Bug Sends Lost-Phone Seekers To Same Wrong Address 298
netbuzz writes "A mysterious GPS-tracking glitch has brought a parade of lost-phone seekers — and police officers — to the front door of a single beleaguered homeowner in Las Vegas. Each of the unexpected visitors – Sprint customers all — has arrived absolutely convinced that the man has their phone. Not so, police confirm. The same thing happened in New Orleans in 2011 and Sprint got sued. Says the Las Vegas man: 'It's very difficult to say, 'I don't have your phone,' in any other way other than, 'I don't have your phone.''"
Business Opportunity (Score:5, Funny)
Open an Apple store there. Sell iPhones. The people showing up are inevitably short a phone.
I'm surprised Apple hasn't patented this yet.
Re:We need more guns (Score:5, Funny)
If everyone had a gnu [gnu.org], this would not be a problem.
A better response (Score:5, Funny)
"These aren't the GPS coordinates you are looking for."
(Well, that's better than, say "Imagine a Beowulf cluster of people looking for lost phones")
Re: Not for the first time (Score:5, Funny)
I skimmed the submission, it rang a bell, I searched it, submission on front page, I pasted and Wham! Instant tit head!
Thems the breaks
Re:Would a yard-sign help? (Score:5, Funny)
Actually, not very effective since they don't have their phone.
New business plan! (Score:5, Funny)
I'd start stealing phones. How would Sprint know the difference?
Re:i would sue (Score:5, Funny)
He could offer to move to a nicer house in a nicer part of town, and sell his house to Sprint. Better, he could offer to sell his house to AT&T and let them open a ATT Wireless store in his house - after being screwed by Sprint, perhaps their frustrated customers would be looking for a change.
Re:Would a yard-sign help? (Score:5, Funny)
First, rage is taking over at this point. They're missing their precious shiny. And, as far as a computer's told them, you have it. Thus, what would normally be impotent rage is now focused rage: They now "know" that you've got their precious, precious shiny! Do you seriously expect them to stop and read a lowly yard sign as they advance on your home with crowbars and torches? Even worse if that yard sign is contradicting the word of an all-knowing, completely logical, infallible computer? A computer just like their missing pet shiny?
Second, as others have pointed out, they don't have their phones. They can't call Sprint.
Re:A better response (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Would a yard-sign help? (Score:5, Funny)
Please call SPRINT at 1-800-xxx-xxxx
Telling people, who are looking for their lost phone, to call a number, might not be the most effective tactic. =)
Re:Sucks to be him (Score:4, Funny)
I had this problem when I first got my Google Voice number before. I ended up redirecting the number to the front office of the collection agency. After three months, I never got a call from them again.
Re:i would sue (Score:5, Funny)
Nah, too complicated.
He should start actually stealing phones.
Re:Sucks to be him (Score:5, Funny)
I set up a 9.99/minute premium phone line and give that out to my creditors. They soon stop harassing me.
Re:Would a yard-sign help? (Score:5, Funny)
According to TFA there is now a sign on his house to that effect.
If I was stealing cell phones, I'd put that sign up too.
Re:Sucks to be him (Score:4, Funny)
You really think the Casinos would not put an end to pickpockets on their turf? They don't like competition from amateurs.
Re:Sucks to be him (Score:4, Funny)
Seriously, angry people have no sense of imagination.
Re: Not for the first time (Score:4, Funny)
I skimmed the submission, it rang a bell, I searched it, submission on front page, I pasted and Wham! Instant tit head!
Thems the breaks
That's terrible, reading anything in the submission should be a crime. We managed to ban articles back in 2005, but skimming submissions is far to close to "informed"
Re:Would a yard-sign help? (Score:4, Funny)
"I'm sorry, but your cell phone is in another castle!"