Mobile Phone Reviews
 
 
Mobile Phones being used for 'porn assaults'

Wed, 22 Feb 2006

Vulnerable women are being sent violent and pornographic images on their mobile phones by unidentified strangers using new mobile phone technology.

Mobile phone companies are reporting a growing number of "bluejackings" where anonymous text messages or images are sent to unsuspecting strangers by mobile.

The practice takes its name from the Bluetooth technology that allows individuals to send messages to other phones 10 metres away without needing a number.

One bluejacking fan website, BluejackQ.com, carries an enthusiast's account of targeting a stranger from a nearby hiding point.

After sending anonymous jibes about the victim's clothes and behaviour, the fan describes the satisfaction of seeing her "bewildered face".

Bluejacking is now turning more sinister, with reports of mobile phone users being sent violent or pornographic images. Marcia Gies, a 21 year old hotel worker from west London, was subjected to a "horrible" experience by an unknown bluejacker after returning from an evening with friends.

"I was half asleep on the night bus when my phone vibrated. It was a video message by an unnamed source," she said. "Without thinking, I opened it. It was violent, frightening pornography."

"I deleted the clip, thinking it must have been a strange mistake," she said. "Then I had another message, saying: 'Where's your boyfriend?'"

"The third message really scared me. It said, which is your stop? Why don't you take your scarf off and give me a smile? That's when I realised someone on the bus was watching me."

Ms Gies said lots of her friends had been bluejacked, including a child who received a clip from a stranger showing a hostage in Iraq being beheaded. "Now he can't get the image out of his head."

Vodafone spokesman Toby Robson said, "It's amazing the number of people who have Bluetooth switched on without knowing what it is. Our advice is common sense - if you don't want to receive unpleasant messages from strangers, don't have Bluetooth enabled on your phone."
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