The Laptop Smash and Grab: How It's Done
Mon Mar 5, 2007 5:53PM EST
See Comments (4)
I have no idea who produced this video, but kudos to whoever did (and to the guy who put it up on YouTube) so we could all see how one of the most common computer scams is done: Stealing your laptop when you're in the security line at the airport.
The scam is of course simple, but remarkably effective. Here's how it works in a nutshell: Two crooks size you up in the airport terminal, then pick a bag that looks like the one you're carrying from their supply on hand. The crooks get in line before you, putting the "ringer" bag on the conveyor belt and crook #1 heads through the metal detector. After the mark puts his bag on the conveyor, crook #2 heads through and deliberately sets off the detector, leaving the mark stranded behind the security gate. By the time he makes it through, crook #1 has taken the mark's bag and left behind the lookalike "ringer" bag. When the mark makes it through security, he takes the lookalike bag and never notices what happened until it's too late.
Of course, this is a UK video, and I'm not sure what the current policy there is, but here you have to remove your laptop from your bag before sending it through the x-ray machine. Naturally this could help dissuade people from taking entire bags, but then again it makes it easier for a thief to quickly grab it and run. Regardless, it's helpful to know how a scam like this works.
Watch the video. It's a quick three minutes that could save you a lot of money someday.
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2 Posted by shidan_m on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:19PM EDT Report Abuse
Good points. In addition the use of cameras at the security check point is prohibited... It's unlikely this is genuine.
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3 Posted by rlaird@flash.net on Wed Mar 7, 2007 1:15PM EST Report Abuse
Another tactic the owner of the laptop should employ is to watch the line in front of them, and not put their laptop on the conveyor belt for the x-ray machine until it is their turn to go through the metal detector. This should mean that their laptop will emerge from the x-ray machine at the same time they are ready to collect it.
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4 Posted by eliter1 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:53PM EDT Report Abuse
I don't put my laptop through the conveyor belt until it is my turn to go through the metal detector
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1 Posted by commorancy on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:28PM EDT Report Abuse
Considering that most airports in the US require you to have a valid ticket to make it through the security check point, it may make it more expensive for these crooks to pull this one (or they need a ticket printer). In other words, if the crooks don't have what appear to be valid tickets, they won't be able to make it through the detectors. So, they'll have to pay for (or at least make forgeries, still somewhat costly) to get through the security check point. Also, as you suggested, most airports require taking the notebook out of the case. So, that would require the thief to put the notebook back into the case before absconding with it. Further, if someone is halted for metal detection, the security people shouldn't hold up the line in front of the walk-through detector. Instead, the person setting off the detector should be immediately ushered out of the way and then wanded elsewhere. Security personnel should also prevent anyone from taking bags off of the conveyor if they halt the line for any reason. This is a mistake on the part of the security personnel at the airports. Finally, you should mark your bag(s) distinctly. It doesn't have to be so obvious that anyone could see it, but it needs to me marked in such a way that you can recognize it immediately and at a reasonable distance.