This story was first published on September 2, 2008
Outline
Message warns that a free key holder being handed out at petrol stations contains a hidden device that is being used by criminals to track the movements of potential victims.
Brief Analysis
The claims in the message are untrue. In 2008, free promotional key rings were handed out at service stations in South Africa by fuel retailer Caltex. However, the key rings were totally innocuous and certainly did not contain any sort of tracking device. The electronics housed inside the key ring only operated a flasher device and have no tracking capabilities.
Examples
Subject: Security Alert
Information reaching Police indicates that: There is a syndicate of criminals selling beautiful key holders at Service Stations. They sometimes parade themselves as sales promoters giving out free key holders.
Please do not buy or accept these key holders no matter how beautiful they look.
The key holders have inbuilt tracking device chip which allows them to track you to your home or wherever your car is parked. The key holders are very beautiful to resist. Accepting same may endanger your life.
All are therefore enjoined to pass this message onward to colleagues, family members and loved ones. Alert everyone in your clique, including Drivers, Domestic staff etc
Original Source : https://www.hoax-slayer.com/key-ring-tracking-hoax.shtml