<p>I’ve seen this particular story covered in the news over the last couple of months, and honestly, I thought it was a big hoax and these people were a little nutty. But now I’m not so sure. </p>
<p><a href=“Cell Phone Stalkers Harass Washington Family - ABC News”>http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/Story?id=3312813&page=1</a></p>
<p>Is this possible?? I know we have a few posters from Washington…I wonder what local reaction is like…is it being taken seriously?</p>
<p>Wow. I believe I read about this a little while back. Is it still going on?? Scary. Where will they strike next?</p>
<p>I find the cell phone company’s attitude extremely frustrating. What is this…does the average worker at the cell company not know their phones/software can be hacked? or are they well aware and trying to hide it? I feel for the family, since my own has dealt with stalking on a personal level…but the ‘big brother’ aspect of this is what is really disturbing to me. </p>
<p>Today on one of the news shows, a rep from Symantec said that, indeed, cell phones can be turned off and on from remote locations and can be used for surveillance…and that this function was actually being pitched as a commodity (for private investigators) to carriers 6 months ago.</p>
<p>Very creepy, imho.</p>
<p>Excuse me, why haven’t these people CHANGED THEIR NUMBERS?</p>
<p>Wait a minute–how can the cell phone know you are chopping limes?</p>
<p>I don’t think I buy that part about someone watching through the phone camera. I think someone has hacked the company software to turn the phone on from remote locations and make phone calls/text…but I think the family also has someone literally watching their home, perhaps with binoculars or telescope.</p>
<p>And I think they changed their numbers…but by now, I think I would have changed carriers. If the cell phone company wouldn’t take me seriously, I would have insisted they release me from my contract.</p>
<p>But there’s another aspect of which I know personally. When our d was being harrassed, we gave her a new phone and number so she could be spared from the stress. But I kept her old phone and recorded all the threats and harrassment for the purpose of building a legal case against the stalker.</p>
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<p>I think so too and this makes the situation REALLY creepy. You can always change your cell phone number (would have done it a long time ago), but that won’t change the fact that someone is spying on you.</p>
<p>Of course, it could be that remote camera/bugs have been placed in the house and sent by wireless to someone’s computer. I saw this on Law & Order SVU once or twice. I’d have the house swept for bugs–and I don’t mean calling the exterminator.</p>
<p>agree ellemenope…to me it seems as though law enforcement is slow to take seriously the possibility that someone is physically near these families…near enough to harm them.</p>
<p>Probably won’t take things seriously until someone gets hurt…</p>
<p>I think the police are not being unreasonable in continuing to consider the possibility that the events are confined within the family.</p>
<p>Idmom06 wrote:</p>
<p><i don’t=“” think=“” i=“” buy=“” that=“” part=“” about=“” someone=“” watching=“” through=“” the=“” phone=“” camera.=“” has=“” hacked=“” company=“” software=“” to=“” turn=“” on=“” from=“” remote=“” locations=“” and=“” make=“” calls=“” text…but=“” family=“” also=“” literally=“” their=“” home,=“” perhaps=“” with=“” binoculars=“” or=“” telescope.=“”></i></p><i don’t=“” think=“” i=“” buy=“” that=“” part=“” about=“” someone=“” watching=“” through=“” the=“” phone=“” camera.=“” has=“” hacked=“” company=“” software=“” to=“” turn=“” on=“” from=“” remote=“” locations=“” and=“” make=“” calls=“” text…but=“” family=“” also=“” literally=“” their=“” home,=“” perhaps=“” with=“” binoculars=“” or=“” telescope.=“”>
<p>I don’t buy that part either, but it would not surpise me if it’s not surveillance by a hidden spycam and video recorder, or real time transmission to an off-site monitor. </p>
<p>Cases of similar circumstances of victims being told what they’re wearing, detailed accounts of conversations, etc. have been investigated and solved and quite a number involve unknown in home video/cam snooping.</p>
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<p>You know…there has been considerable controversy about this case and allocation of police resources. I do think the family has to be investigated…but if it is something going on within the three families, specifically with the teenagers in those families…well those kids have got some cojones carrying this on to this level.</p>
<p>violadad - I woudn’t be surprised at all if your scenario pans out. A lot of that surveillance equipment is pretty easily acquired…and anyone who has watched the Sopranos has surely gotten some pretty good ideas about how to eavedrop…lol!</p>
<p>Now that the FBI is involved, I wonder if they haven’t swept the houses as ellemenope mentioned.</p>
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<p>Absolutely standard police procedure–if a kid or wife goes missing, part of the police is looking for the missing person, another part is investigating the parents or the husband.</p>
<p>Violadad, your scenario reminded me of an episode of Criminal Minds, I think it was (TV show). The murderer arranged it so that he could turn on the mini cam associated with the home computer to spy on the soon-to-be-victims. </p>
<p>Maybe it’s time I started watching more sitcoms…</p>
<p>From a technology perspective, all of these things are entirely possible and doable, with little investment - however, something is wrong with this story. It takes a LOT of motivation, time and effort to maintain a stalking/harrassment effort like this one, and for this duration of time. The perpetrator has to be getting something out of it or benefitting in some way, or else it would be too burdensome to keep it up. Plus, there’s not any apparent escalation, which is typically the case in these scenarios…something’s missing…either someone or several someones are attention seekers, or, less likely, several someones really, really dislike several other someones in this family.</p>