Apple AirTag Stalking Alert Issued By NY Attorney General

NEW YORK — Attorney General Letitia James is warning New Yorkers about a hidden tracking threat from malicious Apple AirTag stalkers.

New York Attorney General Letitia James issued a consumer alert with safety recommendations to protect New Yorkers from potentially dangerous stalkers misusing Apple AirTags to track victims' locations and belongings. Her office said people have reported finding unknown AirTags attached to their cars, in their purses, in coat pockets and hidden with other belongings. Others have reportedly received alerts on their phones that their location information is being shared, even when the targets do not find an AirTag or another connected accessory, James said this week.

Apple AirTags are small tracking devices intended to act as key finders to help people locate their personal items. However, James says a number of cases have been identified in which the trackers were placed on victims' personal belongings with malicious intent.

"Across the country, Apple AirTags are being misused to track people and their belongings to cause harm," James said. "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."

In January, Sports Illustrated model Brooks Nader discovered that she'd been tracked after leaving a bar in New York City's Tribeca neighborhood.

Describing her AirTag stalking experience on social media, the 25-year-old told her followers that she went to several upscale bars in the neighborhood before receiving an alert on her phone that her movements were being tracked

"So I freaked out, obviously, and then, of course, my phone died," Nader said. "It turns out it was an AirTag, which is a tiny little white circular thing that Apple makes. I had no idea that these existed."

Also in January, the Lower Providence Patch reported that a resident in that community contacted police to say she had recently been followed home by someone after she left a movie theater, and only knew about the stalker after receiving a message on her cellphone about the tracking device.

Car thieves have also misused the devices to follow targeted car owners to their homes or to isolated locations.

SEE ALSO:

• Criminals Using Apple AirTags To Stalk: Local Police
• AirTag Stalking: Shoppers Cyberfollowed
• Apple AirTag Followed Resident Home
• Man Finds Apple AirTag Tracker On Car
• Suspect Accused Of Stalking Victim With An Apple AirTag

The Attorney General recommends consumers take steps to protect themselves:

Listen for unfamiliar beeping. When an AirTag is separated from a familiar device for some time, the AirTag will start to make a beeping noise. If you hear this beeping noise, try to locate its source. AirTags can be stuck in various places, including in bags and pockets, under cars, inside of bumpers, and the back of license plates. If you find an unfamiliar AirTag, hold your smartphone up to it to receive information about the AirTag, including its serial number. Write down this information, then disable the AirTag by using the instructions on the screen or by removing the AirTag’s battery and call your local law enforcement for assistance.

Watch for “Item Detected Near You” notifications on iPhones. If your iPhone has been close to an unfamiliar AirTag or other accessory for a prolonged period of time, you may receive a notification on the Find My application stating, “Item Detected Near You.” Tap this message and it will allow you to play a sound on the AirTag in order to find it. You will also be able to use the app to receive information about the AirTag and disable it. Be sure to write down any information you learn about the AirTag before disabling it and call your local law enforcement for assistance. This Find My feature only works if your device is running iOS or iPadOS 14.5 or later, so be sure to keep your device’s operating system up to date.

If you have an Android device, download Tracker Detect from the Google Play Store. If you hear unfamiliar beeping, you can use Tracker Detect on your Android device to find any unfamiliar AirTags within your Bluetooth range. Please note that you will have to manually scan the area using the app; it will not scan for devices automatically.

Know that not all unfamiliar AirTags are malicious. While it is important to be careful, AirTags are sometimes legitimately lost by their users, and your device will alert you regardless. If an AirTag has been reported lost, your Find My notification will give you information to allow you to return it.

Check for updated guidance. Apple has issued guidance on how to deal with unknown AirTags or Find My alerts. If you come across any issues, check with Apple for updated guidance.

Update your Apple device’s operating system. Apple is implementing new safety measures, so make sure you update your Apple device’s operating system regularly.

To report a misused Apple AirTag found in your belongings, New Yorkers can contact the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) by filing a complaint with the OAG Internet and Technology Bureau.