As the holiday season ramps up,?????? ?????? ??????? ???????? ????????? so do the schemes of so-called "porch pirates" — and this time, they're alarmingly tech savvy.
The Wall Street Journalreported last month on a wave of thefts involving AT&T iPhones delivered via FedEx, largely attributed to both companies’ lax policies on requiring signatures for high-value deliveries. However, an incident in September has highlighted a disturbing escalation.
SEE ALSO: Apple's new iPhone update is locking law enforcement out of phonesKHOU 11, a station located in Houston, broke the story: Deer Park Police arrested two teenagers for allegedly stealing four iPhone 16 devices in a highly orchestrated operation involving stolen tracking data.
The alleged thieves, who reportedly flew to Texas from Detroit for a weeklong heist spree, were caught red-handed with tracking numbers for multiple deliveries. Armed with this data, they targeted FedEx trucks, tailing them for hours and even confronting a driver with a legitimate tracking number to demand the package.
The big mystery here is how these teens gained access to the tracking numbers for iPhones being shipped in Texas. Neither AT&T nor law enforcement has offered much clarity.
“These are crimes committed by sophisticated criminals that are being investigated by both federal and state law enforcement agencies,” AT&T said in an email statement to Mashable. “Parcel theft is a concern across many businesses, and it is something we take seriously. We work with law enforcement agencies and parcel carriers to protect our deliveries from these sophisticated criminals."
One theory, circulating without confirmation, points to a possible rogue employee inside AT&T funneling tracking data into the black market. Regarding this, AT&T refused to comment on "rumors and speculation."
With the idea that porch pirates may be getting more sophisticated, here are some simple ways to safeguard your deliveries.
One of the easiest ways to deter package theft is to require a signature for delivery. By adding this extra step, you ensure that your package isn’t left unattended on your porch. Major carriers like FedEx, UPS, and USPS allow you to select this option during checkout or shipping setup.
Consider setting up a secure delivery box outside your home. These locked containers provide a safe spot for couriers to drop off packages and are designed to prevent unauthorized access. Some models even include smart locks that sync with delivery notifications, giving you full control over access. You can also explore delivery services like Amazon Key, which allows packages to be placed inside your garage or another secure area.
Most porch pirates are looking for quick, easy targets, and the sight of a camera can be enough to make them think twice. Many models, like the popular Ring or Google Nest cameras, offer motion detection, two-way communication, and real-time alerts to your phone, so you can keep an eye on your packages from anywhere.
Topics AT&T Cybersecurity
Curry Speaks Out
'Joker 2' first look: Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix are caught in a bad romance
Bing's AI chatbot doesn't think like a human. Neither does your dog.
Try 'the new Bing' ahead of the official launch. How to preview the AI
Federal Judge Denies Tule Lake Committee’s TRO Motion
The Bing AI chatbot is getting updated after a tough first week
'The Pale Beyond' is a dangerous video game for dog lovers
AI.com domain evidently acquired by OpenAI, takes users straight to ChatGPT
End of an Era in Santa Monica
Washington state proposes new bill to protect child 'influencers'
JANM Recognizes Two ‘Woman Warriors’
'Attachment' review: Creepy mother
Google Bard: Leaked email asks reveals employees asked to help test the AI chatbot
Tesla will open some of its EV charging stations to other electric cars
Janz Challenging Nunes in San Joaquin Valley Congressional Race
Apple's iOS and macOS have a nasty vulnerability, so update now
European Commission staff are banned from using TikTok
13 addictive Korean dramas to binge right now
Cerritos Hosts Students from Kakamigahara
Why 'Like a Dragon: Ishin' should or shouldn't be your first 'Yakuza'
Best streaming deals 2024: Starz still $3/monthIowa vs. Illinois basketball livestreams: Game time, streaming dealsiMessage is exempt from new EU regulations. Here's why.New Google ad policy bans fake endorsements like the notorious 'Shark Tank keto gummies'Best streaming deal: Get three months of Starz for $3 per monthNew Adobe 'AI Assistant' will summarize PDFs for youUNC vs. UVA basketball livestreams: Game time, streaming dealsNew reports link Meta and 'momfluencers' in perpetuating child exploitation onlineGet up to 44% off Samsung monitors at AmazonBest Google Pixel deal: Save $160 on the Google Pixel 7 at Woot! Apple shares most popular podcasts and books of 2023 Cyber Monday streaming deals still live: Hulu, Paramount+, and more ChatGPT revealed personal data and verbatim text to researchers Apple Card ends partnership with Goldman Sachs: 3 reasons we saw it comin' Is the internet bad for mental health? New study has an answer. 'May December' review: The Netflix movie that side Best Cyber Monday iPad deals 2023: Still live Alaska Airlines Cyber Monday sale: One ChatGPT's 'make it more' is a new trend that takes images to their absolute limit Best Cyber Monday robot vacuum deals 2023
0.1677s , 10027.6953125 kb
Copyright © 2025 Powered by 【?????? ?????? ??????? ???????? ?????????】Enter to watch online.Thieves reportedly use AT&T data to track and steal iPhones — how to protect yourself,Global Perspective Monitoring
