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

The police in Thailand seem to be buying the Alpha 6 dowsing rods to find drugs. 500,000 baht looks like $14,000 or 10,500 Euros each. I think that might be a new record for these pieces of junk.

Alpha 6 on sniffexquestions blog

Province to spend Bt1m on drug detection technology
TAH CHAT CHAI, PHUKET: Phuket Governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop has approved the purchase of two state-of-the-art detection devices, one for explosives and the other for contraband. The devices will be used at the Tah Chat Chai checkpoint.

The Alpha 6 detectors, which cost around 500,000 baht each, use “molecular resonance” technology to detect the presence of drugs and explosives from up to 300 meters away....​
 
Techowiz said:
Hi Biff,
Thialand seems a popular destination market for the sellers of these scams, take a look at my effort to bring to the attention of the guys in Thialand the ridiculous GT200:-

http://teakdoor.com/thailand-and-asia-news/37041-thailand-using-low-quality-tear-gas.html#post832172

Regards
Click to expand...

Thanks Techowiz.

I had not seen that forum before. The Thai citizens do not seem all that impressed with their police force. The comment about Thailand not having a functioning government looks even more true now than a few months ago. With all of the turmoil, this fraud may not be at the top of their to-do lists, but if they are using pieces of junk like the Alpha 6 and GT200 to find or exclude suspects in bombings, they absolutely need to know the products are worthless.
 
Guys-I don't want to teach anyone how to suck eggs, but this might be a good point to remind all concerned that some police and customs agents may be well aware that a detector does not work, yet still have a use for it.
 
Soapy Sam said:
Guys-I don't want to teach anyone how to suck eggs, but this might be a good point to remind all concerned that some police and customs agents may be well aware that a detector does not work, yet still have a use for it.
Click to expand...

True. They might know it is a fraud, and use it to persecute political opponents. They might suspect it is a fraud, and not really care about proper testing since it appears to work. But I think most probably they are taken in by the ideomotor effect.

In a police state, it is much harder for the public to force the government to follow proper procedures for evidence.
 
Soapy Sam said:
Guys-I don't want to teach anyone how to suck eggs, but this might be a good point to remind all concerned that some police and customs agents may be well aware that a detector does not work, yet still have a use for it.
Click to expand...

I agree, like Biff, I think most of these Police Forces and Customs have been conned. Either that or received a nice bribe from the purchase.
The only other use for this scam equipment I can think of is if you attach it to a radio it might increase the signal strength, seems like a very expensive antenna extension though:jaw-dropp
regards
 
I find it dodgy that they would attempt to pass this thing off as an explosives detector.

Finding mineral ore and other such things is slightly more okay. If the dowsing rod doesn't detect anything, nobody dies or suffers drastic wounds. I wouldn't be surprised if a lawyer in the U.S. advised the makers of Sniffex of how much legal trouble they would be in if they attempted to market this in the States and someone was killed. Woo only holds up so far in court, especially if a grieving family is involved, and especially if the guy killed was in the police force or was a member of the military.
 
Yeah, we should take the perpetrators and air-lift them into the middle of a minefield with a couple of these 'detectors'. Watch them wet themselves.
 
Harpyja said:
I find it dodgy that they would attempt to pass this thing off as an explosives detector.
Click to expand...

Dodgy is too small a word for this scam, they are actually putting lives at risk knowing this equipment could not detect a ton of explosives ten feet away!
regards
 
Looks like they are back at it in India again too.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Pune/Demo-of-explosives-detection-device-held/articleshow/4501191.cms


Demo of explosives detection device held
9 May 2009, 0322 hrs IST, TNN


PUNE: A demonstration of an explosives and narcotics detection unit GT200 manufactured by a multinational company in the United Kingdom was conducted at the Queen Mary's Technical Institute (QMTI) in the city on Friday.

The detection unit functions on para-magnetic principles and can detect explosives and narcotics on land, water and air. The event was organised by the Horizon Group, founded by retired Indian Army officers.

GT200 can be used for checking vehicles, port controls, air and naval operations and building searches. The unit can detect as many as 74 substances. Once the presence of a controlled substance is established, the unit can show its exact location.

Brig (retd) Amit Apte gave a presentation on the various functions of GT200 and later a live demonstration was conducted.

Maj Gen (retd) S G Pitre, the Horizon Group's chairman, said, "We have conducted similar presentations in a number of defence establishments across the country and the response has been very good. We are trying to obtain Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation's certification."​

Maybe if a few of us point out to the Times of India these devices don't work and put their citizens at risk, they might find that newsworthy.
 
Hi Biff,

It would appear that they have comment moderation turned on, posted a comment last week and another today still no sign of my response on the web.
regards
 
Fellow Scambusters

Have been diverted for some time by other matters. However, thought you might like to know that I have received reassurances that a serious investigation is being carried out into the UK scammers i.e. ATSC (ADE), Global Technical (GT200), ComsTrac (Alpha6) and ICSS (PSD 22).

Believe it would be of great help if anyone in Germany can make formal complaints to the German MOD and senior politicians there as well. We have a briefing paper which can be used and anyone interested is welcome to PM for this.

We really need to keep up the pressure on these self manipulators!
 
I noticed someone on the Straight Dope forum reported a sighting of the GT-200 in Mexico.
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=518868

My sister bought me the first Straight Dope book and I loved it. It has lots of interesting questions, and a lot of the readers seem to have the same sense of curiosity of skeptics on JREF.

Techowiz, I tried to comment too, but did not see it either. I guess it is easier now to just publish wire service articles instead of doing actual reporting. It makes me even more glad the Dallas Morning News did the report on Sniffex after Randi initially exposed it.
 
A little progress

Guys and gals,

Thought you might like to know that we have heard the UK MOD is demanding that Global Technical withdraw all references to MOD/UK Government support/approval for the GT200.

We hope to publish the MOD letter in full. Keep an eye out on Lumpys excellent blog:

sniffexquestions.blogspot.com

Onwards and upwards. One by one we'll get these scammmers!!
 
Psd-22?

Techowiz, Dick, and Lumpy,

It looks like your exposure of the PSD-22 is working.

Mention of the PSD-22 by Techowiz

Update from Lumpy showing ICSSUK took the PSD-22 off of their web site

This shows you guys are making a difference. I don't think ICSSUK would have taken this bogus detector off of their web page without your efforts.

One small victory, but you never know - it might end up saving the life of a bomb technician or innocent civilian who would have otherwise been blown to smithereens by a bomb left undetected by the PSD-22.

Keep up the great work!!! :D
 
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