In the College Point, Queens, a 27 year old, purchased a blue 2018 BMW for 6,000 cash on Facebook Marketplace. And what should have been a moment of joy turned into a disaster. What happened next seemed to have no complications; a smooth exchange, the keys were with him, and the BMW was parked safely at home.
There was however, one detail that he neglected, the one that turned this into news: an AirTag concealed within the car.
Am I being tracked? That’s probably the question he should’ve asked himself, but he saw it, and to him, it looked worthless at that exact moment, so he just discarded it. That was a decision that he came to regret soon after.
A terrifying wake-up call
Just a few hours later, around 3:30 a.m., the buyer was sudently awaken by the sound of his BMW starting outside. That’s when he found himself face-to-face with the same man who had sold him the car—only now, the seller was pointing a gun at him. The man who previously sold him the car, was outside, but this time, another associate was in the driver’s seat.
In an instant, the BMW took off down the street, leaving the surprised buyer in place. It was sheer amazement to the man, who thought it was one of the most sophisticated thefts because the New York police reported the thugs used the car’s AirTag and location to plan the precise theft.
What this story really says
Technology serves its purpose but at the same time, opens offers the very doorway of crime. AirTag is designed for lost counters and bags, not for tracking buyers after the purchase violation of privacy. In this instance, the diminutive tag surveillance system is designed for tracking and tracing.
We all know that buying through Facebook Marketplace always comes with risks of scam, fake titles, and unreliable sellers. However, the situation that appeared in Queens shows how people our days blends traditional method of crime with modern system tools.
The buyer ignoring the AirTag did not appear important at that moment. Yet, at the same time, it was the very choice that facilitated the thieves their job and gave them the location of the parked BMW.
According to experts, “This isn’t the first time AirTags have been misused”. Reports of stalkers, and thieves, using these to track individuals have emerged across the United States. To mitigate potential abuse of the technology, Apple has implemented abuse prevention safety alerts on iPhones. However, the technology still has the ability to go unnoticed.
How to protect yourself
As of now, the New York police hasn’t caught the suspects yet, but the case is already stirring concerns on the safety of buyers when purchasing vehicles over the Internet. A couple of important details emerge:
- Don’t ignore red flags: If you come across any tracking device such as an AirTag, to point of the police is far better than disposing the device. Restricted use of the internet and social media is encouraged.
- Multiple police stations and city halls now have dedicated “safe exchange zones” for face-to-face transactions.
- Buddy system: Friends and family make it much easier to avoid victimization.
- Elimination of Cash Deals: instant money transfers, or bank payments prove are the safest way.
Nobody expects the seller of the car to come back after few hours with a gun, but this is exactly the case in a Queens neighborhood. For anyone who is scrolling on Facebook Marketplace in search of a new car, this story serves as a warning, nothing should compromise your safety for the sake of a “good deal.”