Merged [Ed] Get involved detecting the ade 651 detector / Jim McCormick arrested

[Ladewig]

In Randi's encyclopedia, he says: "Dowsers are, generally speaking, very honest, sincere people, and almost always seem absolutely convinced of their abilities. That conviction is not well founded, since all properly performed, comprehensive tests of this particular claim have produced negative results."

I'm not buying it. When an honest and sincere businessman finds that the UK government has suspended exports of his product, that the Independent has reported that his product is directly responsible for 275 preventable deaths, that the JREF has made repeated offers over a period of years to supply $1,000,000 if the product can be shown to work, he steps forward and says, "I will personally demonstrate that the product works." What an honest and sincere businessman does not do is say " "We have been dealing with doubters for 10 years. One of the problems we have is that the machine does look a little primitive. We are working on a new model that has flashing lights."

The next question then is: Are the sellers culpable if they SHOULD have known their product was a worthless piece of junk risking people's lives. It might be easier to convict someone like McCormick of homicide, for recklessly causing the death of innocent Iraqi citizens, rather than trying to prove he knew his product did not work. Unless you have testimony, e-mail, or phone calls where he admitted it was a scam, it would be hard to prove criminal intent of defrauding people. IMHO, it is much easier to prove that countless tests have been done on dowsing and it never works significantly better than random guessing, so the seller was reckless or at least negligent for selling what is an utterly defective product.

Proving fraud will be a difficult task. Of course, while it could never happen, there is a simple and quick method of determining how much faith this company's executives have in the product. Give each of them one of these products and allow them to demonstrate the product's power by walking across a live minefield. The only potential drawback is that a sincere but misguided executive who really believes that the product works will take the challenge and kill himself attempting to demonstrate the product. Given that these men's incompetence killed at least 275 innocent people, I consider such a mistake a small price to pay.

 

[Biff Starbuck]

Dam it all Biff you beat me to it, see what happens you go out for a drink in the evening and when you wake up, all this happens.

I had to break your streak of four posts in a row

 

[Techowiz]

Another scam device hits the market, The AL-6D sold by Diodebell, who say the following about this magic stick, play spot the difference with the other scam devices:

'AL-6D is using a unique DiodeBell material structure localization technology and method. This technology is based on the magnetic attraction created by particular material structures when energized by low power electromagnetic waves, emitted by the AL-6D antennas.'

There was a video on youtube, but the owners pulled it after I slammed it on my blog, seems they don't want the free advertising! I also pointed out that McCormick was involved in this 'new' device and they also pulled the video showing McCormick, now what have they got to hide?
Anyway for the full rundown on this 'new' device check out the link:

http://www.diodebell.com/products/ex...tor-alarm.html

regards

 

[Ladewig]

Another scam device hits the market, The AL-6D sold by Diodebell, who say the following about this magic stick, play spot the difference with the other scam devices:

'AL-6D is using a unique DiodeBell material structure localization technology and method. This technology is based on the magnetic attraction created by particular material structures when energized by low power electromagnetic waves, emitted by the AL-6D antennas.'

There was a video on youtube, but the owners pulled it after I slammed it on my blog, seems they don't want the free advertising! I also pointed out that McCormick was involved in this 'new' device and they also pulled the video showing McCormick, now what have they got to hide?
Anyway for the full rundown on this 'new' device check out the link:

http://www.diodebell.com/products/ex...tor-alarm.html

regards

So hundreds of people have been killed by this scam and these criminal frauds are planning their next iteration. No, these are not sincere but misguided people - these are people who deserve to be behind bars.

 

[Ladewig]

Swift blog entry about detectors
http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/1017-saving-lives-with-skepticism.html

 

[Techowiz]

A true believer comes out to play.

A true believer has come out to play on the UberGizmo site. To join in the fun go to the link:

http://www.ubergizmo.com/15/archives/2009/11/ade_651_handheld_detector.html

regards

 

[Ladewig]

A true believer has come out to play on the UberGizmo site. To join in the fun go to the link:

http://www.ubergizmo.com/15/archives/2009/11/ade_651_handheld_detector.html

regards

The commentor who is defending the product is pissing me off to no end. When I get time, I will register and respond.

