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Richmond homeowner says 'Find My iPhone' app mistake causing angry residents to come to his house (Texas)
abc13.com ^ | April 4, 2023 | Brooke Taylor

Posted on 04/05/2023 12:43:14 PM PDT by lowbridge

A homeowner in Richmond said almost a dozen people keep knocking on his door at all hours of the day and night, claiming he stole their lost items because of what he said is a mistake on the "Find My iPhone" app.

Scott Schuster, who has lived in his home since 2018, said this has been going on every few months over the last few years. He sent ABC13 doorbell footage of the incidents.

"I lost my cell phone, and I clicked Find My iPhone, and it says it was at this address," one person is heard saying.

Most of the people who show up are visibly upset or frustrated. One person caught on his doorbell camera even threatened to call the police.

"Well, the cops are on the way, so you may want to talk to me before they come here," another resident said.

Schuster is not sure why the 'Find My iPhone' App is pinging his address either. He is a software engineer with his own theories, but he has no way of knowing for sure. He is adamant that this is a huge mistake and worries it could turn dangerous. He said he is just upset about the people showing up at his door because he has two young children, 7 and 9 years old, and worries for their safety.

"There are plenty of irrational people if they are angry, drunk, had a rough night and lost their phone and thought it was stolen," Schuster said. "That's my biggest concern. Someone coming to the house potentially with a weapon."

Schuster shared proof of him reaching out to Apple Support many times, as early as 2022. He called them, messaged them, and filed a formal report which is listed as closed.

(Excerpt) Read more at abc13.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Computers/Internet; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: apple; bigtech; iphone; texas
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1 posted on 04/05/2023 12:43:14 PM PDT by lowbridge
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To: lowbridge

Really, he should just sell the house and move. Apple will not do anything about this until he gets shot by someone and they get hit with a huge lawsuit, but at that point, any relief would be too late to help him.


2 posted on 04/05/2023 12:49:49 PM PDT by Boogieman
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To: Boogieman

I would have my lawyer contact them. Threaten them with a lawsuit, pain and suffering, etc. It will then get resolved.


3 posted on 04/05/2023 12:53:19 PM PDT by woodbutcher1963
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To: lowbridge
Dude needs a sign...


4 posted on 04/05/2023 12:54:04 PM PDT by moovova ("The NEXT election is the most important election of our lifetimes!“ LOL...)
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To: moovova

“No, I Don’t Have Your Effing Phone....Go Away!”


5 posted on 04/05/2023 12:56:18 PM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: lowbridge

He needs a good lawyer. This is not being taken seriously by Apple Inc. A high dollar lawsuit might help to get their attention. Meanwhile, he’s smart to get a local news station involved.


6 posted on 04/05/2023 12:56:21 PM PDT by lee martell
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To: lowbridge

He needs an AR15 and an attack dog.


7 posted on 04/05/2023 12:56:47 PM PDT by gitmo (If your theology doesn't become your biography, what good is it?)
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To: lowbridge
Schuster shared proof of him reaching out to Apple Support many times, as early as 2022. He called them, messaged them, and filed a formal report which is listed as closed.

 

He probably pissed off some techies at Apple. This is payback time.

8 posted on 04/05/2023 12:58:16 PM PDT by Responsibility2nd (Donald Trump is a setting sun. Ron DeSantis is a rising star.)
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To: lowbridge

He should stop being the regional iPhone Fence


9 posted on 04/05/2023 12:58:33 PM PDT by algore
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To: lowbridge

He should stop being the regional iPhone Fence


10 posted on 04/05/2023 12:58:59 PM PDT by algore
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To: lowbridge

Reminds me of Pokemon GO. Folks were kicking in private property to capture a Pokemon. The app was throwing Pokemon into private properties because the app design was flawed.


11 posted on 04/05/2023 1:02:11 PM PDT by Openurmind (The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world it leaves to its children. ~ D. Bonhoeffer)
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To: moovova

Better yet...put a sign on his front door that reads:
= = = = =

“There is a mistake in the
Apple ‘find my phone app’.
Many people are directed
to my address IN ERROR.
Your phone is not here.”

“If you knock on my door,
or ring my doorbell, I will
have you arrested for
TRESPASSING. I will prosecute
you. I will sue you.
THIS IS YOUR ONLY WARNING.”

“Once again, your phone
is not here.
Now, go away.”


12 posted on 04/05/2023 1:03:41 PM PDT by moovova ("The NEXT election is the most important election of our lifetimes!“ LOL...)
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To: Boogieman

I’d print out the news story and tape it to my front door.


13 posted on 04/05/2023 1:04:56 PM PDT by Jewbacca (The residents of Iroquois territory may not determine whether Jews may live in Jerusalem.)
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To: dfwgator

14 posted on 04/05/2023 1:08:46 PM PDT by moovova ("The NEXT election is the most important election of our lifetimes!“ LOL...)
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To: lowbridge

He could make millions from a lawsuit against Apple.


15 posted on 04/05/2023 1:19:07 PM PDT by Revel
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To: Boogieman

“Apple will not do anything about this until he gets shot”

That might happen one day. I wonder if he can pack his family and sue Apple for having to flee his house.


16 posted on 04/05/2023 1:19:36 PM PDT by DEPcom (DC is not my Capitol after Jan 6th lock downs.)
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To: lowbridge

I kind of like the Find My Phone app!

My son had his iPhone stolen at a high school basketball game and we tracked it in real time right to the front door of the thief. It was the FATHER of on of the visiting players. The guy was sitting behind my son and snagged it when it slipped out of pocket - within 10 seconds of when it was last used.

We looked for it at the end of game and then used the app when we couldn’t find it. Tracked it in real time through neighborhoods right to the guy’s door.

Called the cops and at first they refused to do anything. Then I convinced them to at least ask. The guy said he was at the game but didn’t know anything about it.

We went to our community police and they stayed on it. Our detective told the guy that they were going to review the (nonexistent) video from the game and if they saw him get it, they would arrest him for a felony.

Next day, the guy brought $1000 cash to our police station.

Yea, I like Find My Phone.


17 posted on 04/05/2023 1:27:42 PM PDT by Bartholomew Roberts
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To: lowbridge

Sounds like the iphones are being stolen and then the GPS location is being spoofed.

Unfortunately, this poor guy is having his home as the target location set up by the actual thief.

I don’t know if someone could be tracked down via ip address or if Apple could track when and where the spoofed address was changed. It might be impossible as I would suspect the thief is also using a VPN, but Apple should be able to track the phone up to where it was and see the spoof historically.

Tenorshare iAnyGo
Freely Change GPS Location without Jailbreak!
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18 posted on 04/05/2023 1:30:55 PM PDT by EBH (America Blackmailed, The True Story of the World War...Coming Soon)
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To: Bartholomew Roberts

Should have mentioned that after the first police visit, the guy beat the crap out of the phone with a hammer. Looked like a potato chip.

He brought that to the police station with the $1000. Luckily we could reuse the chip.


19 posted on 04/05/2023 1:31:59 PM PDT by Bartholomew Roberts
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To: dfwgator

“No, I Don’t Have Your Effing Phone....Go Away!”

And we no see your cat!


20 posted on 04/05/2023 1:38:17 PM PDT by Fai Mao (Starve the beast and steal its food!)
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