I'm a 19-year-old woman who just left the Jehovah's Witness religion, and I'm really worried that my mom might be tracking my location. She's been particularly grilling me about my plans on days when I visit my boyfriend's house, which makes me suspect it's location-based tracking. I've taken several steps to figure this out: I've checked my phone (which I bought myself but she pays for the data), and I always turn off data and location when I leave home. I even looked in my car, as I feel that might be likely, but I want to be sure there's nothing there. I've also checked my logged-in devices for apps with location access and declined her suggestion to download Life360, which she pushed for a while and then dropped. I've noticed that she has access to my call logs, making it difficult to explain my increasing calls to my boyfriend without raising her suspicion. I'm really seeking advice on how I can stay safe and not be tracked while managing this situation.
6 Answers
You might want to leave your phone locked in the car while you use public transport or someone else’s car to get to your boyfriend’s place. If she doesn’t ask about your day, that could indicate she’s tracking you based on your phone. Also, check if you’re sharing your location through Google Maps—if she has your account details, she might be able to access it.
A full factory reset and changing all your passwords while activating two-factor authentication might be your safest bet. It can give you peace of mind and secure your accounts.
There are tiny GPS tracking devices that can hide in your car, usually meant for tracking company vehicles but sometimes used for personal reasons. If you think your mom might be tracking you this way, try meeting at university and then have him drive you. To be completely safe, check your phone’s location services settings and consider a factory reset if all else fails.
Consider if your mom has had access to your unlocked phone at any point; if she has, she may have installed tracking software. If you're concerned, back up your data and do a factory reset on your phone. For car tracking, check for hidden devices like AirTags; apps such as nRF Connect can help you spot them if they're nearby. Just be careful not to alert her, especially when reaching out for help.
Look for something like an AirTag in your vehicle. It's small and can be hidden easily. Remember, even if the data is off, if she's paying for your plan, tracking could still happen, so take extra precautions.
I think it's crucial for you to consider moving out longer term. Members of the JW community may struggle to distinguish between family and the close-knit cult relationships. In the meantime, try changing your passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and creating a new PIN. Even if she pays your phone bill, that doesn't automatically give her tracking access. Deactivate apps she may have installed without your permission, and check your phone's supervision settings. Additionally, limit your social media access and reach out to organizations that help those who have left the cult; they understand these situations well.
Thanks for the tips! I'm working on finding a place, but the costs are pretty high right now. Just trying to navigate my way through this!
Just to clarify, your mom can't track you just because she’s paying the bill. Turning off your data is a good move, but that's not entirely necessary if you secure your phone.