Carjacking scheme

[j_avonni]

Just received this e-mail:


Here's the scenario: You walk across the parking lot, unlock your car and get inside. You lock your doors, start the engine and shift into reverse. You look into the rearview mirror to back out of your parking space and notice a piece of paper stuck to the middle of the rear window. You shift into PARK, unlock your doors, get out of the car and walk to the rear to remove the paper (or whatever it is) that is obstructing your view. When you reach the back of your car, car-jackers appear out of nowhere, jump into your car and take off! Your engine was running and they practically mow you down as they speed off. Guess what ladies and gents? I'll bet your purse and/or other valuables were still in the car! THIS IS A NEW CAR-JACK SCHEME THAT IS NOW BEING USED...VERY SUCCESSFULLY. What to do: Just drive away and remove the object that's stuck to your window-later.

It would be a good idea to forward this warning to friends and family; especially to women! Their purses contain all of their identification, and you certainly do NOT want someone getting your home address, because - guess what - they already HAVE your keys!

[e2fee]

Where has this happened / been known to happen?

[mbeige]

I think that's a forwarded email. Whenever I go to the car I always check the windows first and foremost, and then anything else that looks odd from when I left it previously. I tell my wife this and some friends too.

[lma1911]

Nowadays dami nila approach to do their crime...Be carefull.

[wrcastro_ph]

Meron na bang ganyang scenario na nangyari in real life? pano yung parking ticket, kung nasa private parking ka? baka sa mga public parking lang nangyayari yan.

[evs_13]

bago gimik yan. ingat na lng cguro tayo and i'll make sure na ipapasa ko rin to sa mga tropa para maging aware din sila

[kiper]

taken from http://www.hoax-slayer.com/car-jacking-warning.html


[SIZE="5"]Car-Jacking Scheme Warning - Paper on Rear Window[/SIZE]

Summary:
Email forward warns of a new car-jacking scheme in which paper is placed on the back window of parked cars as a ruse to get a driver to leave his or her vehicle so that the thieves can easily steal it.

Status: [SIZE="7"]False [/SIZE]-Totally unsubstantiated


ExampleSubmitted, December 2005)

ALL CAR OWNERS AND CAR DRIVERS, PLEASE READ

(originated from [Name of Insurance Company Removed])

Be aware of a new car-jacking scheme. You walk across the car park, unlock your car and get inside, lock the doors, start the engine and select reverse. You look into the rear-view mirror to back out of your parking space and notice a piece of paper stuck to the middle of the rear window. So, you shift back into park or neutral, unlock the doors and get out to remove the paper (or whatever it is) that is obstructing your view.

When you reach the back of your car the car-jackers appear out of nowhere, jump into your car and take off. Your engine was running and you would have left your handbag or briefcase in the car.

APART FROM NICKING ANYTHING OF VALUE, THEY MIGHT FIND YOUR ADDRESS AND THEY ALREADY HAVE YOUR KEYS!

Remember, if you see your rear view blocked like this just drive away and remove the paper later! It is stuck to your window!

THIS SCAM IS HAPPENING IN LONDON RIGHT NOW AND WILL SURELY SPREAD TO OTHER AREAS Be thankful that you read this email and forward it to friends and family especially to women!

JUST BE AWARE AND TAKE CARE. IT WILL SOON ARRIVE IN YOUR AREA.

Commentary:
This widely distributed "warning" message claims that brazen car-jackers are placing pieces of paper on the back window of parked cars as a ruse to get drivers to leave their vehicles with the keys still in the ignition and the engine running. According to the message, when a hapless victim exits the vehicle to remove the offending paper obstruction, lurking car-jackers quickly jump in and steal it away.

The warning has spawned a number of versions and has been set in several countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia. Often, the message claims to originate from an official organization such as a police department, motoring body, or insurance company.

The car-jacking scheme outlined in the email is not implausible. It is possible that criminals could use such a method to steal a car from an unwary victim. However, this degree of plausibility does not mean that such crimes are actually happening. Extensive searches of news, police department and motoring organization websites around the world have offered no confirmation that the car-jacking scheme described is actually occurring. If such car-jackings were really happening in three or more nations, it would be eminently newsworthy. If true, the mainstream media would almost certainly be reporting on such incidents.

The Richland County Sheriff's Department denounces the message as a hoax. The Florissant Police Department also denies that such incidents have been reported in its jurisdiction. Both organizations have been inadvertently associated with versions of the "warning". Urban legends website Snopes.com also classifies the warning message as false.

