Criminals Exploit Key Ring Tracking Device Untrue

This online rumor warns that criminals are distributing free keyrings, key fobs, or key chains equipped with tracking chips that enable them to follow potential victims and rob them. While this rumor started circulating  in 2008, it crops up again periodically. If you receive a similar email or social media posting, check the facts before you forward it on to all of your friends and family. It was debunked soon after it appeared, but online rumors never seem to die, or even truly fade away. Examples of Email Rumors Email contributed April 23, 2010: Subject: CRIMINALS NEW STRATEGY: Handing out Key Rings as Tracking DeviceWARN YOUR COLLEAGUES, FAMILY FRIENDS TODAY!!!!*Dont know if its true, but best to be on the safe side.*For your information please:There is a syndicate of criminals presenting themselves as sales promoters who are giving free key-rings/holders at petrol stations or parking lots.Those key ring/holders have a tracking device chip which allows them to follow you. Please don’t accept them.They select their seemingly well-to-do potential victims and if you accept, then you will be in for their tricks. The key holders are very beautiful to resist accepting but remember you may end up paying more than the key holder including the risk to your life.Please advise your family members as well. This earlier email, contributed Oct. 6, 2008, attributed the plot to sources in Africa. Nigeria has a legendary reputation in email forwards. SECURITY ALERT - Nigerians at Gas StationSyndicates made up of Ghanaians and Nigerians are giving free key-rings at gas stations. Dont accept them, as the key rings have a tracking device which allows them to follow you.Forward this alert to friends and family. A friend alerted me on the above and indicated that these guys just select their seemingly well-to-do potential victims and play the trick.The key holders I am told are too beautiful to resist collecting but remember you may end up paying more including your life if you cant resist. Analysis This baseless rumor grew out of a 2008 promotional campaign, when Chevron subsidy Caltex South Africa gave out solar-powered flashing key fobs to advertise its diesel fuel. Each fob contained an LED, a battery, and a computer chip. Someone allegedly dismantled one of the devices, found the chip inside, and jumped to the mistaken conclusion that it was an RFID transmitter. The rumor that it was a tracking device used by criminals was promulgated on a radio talk show and quickly found its way onto the Internet. Caltex responded with a statement: These key rings serve no other purpose than that of creating brand (Caltex Power Diesel) awareness. They are not designed to serve as any form of tracking devices and should under no circumstances be confused as such. Despite this, the rumor continues to circulate via forwarded email and social media postings, as seen in the 2010 examples and sightings in 2014. Moral of the Story Before you forward any such rumors, do a web search for the text verbatim. You are likely to come up with other reported instances such as the examples above. Then you can be assured that this is not a new scam. Resources and Further Reading Media Statement Regarding Caltex Power Diesel Key Rings. InSite. Chevron, 22 August 2008. Internet Archive, 30 July 2014.Van Hoorn, Imke, and Riaan Wolmarans. â€Å"The Great Keyring Paranoia Prank.† Mail Guardian, 28 Aug. 2008.