptops, electronics, jewelry etc. might be the target.

 

[disneylandtour]

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.

l believe that this is what you agree to in the recent Apple agreements that most people never read--because they are very long. So if you have an IPhone, you're tracking all kinds of airtags and devices that are not yours.

 

[Sandisw]

l believe that this is what you agree to in the recent Apple agreements that most people never read--because they are very long. So if you have an IPhone, you're tracking all kinds of airtags and devices that are not yours.

Good to know! I am just glad I don't have to do anything special for it to pop up!

 

[Brian Noble]

Oh c’mon, they slit the apolstery and buried the air tag in it. OP didn’t say they rented a piece of crap car so it was likely a fairly new, normal fleet car- that apolstery doesn’t slit itself

I hang out with people who (used to) Do Crimes. This would not be in their Top Ten (or even 100) things to try.