An English version of the message (shown above) states that such car-jackings are currently occurring in London and claims to originate from a UK based insurance company. However, there is no information about this apparent endorsement of the "warning" email on the insurance company's website. Furthermore, London's Metropolitan Police Service website has no warnings or reports about this method of car-jacking.

A number of credible organizations have published tips for protecting oneself from car-jackers. Tellingly, however, none that I could find mention the "paper on the rear window" ruse as a car-jacking scheme to watch out for.

The fact that virtually identical versions of this warning are set in different parts of the world also strongly indicates that the information in the message is not based on fact. Obviously, from time to time, someone alters an earlier version of the message to suit a local audience by substituting local place names or organizations before forwarding it onward. Thus, they are simply recycling an already dubious warning rather than reporting on events that are actually occurring in the targeted area or country.

Given that there are no credible reports of such crimes occurring in any of the targeted nations, forwarding this email seems counter-productive. Alerting all your friends about a non-existent car-jacking crime wave by emailing them a factually spurious "warning" is unlikely to be at all helpful. In fact, in our already crime-plagued society, perpetrating false warnings just spreads unnecessary fear and alarm. Hoax emails of this nature can also tie up valuable police resources because police personnel have to field numerous enquiries about the status of the messages.

These messages should be deleted rather than forwarded.


peace.

[lolo pepe]

just be careful out there...dumarami na ang threads tungkol sa mga carnaps...

[Horsepower]

The story is actually quite feasible.

[j_avonni]

taken from http://www.hoax-slayer.com/car-jacking-warning.html


[SIZE="5"]Car-Jacking Scheme Warning - Paper on Rear Window[/SIZE]

Summary:
Email forward warns of a new car-jacking scheme in which paper is placed on the back window of parked cars as a ruse to get a driver to leave his or her vehicle so that the thieves can easily steal it.

Status: [SIZE="7"]False [/SIZE]-Totally unsubstantiated


ExampleSubmitted, December 2005)



Commentary:
This widely distributed "warning" message claims that brazen car-jackers are placing pieces of paper on the back window of parked cars as a ruse to get drivers to leave their vehicles with the keys still in the ignition and the engine running. According to the message, when a hapless victim exits the vehicle to remove the offending paper obstruction, lurking car-jackers quickly jump in and steal it away.

The warning has spawned a number of versions and has been set in several countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia. Often, the message claims to originate from an official organization such as a police department, motoring body, or insurance company.

The car-jacking scheme outlined in the email is not implausible. It is possible that criminals could use such a method to steal a car from an unwary victim. However, this degree of plausibility does not mean that such crimes are actually happening. Extensive searches of news, police department and motoring organization websites around the world have offered no confirmation that the car-jacking scheme described is actually occurring. If such car-jackings were really happening in three or more nations, it would be eminently newsworthy. If true, the mainstream media would almost certainly be reporting on such incidents.

The Richland County Sheriff's Department denounces the message as a hoax. The Florissant Police Department also denies that such incidents have been reported in its jurisdiction. Both organizations have been inadvertently associated with versions of the "warning". Urban legends website Snopes.com also classifies the warning message as false.

An English version of the message (shown above) states that such car-jackings are currently occurring in London and claims to originate from a UK based insurance company. However, there is no information about this apparent endorsement of the "warning" email on the insurance company's website. Furthermore, London's Metropolitan Police Service website has no warnings or reports about this method of car-jacking.

A number of credible organizations have published tips for protecting oneself from car-jackers. Tellingly, however, none that I could find mention the "paper on the rear window" ruse as a car-jacking scheme to watch out for.

The fact that virtually identical versions of this warning are set in different parts of the world also strongly indicates that the information in the message is not based on fact. Obviously, from time to time, someone alters an earlier version of the message to suit a local audience by substituting local place names or organizations before forwarding it onward. Thus, they are simply recycling an already dubious warning rather than reporting on events that are actually occurring in the targeted area or country.

Given that there are no credible reports of such crimes occurring in any of the targeted nations, forwarding this email seems counter-productive. Alerting all your friends about a non-existent car-jacking crime wave by emailing them a factually spurious "warning" is unlikely to be at all helpful. In fact, in our already crime-plagued society, perpetrating false warnings just spreads unnecessary fear and alarm. Hoax emails of this nature can also tie up valuable police resources because police personnel have to field numerous enquiries about the status of the messages.

These messages should be deleted rather than forwarded.


peace.

Nonetheless, we must be very careful. Carnappers/jackers may have read this and may use this ruse, which I think is probable.