Here’s an unexpected scenario for you to think about: While sitting quietly at home, your doorbell rings. A couple of strangers are darkening your doorstep and they claim that they’re tracking down their lost iPhone and it is pinging from inside your house. They hold up their device to show you a map with a marker on your address.
What would you do?
Is It a Scam? Probably…
If someone comes to your door, claiming their device (phone/watch/earbuds) was stolen and it has been traced to your house, it is probably a scam, but we can’t know that with 100% certainty. It is possible that the people on your porch are
- Aspiring burglars, looking to see if you have dogs, cameras, valuables. They’d love to come in and pretend-search for the Airpods that are actually in their own pockets.
- Honest folk, who have truly lost a device, and are being misinformed by their tracking method. Apple & Google occasionally make mistakes!
So if you are confronted at your home over a missing device, please be cautious, maintain your boundaries and mind your manners. You can repel scammers while also remaining civil with those who are simply mistaken.
Recommendations
I cannot possibly know the exact right course of action for you in this situation. But here is some food for thought:
- Never let a stranger into your home. Do not give them your Wi-Fi password. Don’t discuss the contents or occupants of your home.
- The safest interaction may be to say, “I’m sorry, I can’t help you” and immediately close the door.
- If you entertain conversation over this matter, police involvement will greatly increase everyone’s protection. “Would you like to call the police, or shall I?”
- Suggest to the seeker that they scroll down on their Find My app and use the Play Sound option. If a missing device is nearby, it will play a very loud tone for all to hear.
- You may still want to call the police, even if this issue resolves peacefully for you. Officers may want to log the event and track how often this issue occurs. Don’t be afraid to call your local non-emergency number to make an informational report.