Warning!!! - paper on the back window of your vehicle

[jayemkay]

Not sure if this is another new M.O. but nevertheless, please be advised and spread the word...

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Warning..!!! ! Warning...!! !! Warning..!!! !

Just last weekend on Friday night we parked in a public parking area. As we drove away I noticed a sticker on the rear window of the car. When I took it off after I got home, it was a receipt for gas. Luckily my friend told me not to stop as it could be someone waiting for me to get out of the car. Then we received this email yesterday:

WARNING FROM POLICE - THIS APPLIES TO BOTH WOMEN AND MEN:
BEWARE OF PAPER ON THE BACK WINDOW OF YOUR VEHICLE -- NEW WAY TO DO CARJACKINGS (NOT A JOKE)

Heads up everyone! Please, keep this circulating. ... You walk across the parking lot, unlock your car and get inside... You start the engine and shift into Reverse. When you look into the rearview mirror to back out of your parking space, you notice a piece of paper stuck to the middle of the rear window. So, you shift into Park, unlock your doors, and jump out of your car to remove that paper (or whatever it is) that is obstructing your view. When you reach the back of your car, that is when the carjackers appear out of nowhere, jump into your car and take off. They practically mow you down as they speed off in your car. And guess what, ladies? I bet your purse is still in the car. So now the carjacker has your car, your home address, your money, and your keys. Your home and your whole identity are now compromised!

BEWARE OF THIS NEW SCHEME THAT IS NOW BEING USED

If you see a piece of paper stuck to your back window, just drive away. Remove the paper later. And be thankful that you read this e-mail. I hope you will forward this to friends and family, especially to women.. A purse contains all kinds of personal information and identification documents and you certainly do NOT want this to fall into the wrong hands.

ingat ingat na lang tayo mga peeps...

[shadow]

matagal na kumakalat sa emails ito.. pero meron kasing loophole eh...kung i-carjack yun kotse mo bakit kailagan pa nila na intayin pumasok ka sa kotse at makita yun papel then lalabas ka pa...eh pwede naman nilang gawin BEFORE ka pa lang sumakay ng kotse mo...

[woohoo]

Maybe they're avoiding complications. Kung masasalisihan ka paglabas mo ng kotse, di ka na nila kailangan pang takutin o tutukan ng baril o patalim. Baka umiiwas silang manakit ng tao o makapatay.

[jayemkay]

Well, whether meron loop hole or wala, important thing is when the situation arises, it is much better to be prepared and aware.

[emms1121]

+1. Thanks for the share!

[simplicity]

kaya nga i always circle around my car to look for inconsistensies before i enter..
baka may guhit o tama ng pinto ng kabilang kotse kasi... nadale na ako niyan eh...

pero buti na yung maingat.. ;)

[Ramza]

Thanks Jayemkay for sharing!

[josep]

appreciate your inputs Jayemkay..

[LeOxe]

thanks for sharing this very useful information.

[donbuggy]

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

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 (Full commentary below.)

Status:
False - Totally unsubstantiated

Example:(Submitted, 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.
http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/carjack.asp

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.

Australian Example:

Beware - Warning from NRMA

You walk across the car park, unlock your car and get inside. Then you lock all your doors, start the engine and shift into REVERSE, and you look into the rear-view mirror to back out of your parking space and you notice a piece of paper stuck to the middle of the rear window. So, you shift the gear stick back into PARK, unlock your doors and jump out of your car to remove that paper (or whatever it is) that is obstructing your view.

When you reach the back of your car, that is when the car-jackers appear out of nowhere, jump into your car and take off!! Your engine was running, you would have left your purse in the car and they practically mow you down as they speed off in your car.

BE AWARE OF THIS NEW SCHEME THAT IS NOW BEING USED IN SYDNEY AND COULD SPREAD ACROSS AUSTRALIA.

Just drive away and remove the paper that is stuck to your window later, and be thankful that you read this email. I hope you will forward this to friends and family especially to women!

A purse contains all identification, and you certainly do NOT want someone getting your home address. Especially when they already HAVE your HOUSE KEYS!

You may like to let your friends know this can happen..

[jayemkay]

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

it makes absolutely NO sense to have a hoax about a scam

again, whether its a fake or not, better to be an informed driver...than a skeptic who ends up still being a victim.

[niky]

Still makes no sense. If I were a carjacker, I'd wait till the owner reaches the car and unlocks it, then approach them and remove the forcibly before they can get in, lock the car and drive away. It makes absolutely no sense to stick a piece of paper on the windshield that the owner may or may not pay attention to.

This is an old... oooooold hoax. It's been posted here many times before. Bottom line is... when parking, make sure that you're in a place that is visible to the street or to passers-by, and when you get in the car, lock it and start it right away.

[gmustpoison1]

Bago Scheme ito ah.............. Buti na lang na i-post dito yan
pag-nakakita ako ng papel na yon pupunta muna ako sa maraming tao saka ko aalisin marami panamang masasamang loob dito sa amin


+1

[rai711]

Not sure if this is another new M.O. but nevertheless, please be advised and spread the word...

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Warning..!!! ! Warning...!! !! Warning..!!! !

Just last weekend on Friday night we parked in a public parking area. As we drove away I noticed a sticker on the rear window of the car. When I took it off after I got home, it was a receipt for gas. Luckily my friend told me not to stop as it could be someone waiting for me to get out of the car. Then we received this email yesterday:

WARNING FROM POLICE - THIS APPLIES TO BOTH WOMEN AND MEN:
BEWARE OF PAPER ON THE BACK WINDOW OF YOUR VEHICLE -- NEW WAY TO DO CARJACKINGS (NOT A JOKE)

Heads up everyone! Please, keep this circulating. ... You walk across the parking lot, unlock your car and get inside... You start the engine and shift into Reverse. When you look into the rearview mirror to back out of your parking space, you notice a piece of paper stuck to the middle of the rear window. So, you shift into Park, unlock your doors, and jump out of your car to remove that paper (or whatever it is) that is obstructing your view. When you reach the back of your car, that is when the carjackers appear out of nowhere, jump into your car and take off. They practically mow you down as they speed off in your car. And guess what, ladies? I bet your purse is still in the car. So now the carjacker has your car, your home address, your money, and your keys. Your home and your whole identity are now compromised!

BEWARE OF THIS NEW SCHEME THAT IS NOW BEING USED

If you see a piece of paper stuck to your back window, just drive away. Remove the paper later. And be thankful that you read this e-mail. I hope you will forward this to friends and family, especially to women.. A purse contains all kinds of personal information and identification documents and you certainly do NOT want this to fall into the wrong hands.

ingat ingat na lang tayo mga peeps...

Sir, saang place yung public parking na sinasabi mo?

[Gerbo]

Just remove the paper before you go in your car. Of course, be alert.