 

[AdMan]

Washington Post: Iraq confirms bomb-sniffing devices don't work

BAGHDAD - The Iraqi Interior Ministry inspector general recently determined that wands used by police as the frontline defense in the country's fight against bombs are worthless.

His finding was unsurprising. But in today's Iraq, it had the potential to be politically explosive. What the ministry did in response to the inspector general's conclusion speaks volumes about how the Iraqi government works these days - and why so often it doesn't.

Full article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/02/AR2010110203290.html

 

[Accidental Martyr]

Can they get their money back?

 

[Dubious Dick]

Good stuff

Thanks for posting the link Adman. Have been away a while as v.busy but delighted to see so many people have picked up on this and are internet hounding the purveyors of poop.

I did a search on ade 651 and the results are nearly completely dominated by blogs and media coverage against these scammers.

There is more good coverage to come, and we are pressing for action against McCormick, Bolton, Vollmar and the others.

In fact, we've found another one based in the U.K. selling the XK-9. They say have withdrawn it some time ago, but strangely their website still seems to promote it. I am in contact with the company looking for assurances and where they got it from.

If you want updates please see

http://www.ukskeptics.com/forum/showthread.php/3086-Detect-the-ADE-651-Detection-Equipment

as don't have time to be posting on multiple boards.

If any of you have blogs please link to the existing campaigners blogs. If you want the links, or want to send me or Techowiz your links to blogs with appropriate articles.

Our campaign has been underway for about 2 years now and we continue to acknowledge the long history Randi had, starting with the Quadro-Tracker back in the nineties. It just goes to show how long it can take to get action but the effort is worth it.

In case you didn't know, after the story broke on the BBC early this year, Gary Bolton of Global Technical went on the run, and Jim McCormick rushed off to join his Romanian friends at Miratel in Romania. Apparently they reckon they are a respectable telecomms company. Well, Vodafone who they work with, have been informed of their connection with this bunch of shysters.

So, the campaign continues, and we will not rest until, as the guy in the Post article says, the scammers are safely tucked up in prison cots. Sweet dreams boys.

Couple of points:

If anyone out there is in Germany please do pursue your authorities to lock down David Vollmar at Unival, who apparently continues to try to sell the old SNIFFEX, now called HEDD 1.

Surely the Americans can put enough pressure on the Iraqi authorities to settle this matter by hanging the corrupt buyers. By way, apparently the key guy was a contact of the Lebanese ex-General who runs Prosec (the conduit we believe into Iraq), and was Interior Ministry in Baghdad. Also getting the damn things off the street.

Here in Britain, sadly a hotbed of the scammers after the U.S effectively shut down SNIFFEX, we need to be taking more aggressive action. If not sending Jim to say Iraq, and Gary to Taiwan for trial, we must get them locked up soon!

 

[Dubious Dick]

HEDD! a.k.a Sniffex Plus

Quick update. This long running campaign, going all the way back to Randis first challenge to the Quadro Tracker, goes on, despite the relative silence recently.

We have very good reason to believe that further action is due against Jim McCormick of ADE 651 fame, and Gary Bolton, the pimp for the GT200.

We are now stepping up our efforts against David Vollmar and his HEDD1 (Hasn't Even Detected DooDoo Once!) form his Unival company.

Based in Germany, we are keen to ensure that the German authorities feel his collar. Please can anyone in Germany contact their elected representatives, or the police where Vollmar is based


unival® group of companies
unival® group GmbH - Am Hofgarten 4 - 53113 Bonn - Germany

Fon.: +49 228 688 36 58 / Fax: +49 228 688 36 59 / Cell: +49 151 12110637
Mail: [email protected]/ Skype: dv_at_skype/ twitter: unival_group

Web: www.unival-group.com

VAT ID: DE232565058/ Registration: HRB 14264, District Court Bonn/ Managing Director: David Vollmar

Also, get your media on the case. Vollmar has previously said he will get independent testing and even looked at the Million Dollar Challenge, but nearly tow years after these commitments all we get is legal threats and so called confidential tests. Ha! Come on folks. Lets get after him!!

