Keyless Fobs for Cars

Re Keyless fobs for cars:

I have received this from Nick:

Hello

Just to add to the info about disabling keyless entry: I drive a Toyota Prius and keyless entry is switchable, in the car’s setup screens.

No need for a dealer visit. I expect this is common to most Toyotas.

Many thanks Nick

Very grateful Nick for this information. As thefts of keyless cars is on the increase, as of course, they don’t have to damage the car to gain entry, then damage the dashboard to access the wires for hotwiring - perhaps people may consider doing this.

I have now had this from Jeff - who gave us the first piece of advice:

Hi Jeff
Having keyless entry disabled, doesn't change the key fob itself. It just means you press the button on the key, to lock and unlock the car. The immobiliser is switched off, once the key is inside the car. It's still keyless start, but just turns off the perimeter sensing feature and renders the car, non keyless entry.
I just bought a BMW and insisted the keyless entry was disabled. The sales guy said it wasn't possible, but the service manager agreed it was and did the coding, for free.
I had looked at an Alfa Romeo and initially, the salesman said no, it couldn't be done. I recently had a follow up call from Alfa, asking why I hadn't proceeded to purchase the car and when I said keyless entry was a deal breaker, they said its perfectly possible to disable keyless entry and the salesman, should have checked with the service department.
A friend, recently acted on my advice and got his Audi A7 disabled for keyless entry too.
I imagine most brands are similar, as there are only a couple of designs of keyless technology. It just needs you to speak to the right person and doing some research.
Mercedes, is the only exception to the rule at present, as newer cars users, can disable keyless start themselves . That means a thief could still gain entry to the car, but cannot start it, without the physical key being present.
There are YouTube videos explaining how to manually disable keyless start, for Mercedes cars, registered since 2017
Regards

Jeff

I want to thank you all out there. I only have to ask for help and someone out there always knows the answer, or knows someone that does. Our grateful thanks to Neff and Nick. Many thanks for this information.

NEXT - a Courier Scam:

Hi

Today a courier delivered a parcel which was addressed to me and for which I signed, but upon opening it, I found a new phone with a letter from Virgin Media, thanking me for my order etc..

I did not order any phones from Virgin. I found this to be rather strange. Then a young lady phoned me, to say that the courier had delivered it to me in error and that whilst they could not get in touch with him, they would send another courier to collect the parcel.

This rang an alarm bell with me - I seem to remember reading something about this situation - so I asked for a telephone number for me to call her back to check. She gave me a number, but when I phoned it, I was informed that it did not receive incoming calls.

I believe this to be a scam of some sort, though I’m not quite sure how it works. I reported the matter to 101 who then referred me to the Action Fraud telephone number to whom I have passed the information. At the same time I had a long conversation with the real Virgin Media and their fraud department will be contacting me in the next couple of days.

Thought that you should know about this so that others may be warned.

Thanking you for your attention.

Edward

Many thanks Edward - this is a scam - a Courier Scam. This is the first I am aware of in the recent few months.

This is a scam. It usually involves identity theft. They spend months, copying your identity, after which they start making purchases, using your name and debit / credit cards - usually mobile phones. They buy these - sometimes as many as three and arrange for them to be sent to your address - if you buy these valuable items on line it is usually a condition that they be delivered to the card address.

Because they have made the purchase - you have no idea it has happened - they can track delivery online. As soon as they know when the item will be delivered, they phone the victim. They explain that they are the delivery company and a parcel has been dispatched with your address, but it is a mistake and intended for someone else. When it is delivered, please hold onto it. they will send a courier to collect it back and deliver it to the correct person.

They usually then sit in your road and watch for the delivery van. As soon as the delivery is made, they ring your doorbell and use the call you have received as proof, they are genuine.

Usually ‘victims’ hand the package over as everything seems in order.

They only find out this is a scam, when the cost of the phones, shows up on a credit / debit card / bank account.

DO NOT PART WITH THE PACKAGE TO ANYONE OTHER THAN THE SENDER - OR YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR IT !

BE ON YOUR GUARD - DON’T LET IT HAPPEN TO YOU. 3 iPhones cost about £1,800 !!

HAVE A REALLY GOOD AND CRIME FREE EASTER