Dowsers

[claidheamhmor]

So nice that dowsers are getting nailed for fraud; it's a pity, though, that many people had to die because of these dowsing devices. I think the police should track down anyone involved in authorising their use for the military or police.

Police raids expand bomb detector probe

Page last updated at 18:40 GMT, Tuesday, 8 June 2010 19:40 UKE

Police investigating the sale of suspected fake bomb detectors to countries including Iraq have searched premises linked to three businesses.

Sites raided were linked to Global Tech, of Kent, Grosvenor Scientific, in Devon, and Scandec, of Nottingham.

Cash and hundreds of the devices have been seized, and a number of people are due to be interviewed under caution on suspicion of fraud.

The boss of another firm that sold detectors remains on police bail.

Jim McCormick, 53, of ATSC Ltd in Sparkford, Somerset, was originally arrested in January on suspicion of fraud by misrepresentation.

A BBC Newsnight investigation alleged that millions of pounds worth of the company's ADE-651 detectors sold to Iraq did not work.

The UK government banned the export of the ADE-651 device to Iraq and Afghanistan earlier this year, saying tests showed the equipment was "not suitable for bomb detection".

There are concerns that the hand-held detectors have failed to stop bomb attacks that have killed hundreds of people.

It has since emerged that other bomb detectors remain on the market.

Officers from City of London Police's Overseas Anti-Corruption Unit (OACU) carried out five search warrants on three homes and two business premises on Tuesday.

The unit is investigating whether the devices' abilities have been fraudulently misrepresented, and whether sales overseas are linked to bribes.

OACU head Det Supt Colin Cowan said: "We are concerned that these items present a real physical threat to anyone who may rely on such a device for protection.
"It is for this reason that we are seeking to raise awareness of this threat and obtain assistance from the public."

Police appealed for anyone with information about the devices' manufacture, sale or distribution to call 020 7601 6969 or e-mail OACU@cityoflondon.police.uk

Source: BBC

Comments

[yasutani.livejournal.com]

That is kind of funny and kind of scary.

The scary bit:
Too many gullible people out there. Or just greedy. Or both. You need gullible and greedy people for scams like this to work.

The scary-funny bit:
It is unsurprising tho, given that I have read reports that state that before the 1991 Gulf War, Iraq bought *training* anti-tank ammunition from Russia, and used it instead of the real thing, because someone in Iraq was pocketing the cost difference... In event of a war against people with real tanks, a mild steel training A-P penetrator is dangerous, but its NOT the real thing which is usually made of a tungsten carbide (aka BloodyHardStuff(tm) ) type material.

The scary bit (part 2):
So, when history presents an opportunity like this, why not save money by buying dodgy. and cheaper than the real thing, bomb detection equipment and make a private profit in the process (and take a "consultancy fee" from the vendor as well)?

[claidheamhmor]

You definitely have the greedy and gullible part right!

[capnoblivious.livejournal.com]

I'm reading Charles Mackay's "Memoirs of Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds" at the moment - this guy was hanging shit on dowsers (and other frauds that are still extant) in the middle of the nineteenth century!

[claidheamhmor]

That's impressive!

WTF?

[zornhau.livejournal.com]

You mean a handset with a chip from - what was it? - an old pc with no power supply doesn't actually work?

Re: WTF?

[claidheamhmor]

Apparently not, hard as it is to believe...