After my wife picked up our child from school, she accidentally left her bag in the car. Realizing this later, she went back to retrieve it, only to discover she’d unknowingly locked the car keys inside the bag. Classic “oops” moment, right?
Now, as an accountant and fraud examiner, you’d think I’d be ready to tackle any problem. But when it comes to locked cars? Nope. Completely out of my league. A quick Google search confirmed the obvious-I didn’t have the tools or skills to break into a Toyota without making it worse.
Enter my mechanic. I called him, and within five minutes, he had the car unlocked as if it were child’s play. Five minutes. Watching him work, I couldn’t help but think: Is locking your car really a deterrent, or just a false sense of security?
As Fraud Awareness Week kicks off on November 17, 2024, here’s a reminder we all need: If you value it, don’t leave it in your car unattended. A locked car is more scarecrow than fortress-convincing to some, but laughable to those who know better.
Your thoughts? Ever had a “locked keys in the car” saga-or worse? Share your stories (or advice!) below. How did you get it opened? Have you ever lost a valuable asset like a laptop from your “locked car”? Cybercriminals nowadays will trail you until they get their hands on your laptop, if that is what they need to make money. Always be alert
