Apple’s AirTag helps you keep track of your items and can be used to track you

Reporter: Andrea Guerrero Writer: Matthew Seaver
Published: Updated:
Apple AirTag (Credit: WINK News)

A new, tiny piece of technology could be tracking you. Victims are sounding the alarm over an apple product AirTag. It is a tracking device meant to help you find where you put a personal item, but now, criminals are using them to take advantage of victims.

Apple released the small AirTags so you can keep track of things you might lose like your keys, wallet or bag at the airport.

There are other people who had different ideas about how to use them.

Rich Kolko, safety and security specialist for WINK News said, “anybody who is concerned about being surveilled by an ex, by a stalker, by someone at work they need to be aware of the possibility that these AirTags can be used in that situation.”

There are videos going viral on social media that show women getting tracking notifications on their phones because there’s an AirTag nearby.

Many people worry human traffickers use this technology to track people they control.

“There’s no doubt that they have complete control over these victims. With this electronic method (it’s) one more thing that’s very scary for victims of human trafficking,” said Kolko.

Retired police officer and FGCU professor David Thomas said he worries how quickly criminals learn to use technology. “Look in your rearview mirror, see if a car follows you and if it makes a turn you make. If it’s a concern then just keep going and call the police while you’re still traveling, so they can respond.”

Thomas said the size of an AirTag makes it difficult to know if the device is behind your license plate, or under their car, or anywhere else for that matter.

“I would just tell you in this day and age watch wherever you are and pay attention to your surroundings and be in tune with what’s behind you, what’s next to you, pay attention!”

None of the local police departments or sheriff’s offices say they have any reports of criminals using AirTags, but they did say they want people to remain vigilant especially during the holidays because this could also be a tactic used by people looking to steal.

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