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Bug Sends Lost-Phone Seekers To Same Wrong Address

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.''"

12 of 298 comments (clear)

  1. Business Opportunity by PPH · · 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.

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    Have gnu, will travel.
  2. Re:We need more guns by knarf · · Score: 4, Funny

    If everybody had a gun, this would not be a problem. ;)

    If everyone had a gnu, this would not be a problem.

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    --frank[at]unternet.org
  3. A better response by cellocgw · · Score: 4, 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")

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    https://app.box.com/WitthoftResume Code: https://github.com/cellocgw
  4. Re: Not for the first time by Dupple · · 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

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    Watch those corners
  5. Re:Would a yard-sign help? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Actually, not very effective since they don't have their phone.

  6. New business plan! by frank_adrian314159 · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'd start stealing phones. How would Sprint know the difference?

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    That is all.
  7. Re:i would sue by plover · · 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.

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    John
  8. Re:Would a yard-sign help? by Anonymous Coward · · 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.

  9. Re:Would a yard-sign help? by oddjob1244 · · 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. =)

  10. Re:i would sue by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Nah, too complicated.

    He should start actually stealing phones.

  11. Re:Sucks to be him by AmiMoJo · · Score: 4, Funny

    I set up a 9.99/minute premium phone line and give that out to my creditors. They soon stop harassing me.

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    const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
    SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
  12. Re:Would a yard-sign help? by icebike · · Score: 4, 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.

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    Sig Battery depleted. Reverting to safe mode.