Quick reminder: Most old cellphones can still call 911 even without a plan. Federal law requires all cellphones to connect to emergency services, even if they don’t have active service. A 2-year-old in Oklahoma put this to the test by calling for an emergency donut delivery. The dispatcher played along, and the police showed up with Dunkin’ treats.
The enemy is already here
A nationwide SMS flood almost struck New York. While the Secret Service shut down a massive SIM server ring that could have sent 30 million texts per minute and knocked out 911, the threat shows how vulnerable our networks remain. Here is what happened and how to stay prepared.
📸 Caught by her own camera roll: OK, this one’s wild. A Maryland woman allegedly used AI‑generated photos to fake a home invasion, then called 911. When officers showed up (eight cruisers strong), she was chilling inside her own house with a phone on a tripod. That “prank” has her facing serious charges. Dummy.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Need help but can’t speak? In many U.S. areas, you can text 911 instead of calling. Check text911.info to see if it works where you live. It could save your life.
🛹 A ride to remember: This is so great. After a bad skateboarding crash, Joey called an Uber instead of 911. His driver, Beni, not only took him to the hospital, but he stayed by Joey’s side all day. The two became lifelong friends. “That one act of kindness,” Joey said, “helped me see the good in the world again.” Let’s see a Waymo do that.
Porsche dream gone wrong: Michael Foley thought he’d scored a vintage Porsche 911 in Europe. Instead, he wired $20K to scammers with a fake listing, forged docs and promises of a Euro road trip. Now he’s got no car, no cash, just the memory of telling his scammer, “Thank you, I’ve wanted this car for years.” Ooof.
⚡ Secret SIM bust: The Secret Service just shut down a rogue telecom network in NYC. Think abandoned apartments stuffed with 300 SIM servers, 100,000 SIM cards, illegal guns, and to top it all off, 80 grams of coke. Investigators say the system could’ve spammed 30 million texts a minute, crippled 911 and blacked out cell towers near the U.N. Assembly.
An iPhone saved this teen’s life
Her truck crashes. She’s unconscious. Her iPhone automatically calls 911. Wonder about that true-crime podcast you loved? Here’s why it might be gone for good. Also, YouTube’s surprising way to steer you from politics (yes, cute kittens are involved).
🙏🏻 iPhone saves teen’s life: A 16-year-old in Greenville fell asleep at the wheel and crashed, leaving her with multiple broken bones. Trapped inside her pickup, she couldn’t call for help, but her iPhone did. Crash Detection automatically dialed 911 and got rescuers there. Want the same safety net? Go to Settings > Emergency SOS and toggle on Call After Severe Crash.
📞 What’s your emergency? America’s 911 centers are so short-staffed they’re outsourcing some calls to a robot. A startup named Aurelian (because of course) raised $14M to let AI handle non-emergencies like parking rage and stolen fanny packs. It’s live in over a dozen cities and counting.
Texts from the sky: T-Mobile just launched T-Satellite, a Starlink-powered service that lets you text (and alert 911) when you’re somewhere too remote for regular bars. It costs $10/month, works with over 60 phones and covers most of the U.S. You’ll need clear skies and an eSIM-enabled device. It’s not fast, but neither are rescue helicopters.
🚗 A parent’s worst nightmare: An Uber driver recently took off with a sleeping 5-year-old daughter still in the back. The mom, Julia, called 911, but Uber refused to call the driver without paperwork. It took Toronto cops over an hour to find the girl safe. Uber’s apology? A $10 future ride credit, because nothing says “sorry, we misplaced your child” like one free quarter-ride to Chili’s.
📦 “Help me”: A brave woman in Florida whispered that to her Amazon delivery driver, who saw marks on her neck and called 911. The police arrested her ex-husband, Frank Mandolini, for allegedly choking her. He still lives with her and their daughter. His excuse? He told the cops he didn’t “cause her to lose her breath.” Sound familiar to you? Call 911 or 800-799-SAFE (800-799-7233), text START to 88788 or go here. I care about you.
👮 Need help but can’t speak? In many areas of the USA, you can text 911 instead of calling. It’s not available everywhere, so it’s best to check ahead. Visit text911.info to see if it works in your area. It could literally save your life.
🙏 Siri to the rescue: I love stories about tech saving lives. A 70-year-old in Florida had a stroke and couldn’t reach his landline. He spent 48 hours drifting in and out of consciousness, then he crawled into the living room. He yelled for Siri to call his daughter, who then contacted 911. He’s doing well! Most stroke patients need help within an hour. Talk about beating the odds.
Travel points taken over, Cybertruck troubles & AI chef disasters
Plus, did you get suspended from X ? I share my expert advice for a caller who has. Take a look at a 911 app that lets first responders peek at the scene before they arrive. Chatbot fortune tellers are edging out the human competition, and don’t miss Walmart’s game-changing AR furniture app.
A warning before you text 911
In some cases, it seems like the right option. And it is, but there’s a catch. In 1 minute, what you need to know.
How to call 911 from a locked phone
Get ahold of a locked phone in an emergency? Here’s what to do, in 60 seconds.
Travel points taken over, Cybertruck troubles & AI chef disasters
Plus, did you get suspended from X (Twitter’s new alias)? I share my expert advice for a caller who’s been there. Take a look at a 911 app that lets first responders peek at the scene before they arrive. Chatbot fortune tellers are edging out the human competition, and don’t miss Walmart’s game-changing AR furniture app.