Man accused of utilizing seven AirTags to trace his ex-wife
An alleged member of a Russia-based human smuggling community used at the least seven Apple AirTags to stalk his spouse. And, they could be his downfall.
Ibodullo Muhiddinov Numanovich, a Tajikistan citizen residing in the US, is believed to have smuggled his ex-wife, a Tajikistani lady recognized solely as “S.Okay.” in court docket paperwork, into the US. After she arrived within the nation, Numanovich Apple AirTags to watch her location.
Numanovich would disguise the trackers inside S.Okay.’s automobile, putting at the least seven on the car between March and April. In keeping with paperwork seen by 404 Media, he’d hidden them almost wherever he might, together with the entrance bumper, wheel wells, and aspect mirror casing.
S.Okay. situated the primary tracker, whereas FBI investigators on Numanovich’s path situated the subsequent six. The FBI used the discovered AirTags to look at him and lure him in, as he returned to the automobile to put extra trackers.
Along with monitoring S.Okay. with AirTags, Numanovich additionally used sexually specific images and movies of S.Okay. to try to dissuade her from in search of assist.
Numanovich is believed to be concerned in a a lot bigger, transnational human smuggling community based mostly out of Russia. Financial institution data present that in 2022, one among Numanovich’s financial institution accounts made greater than $2.3 million in transactions, whereas one other made $2.2 transactions. A 3rd account confirmed $74,000 in deposits and $64,872 withdrawals in a single month.
Numanovich pleaded not responsible to the stalking costs and is ready to face trial on June 8.
In October 2023, a lawsuit towards Apple claiming that AirTags are “the weapon of selection of stalkers and abusers,” had been joined by three dozen victims. The category-action lawsuit was given the inexperienced mild in March 2024.
Particular person states have begun pushing laws that might make monitoring people with AirTags illegal. In Could, Pennsylvania state representatives pushed ahead a second piece of laws that might penalize the unauthorized use of Bluetooth trackers, like AirTag, to trace somebody.
Two years prior, Ohio launched laws that might prohibit utilizing monitoring gadgets on one other individual’s property with out the individual’s specific consent.
In case your iPhone tells you that an AirTag is following you, AppleInsider has a useful information that can assist you decide what the very best plan of action is.
