If you tell Siri to call three numbers you could hold up emergency lines. Those numbers are not 911.
It's a scam spreading across social media and police across the country are warning iPhone users not to fall for it.
As a safety measure, iPhone users can tell Siri the phrase "108," and she'll connect your phone to the 911 dispatch center. Police in Lonoke, Arkansas said they have seen posts circulating on social media and they want iPhone users to know the harm they could be causing.
"It can tie up lines based on your smaller agencies such as ours," said Sergeant Adrian Page with the Lonoke Police Department.
Page said he's seen more and more posts suggesting iPhone users try it as a prank.
“It can come from far off as New York," Page said. "Once it gets started on Facebook it spreads like wildfire."
108 is the emergency services number in India, and Sergeant Page said it can be used as a panic code in the United States.
Folks can use the code if they find themselves in a situation where they feel they may be attacked and don't want the attacker to know what they're doing.
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In small towns like Lonoke, the prank could hold up emergency calls from coming through.
“They generally only have one dispatcher that’s dispatching officers," Page said. "they’re answering non-emergency calls, and 911 calls as well," said Page.
Sioux Falls Police Department took to social media to ask its residents to let dispatchers know the call was accidental.
Saying "Hey Siri 108" @ your iPhone will dial 911. If you happen to call please let the dispatcher know the call was accidental! #pranks pic.twitter.com/Dy1loLZgzs
— Sioux Falls Police (@siouxfallspd) March 17, 2017
Tech writer Kim Kommando said some jokers are going as far to tell people to close their eyes for five seconds after telling Siri to dial 108.
"For some reason, jokers think it's funny to have people unwittingly dial emergency services. Some are even going so far as to tell people to say 108 and then close your eyes for five seconds. That way the victim of the prank won't see the message on the screen that says "Calling emergency services in 5 seconds."
Fb: here's y u shld nv say 108 to siri
— クッキー (@c00k13c4t) March 22, 2017
Me: immediately tries w/o reading article
Siri:we are now contacting emergenc-
Me: *heart attack*
Kommando said other numbers can trigger calls to emergency services, for example, 911, 000, 110 and 112.
"Obviously, don't say any of these numbers to Siri, unless of course you actually need to contact 911," Kommando said. "Not only are these types of prank calls a drain on 911 services, you could get into serious trouble with the police."
Can we go back to the days of asking Siri what we should be for Halloween or to tell us a joke?
