Amazon owner Jeff Bezos reportedly had his phone hacked after receiving a WhatsApp message from Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman (Irish Times 25/01/20)…
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At last he heard a van drive up the road.
Mohammed bin Salman had been watching at the window all morning, and his excitement grew as the Post Office van came slowly into view, then sank as it drove past without stopping, his Ring Video Doorbell (amazon.com, $129.00) remaining unrung.
His order still hadn’t arrived.
The Saudi Crown Prince was an enthusiastic Amazon shopper. The palace had Alexa. It had a Fire TV Stick. It had a Recliner Gaming Bean Bag, a Wood Grain Essential Oil Diffuser, and a Spigen Hand Warmer Powerbank, without which no desert home is complete. It had a Microwave S’mores Maker, a Starbucks Frappuccino Portable Phone Charger and a Breo iSee Electronic Eye Massager.

Picture from amazon.com
It had a Dinosaur Toilet Roll Holder.
To bin Salman Amazon was the greatest store on earth.
It even sold US flags, in case he needed to suddenly organise a street mob burning one.
But at the moment it was letting him down. His latest order was forty-eight hours overdue.
He was not used to waiting.
“Alexa,” he said, “how do I find out when my stuff is arriving?”
“Log on to Amazon,” began Alexa, “go to ‘Your Orders’ and -”
“Enough,” snapped the Crown Prince. When you’re the effective leader of one of the wealthiest countries in the Middle East, ‘Track My Order’ is another way of saying ‘ring the company’s boss’.
He WhatsApped Jeff Bezos.
“Hey, Jeff,” the message read, “I ordered a Mini Waffle Maker, a Baby Groot Plant Pot and ‘Downton Abbey The Movie’ a couple of days ago, and no sign. Perhaps you could look after this for me?”
Sorted, he thought.

Picture (again) from amazon.com
The following morning the Post Office van again drove up the road. And again drove past. The welcome mat, with its so-apposite message, remained untrodden.
He ignored me, thought Mohammed bin Salman in amazement, and rage.
He sat down at his Coavas Computer Desk, opened his Jumper EZbook laptop, made sure it was connected to his Whole Home Mesh Wi-Fi System, and set to work.
Which is why Jeff Bezos’s phone now operates in Latvian, is stuck on Australian Central Standard Time and gives him the weather for Bhutan.
He’d buy a new one, but he can’t get on to Amazon.