Beware ...Nueva modalidad de asaltos en taxis

Grateful Dead says on Nov 7, 2007, 12:25:

Is there any way you can translate that into English ?

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miamimike says on Nov 7, 2007, 12:46:

Wow, a Cell Phone like an Mini-Electric Chair with Wheels! What Trampas will these guys think of next,,,

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.

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toneloc24 says on Nov 7, 2007, 12:52:

Sounds like a stun gun.

"Don't tase me, bro!!!!"

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minina says on Nov 7, 2007, 13:12:

In short terms says: Beware when you are riding in a taxi. Do NOT take anything from people you don't know.

This talks about how someone got mugged in a taxi. The driver an apparently an inoffensive old man gave the passenger his cell phone to answer because he didn't want to break the law, but the cellphone was fixed somehow, and gave the passenger an electrical discharge.

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ColombianoGringo says on Nov 7, 2007, 13:12:

Bullshit. I doubt a lithium ion battery in a phone could produce that kind of shock all at once. Any electrical engineers around to opine? It says that the phone is "adapted", but that would be pretty obvious with today's small phones.

I thought the "warning" was going to be about escapolmina on the phone or something.

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static says on Nov 7, 2007, 13:58:

This sounds like an urban legend to me. Is there a Colombian version of Snopes.com?

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Mr. Hollywood says on Nov 7, 2007, 14:32:

I agree. Urban legend. The giveaway is the reference to organ stealing.

There are a LOT easier ways to kidnap some poor modefoque and steal his kidney than hitting up taxi riders.

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miamimike says on Nov 7, 2007, 14:33:

I disassembled a small camera a few years and treated to the shock of my life; I don't know the contents of this battery but it was very small and let out a terrific shock so size has nothing to do with it! Certainly small enough to insert in a cell phone,,,

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.

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Mr. Hollywood says on Nov 7, 2007, 14:36:

Hey, the Israelis have been whacking people using exploding cell phones, so nothing is beyond the pale. But why would anyone use a mechanism with so many potential problems (including shocking yourself) when there's always good-old burundanga?

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ColombianoGringo says on Nov 7, 2007, 14:40:

A shock that hurts a little bit and a jolt strong enough to knock you unconscious are two very different things.

I am not an expert in electronics, but I am pretty sure that a stun gun would use transformers and a capacitor to build up, store and very quickly release a high-voltage, low-amperage electrical charge. I doubt you could fit all that circuitry into a cell phone without it looking obviously modified.

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Chelesupercono says on Nov 7, 2007, 15:17:

Someone was either high or drunk.......

never go to bed with someone crazier then you are, you will do it and you will regret it.......

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Tinto (Moderator) says on Nov 7, 2007, 15:56:

I think someone needs to write this up and send it in to "Myth Busters."

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BobAbooey says on Nov 7, 2007, 15:59:

This sounds like an "urban legend but it is possible to have a "stun gun" cell phone.

http://www.safetyproductsunlimited.com/cell_phone_stun_gun.html

Un carácter del hombre se puede encontrar en cómo él trata a personas que no pueden hacer nada para él.

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miamimike says on Nov 7, 2007, 19:49:

ColombianoGringo says on Wednesday November 7th, 2007 14:40:

******A shock that hurts a little bit and a jolt strong enough to knock you unconscious are two very different things*********.


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CG--For a person who has a compromised cardiac system, what is a little shock that only stuns those of us with a healthy heart, to a person with a Cardiac deficiency, this same mild shock can be life threatening and fatal. And there are many people walking around with undiagnosed Heart problems,,,a shock of this magnitude could easily upset the Heart's Electrical rythmn,,The above opening Post clearly states that while this cell phone shock may not hurt someone young and healthy it may not cause much then a little tachycardia(heart beat over 100 beats per minute)or Syncope(temporary loss of consciousness) but to an Older Person(or a person not in the best of health) or with a Cardiac irregularity, it could cause a life threatening situation and even death.

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.

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ColombianoGringo says on Nov 7, 2007, 21:09:

Regardless of the potential dangers to the infirm of a small jolt, the fact remains that this story is nothing more than a very dubious urban myth.

While the cell phone stun gun that Bob posted is obviously available, the story clearly describes a modified cell phone that rings and presumably lights up as well. The site for the cell phone stun gun specifically states that the phone doesn't work. It is nothing more than a small stun gun with a fake phone enclosure. For it to pass as a ringing phone, it would need a speaker and lights as well as the electronics to control them. Those parts and all the electrical components required for a stun gun would still be too big to fit in an enclosure without some specialized manufacturing.

Anything within reason can be fabricated, but it wouldn't be practical or feasible for street criminals. I still call bullshit on this urban legend.

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goin_south says on Nov 7, 2007, 21:42:

It reminds me of the email passed around the USA of the bloods & hoods, out at night, a car coming at you in the country road, with no lights on, and their job is to crash into you, especially if you start flashin them your brights, in order to gain their rights into 'whatever' hood, or something like that...
.... I have only heard of it...by way of the email... never heard of it happening, otherwise....

Cant worry about every damn lil thing....
... jus don't be using the taxi man's phone. okay. no more.

Ciao! Gustav.

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miamimike says on Nov 8, 2007, 01:34:

CG-now the OP on what transpired with the Taxista is another thing, I am only commenting on whay may happen to a person with a compromised system, that which is clearly described in the opening post. That part of the Story is very true,,,

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.

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Leeroy says on Nov 8, 2007, 13:19:

I too am very suspicious of this.

Sure, all the charge in a phone battery all let out at once would hurt, but (and I confess I am neither a doctor nor medical engineer) I doubt it would guarantee to knock someone out. Even if I am wrong about that, let's look at this from the criminals' point of view.

We would need a helpless looking old man to drive the taxi to start off with (easy enough)

We would need to absolutely guarantee that the charge in the phone is enough to knock someone out for long enough so that the old guy can drive the taxi to where our buddies are hiding. If not, the irate passenge may well strongly express their concerns to our aforementioned old guy. This would have to be a very high electrical charge - and a very confident old guy.

We would need a talented electrical engineer to modify a phone to give said electric shock, and a way of charging it (not to mention testing it).

All this to rob someone of their possessions?

We couldn't even drive them around the cash machines, because the passenger would be unconscious.

I, as a criminal considering this idea, would say "fuck that".

I would drug or threaten my passengers and drive them around ATMs, it would be far easier, far less expensive and stressful to organise, and (most importantly) the most lucrative.

Ironically, the first sentence gives this email away most of all:

"Este es un correo electrónico que me ha enviado un amigo, Medico de una reconocida clínica."

(This is an email which a friend has sent me, a doctor of a known(or recognised) clinic)

Bullshit.

What doctor? What clinic?

If the doctor and clinic were so concerned about this then they wouldn't just send an email about it to a buddy of theirs - they would tell the press. This first sentence is a too-obvious attempt at making an otherwise unlikely-sounding email appear genuine.

"Oh, well if it came from a doctor of a recognised clinic then it must be true!" goes the thought-process of the gullible. The semi-medical speak further on ("sintió taquicardia (aceleración de los latidos cardiacos") goes one step further in attempting to fake the authenticity of the email.

Why do people write this rubbish? All it does is increase the fear/paranoia factor in every-day people - something that is not good personally or culturally.

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