 

[bobcouttie]

Fake Bomb Detectrs in the Maritime Industry

Some of these things are being offered to the maritime industry, I cannot yet post URLs but a Google for Maritime Accident Casebook and Fake Bomb detectors should find it.

Also, they are still being used in the Philippines - I saw one being used in Makati recently. An action team is being put together to do something appropriate.

 

[AdMan]

Some of these things are being offered to the maritime industry, I cannot yet post URLs but a Google for Maritime Accident Casebook and Fake Bomb detectors should find it.

Also, they are still being used in the Philippines - I saw one being used in Makati recently. An action team is being put together to do something appropriate.

I haven't had time yet to read this throughly, but here is a link to help Bob out:

http://maritimeaccident.org/2010/12/beware-woo-woo-bomb-detectors/

 

[bobcouttie]

That, indeed, was the url I'd hoped you'd find. I haven't done the 15 posts required to post a URL That is the first salvo. We're going to the International Maritime Organisation, every P&I club, the maritime media etc.

To give some context: while my core business is maritime safety these days I was responsible for the BBC Radio 4 series Forbidden Knowledge and the subsequent book of the same name. Despite some very bad editing Forbidden Knowledge seems to have earned a positive name and does in fact, cover dowsing (and has been cited in various book on dowsing) although I'm most proud of getting nitinol out of parapsychology labs.

Together than give me a good inside track on getting these things out of ports and off ships, if they are there. Maritime Accident Casebook has a good cred in the industry so I'm confident it will be listened too.

With regard to the Philippines there's a lot of money involved and since I live there, a certain degree f personal danger. However, I am working with others who can make a differnce.

 

[Techowiz]

Bob,
Perhaps you can speak to the person mentioned below who actually bought the ade despite the numerous warnings?
I have copied the email that was 'brought' to my attention:

Dear Sir,
Bangladesh Navy intends to buy ADE 650 Explosive Detectors which we come to know are also being used by your organization. Would you please kindly let us know the performance of ADE 650/651 Explosive Detectors.

Best regards,
Commodore M Zakiur Rahman Bhuiyan
Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Logistics)
Naval Headquarters, Banani, Dhaka-1213, BANGLADESH
Tel: 88 02-8753538 (Off), 88 02-8753539 (Res)
PABX: 88 02-8754041~9 Ext: 2400 (Off), 3400 (Res)
Mob: 88 01713-080133 (Off), 88 01711-447410(Pers)
E Mail: [email protected]

 

[Techowiz]

Bob,

Another Navy that seems to have been taken in are,
The Chittagong navy”. Whoever they are have also bought into the scam. Check the link:
http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article6935574.ece

 

[bobcouttie]

I'm concentrating on a specific sector, the merchant maritime and port industry where I know I can get traction. I want to get specific examples of their use in those industries. Considering doing a video on how to run a double blind trial. It needs to have a Maritime flavour and I have the resources.

 

[rjh01]

I'm concentrating on a specific sector, the merchant maritime and port industry where I know I can get traction. I want to get specific examples of their use in those industries. Considering doing a video on how to run a double blind trial. It needs to have a Maritime flavour and I have the resources.

If you want to see a double blind test of dousing from 1980 see this thread http://www.internationalskeptics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=57167
which discusses this video http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7461912885649996034#

James Randi in Australia.

The ending is predictable.

 

[bobcouttie]

The Chittagong Navy is Bangladesh, BTW.
Thanks for the video link.
I've got a fairly highly respected maritime training centre involved, which also happens to train Ship Security Officers, so it's an excellent environment for it. Unfortunately I won't have access to one of the fake devices but the message I'll be getting across is that anything that involves a telescopic radio antenna is not going to be a bomb detector - I've never seen a real bomb detector with one.

 

[bobcouttie]

I should also point out that dowsing is little known outside western cultures so a critique of these devices as merely dowsing will have little impact. In the maritime industry we're dealing with an industry in which 25 per cent of the manpower is Filipino, another large percentage are Indian, Indonesian, Banglashi and Chinese. That is why it is better do do, say, a video aimed at Ship Security Officers with a specific warning against instruments with telescopic aerials.