Help! Find my phone scam?

[Domo]

Hoping someone can offer some advice.
A friend's mum has received a really nasty letter through the post from someone claiming she has stolen their phone. The letter shows a screenshot which shows the exact address of her house.

It's sent her into a real panic, for a start she's 70 and lives on her own. She's been to the police and they're not helpful at all.

Could this be a scam? I've even simulated losing my phone and the accuracy is nothing like what this person is suggesting. For example I see a big green dot which covers half our street where as this person is claiming iCloud is providing them with a specific address right down to house number.

Any advice gratefully appreciated.

 

[Meatball]

iCloud doesn't provide an exact address, all it can give you is coordinates on a map! The accuracy depends on how the iPhone's location is being calculated; it will either be GPS, Wifi, triangulation or a combination of the three! Generally if the iPhone is indoors then the location is less accurate as GPS requires a clear view of the sky.

I would suggest maybe a neighbour might have the iPhone?

 

[Rroff]

I've never seen GPS (even assisted) accurate enough to be able to pin it for definite to one house (unless its completely isolated) - is the image the same as the ones on google maps streetview?

 

[Domo]

I'll scan the letter tomorrow and post it on here - I've not seen it yet just going on what I've been told. I do understand some rather colourful language was used + the fact it was sent by post obviously means whoever this person is knows where this lady lives.

Interestingly, their email address wasn't obscured 100% (they'd attempted to black it out on the screenshot) - and I've traced them on FaceBook.

 

[Ryan-3]

Can I just ask, how did she get her iPhone? If she bought it brand new, or got it from a network, then it's simply a scam. Just a thought as these things can often get overlooked!

 

[PurplePhoenix]

Did they provide the correct serial number ?

Easy guess is someone followed her home when they seen she had a iPhone, Then sent the letter trying to get her to give them the phone for free.