Block users from tagging me on MAPPEN app

It's still a scam message, just as it was back in June. Mappen can only track you if you have the Mappen app on your phone and you grant permission to be tracked. See Michael Black's post, above.

That sounds like a pure scam message, likely sent to you and thousands of others in the hope you’ll download their app. The actual message is fiction - nobody tagged you and nobody is tracking you. Just like the idiotic messages that your device is infected, or you were personally picked for a prize. It’s pure spam trying to increase downloads of their app.

If you don't register with the app then it can't show anyone your location.

Mappen texts are annoying, but not a security issue. As long as you don't approve one no one can track you with Mappen.

I received several of these texts and blocked the number only to have a new one send it to me. Finally texted back “Stop” and it replied right away that I was unsubscribed. I’ll see if it works.

No, Mappen is getting access to the phone book of a Mappen user that has your contact in THEIR phone book. Mappen can only get access to a phone book that is on the phone that the app is installed on, and only then with that phone's users permission.

Yes, Im sure. Apple goes to great lengths to prevent your phone from being tracked without your permission. Except that your mobile carrier can track your approximate location; they have to, because they need to know where your phone is to direct incoming calls to it. If you install the app and register you are giving permission for the app to track you and notifying your phone that it is OK for the app to track you, so don't respond to that notice.

I would agree with the previous post writers. I keep getting messages to download the app from a growing number of people. The number of names listed on the text messages is growing, but all people I do not know or nonspecific (i.e. I know several Jasons, but there is never a last name listed). This seems like a form of spamming at the least, malicious invasion of someone's contacts or tracking their locations in an unwanted manner at the most. Doesn't this violate some part of the app developers agreements within the App store? I am just surprised as someone who has never downloaded the app, Apple would not act on the barrage of texts I am now getting from the app.

From what I have read online, there is some deceptive measures taken within the app to get these number and send the texts, to begin with. People are asked to find other friends using mappen, and the friends you select from your contact list to find in the app are 1. either identified in the app or 2. put on this list of frequent text messages to download the app to find out who is looking for you.

Frustratingly, I have never downloaded the app, because it seems highly suspect to me. But, in the apple app store reporting structure you have to have a history of downloading an app to report it for suspicious activity. I have blocked the numbers as spam in my phone, but the texts seem to be coming from an ever change number, further evidence in my opinion that this app is up to no good.

Apps cannot access contact information on a phone unless the user of the phone the app is installed on authorizes it. But many apps, like FaceBook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc DO ask users for access to their contacts. Apparently Mappen does also. But it is the user of the app who authorizes it. Unfortunately, there isn't much you can do about people you know making stupid choices.

However, the app can't track you unless you install it.

Mappen is getting access to your phone book somehow....

The only way I know of is to disable some Location Services. Take a look at Settings > Privacy > Location Services (go through all of the settings) and disable whatever you think is causing the problem.

I never registered with these people. Ever.

[Edited by Host]

Mappen works very similarly to Apple’s own Find My Friends. You cannot be tracked unless you agree to be added to someone’s Mappen list of friends, and you can withdraw that permission anytime you wish. You can also leave the permission but use the private (or secret or whatever Mappen calls it) setting for temporary blocking tracking.

but if yiu yourself self do not have the Mappen app installed, then no other Mappen user can possibly track you. Both parties must be using the app. So if anyone not using Mappen gets a random pop up in a web browser that they are being tracked in Mappen, it’s nothing more than another lame internet scam message.

This is the Mappen app in the App Store:

Mappen - Make Something Happen by Juxta Labs, Inc

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mappen-make-something-happen/id1254239111?mt=8

Here’s an identical message that I got today, I don’t have Mappen, I only know one Samuel and he’s confirmed that this isn’t him. I don’t know why this is happening and I’m very unsettled by it

[Image Edited by Host to Remove Personal Information]