Women Are Being Stalked by Apple AirTags

Apple AirTag is a tracking device that helps people find lost objects such as keys, wallets, luggage, and purses. The application uses Apple’s “Find My” feature to help locate the devices. Reports surfaced in 2021 that these devices, which detect Bluetooth signals, are being used in dangerous ways.

According to Tom’s Guide, one Twitter user posted that an Apple AirTag had been attached to the front wheel of her car while she was inside a bar. She said when she started to drive away, her iPhone kept showing alerts that an AirTag was moving with her – even though there weren’t any other vehicles on the road. The woman who posted the tweet said that after checking her wallet, purse, and coat pockets; she had a friend check her car. The AirTag was found underneath the front passenger wheel.

Other reports claim that thieves are placing the AirTags on cars to track the cars, so they can be more easily stolen when the car is in a less visible location.  Local police have taken the reports seriously, but the culprits are getting more aggressive. There are now reports that AirTags are being modified with their speakers removed so the devices won’t beep or chirp.

Additional AirTag incident reports all involve women

These are hardly isolated incidents. Per Tom’s Guide, female Twitter users around the country are talking about their experiences being tracked through AirTags:

• In Arkansas, a woman who wants to keep her identity secret, said she found an AirTag on her car’s trunk in November 2021 after she finished shopping for her Christmas tree.
• In California, a woman said on TikTok that she found an AirTag device “wedged behind her car’s license plate” shortly after driving into Los Angeles. The Los Angeles woman was driving what appeared to be a Dodge Charger, “the same model that seems to be sought by Detroit-area car thieves.” When the LA woman reported it to the police, she said the police didn’t help. They “dismissed it as a “non-life-threatening situation.” She said she was going to contact Apple next.
• A third woman said that when she informed her local police that an AirTag appeared to be hidden on her car, the police said they couldn’t do anything because “nothing illegal was going on.” Like other posters, the woman said the AirTag surveillance was “definitely the scariest thing that’s happened to me.” She said the police just told her to call “when someone shows up.”

According to Tom’s Guide, in theory, Apple can link the serial number to the device’s owner. That information could then be used by local law enforcement.

While many of the AirTag reports could be aimed at stealing a vehicle, one TikTok user posted a video that confirms the AirTag device was being used to stalk the female poster. The woman posted a video that mentioned that a “rogue AirTag had followed her on a flight from Austin, Texas to Boston.” The local police found that the AirTag had been taped to the inside of one of the bags she had checked on the plane.

Steps to take if you’re being stalked/tracked by an AirTag

Anyone who learns that their iPhone is informing them that they’re being tracked by an AirTag (that the AirTag is moving with the person) should be concerned. If you’re in a vehicle, check the places where the device may be hidden. Hiding places include behind a license plate, in the wheel wells, under the bumpers, on a trailer hitch, or even on the gas-cap door.

You should also check your clothing and any bags or luggage you’re using. Normally, AirTags should start to chirp if they’re not attached to their paired iPhone for 8 to 24 hours. However, the chirps may not be audible, may be muffled, or (as mentioned above) may have been modified by the wrongdoers.

Knowing what to do is more complicated if you use an Android device. According to Tom’s Guide, Android users may not receive notifications that they’re being tracked. Apple recently released an Android app called Device Tracker that should detect “rogue AirTags,” but the user has to conduct scans regularly – such as several times a day.

Another Android app option is called AirGuard, developed in Germany, which automatically scans for AirTags along with other devices that use the Apple Find My network. Tom’s Guide states it doesn’t know how well AirGuard works and notes that the app does request a lot of information such as GPS location and Bluetooth access.

Finally, Tom’s Guide states that if you do locate the rogue AirTag, you should “disable it by removing the battery — push down on the AirTag’s front, twist it counterclockwise and open up the unit. Write down the AirTag’s serial number and report the incident to your local police department and Apple.”

Can you file a lawsuit if you are stalked?

Stalking victims may have the right to file civil claims if they are being stalked, provided they sustain economic and personal damages. In some cases, psychological damages may suffice. However, if the stalking leads to injuries, you can certainly file a lawsuit for damages. This is true whether you are a victim of a carjacking, a mugging, or even a sexual assault. Our Memphis personal injury lawyers can help you with this. We can also discuss your options for filing or joining a class action lawsuit against Apple. Using devices like AirTags to stalk another person may be considered a federal crime.

At Bailey & Greer, PLLC, we coordinate our civil claims with the criminal complaints that the local prosecutors are likely to file. Our Memphis personal injury lawyers file claims against negligent parties, including those who commit heinous acts of sexual assault. We’re ready to help you hold stalkers and others who violate you responsible so you can take control of your life. To talk with an experienced personal injury lawyer in Memphis or Jackson, call us at 901-475-7434 or complete our contact form to schedule an appointment.