U.S. Warns About Canadian Spy Coins (planted on U.S. contractors with classified security clearances

[Omaha Steve]

http://apnews.excite.com/article/20070111/D8MIVU6O0.html

U.S. Warns About Canadian Spy Coins
Email this Story

Jan 11, 4:16 AM (ET)

By TED BRIDIS

WASHINGTON (AP) - Money talks, but can it also follow your movements?

In a U.S. government warning high on the creepiness scale, the Defense Department cautioned its American contractors over what it described as a new espionage threat: Canadian coins with tiny radio frequency transmitters hidden inside.

The government said the mysterious coins were found planted on U.S. contractors with classified security clearances on at least three separate occasions between October 2005 and January 2006 as the contractors traveled through Canada.


This photo released by the Central Intelligence Agency shows a hollow container, fashioned to look like an Eisenhower silver dollar, which is still used to hide and send messages, or film, without being detected. Because it resembles ordinary pocket change, it is virtually undetectable as a concealment device. (AP Photo/CIA)


Intelligence and technology experts said such transmitters, if they exist, could be used to surreptitiously track the movements of people carrying the spy coins.

FULL story at link.

[reprehensor]

1. Bah! Those "contractors" were probably spies!

Black propaganda for breakfast!

[ixion]

2. rofl... people still use/carry coins?

for me, it gets tossed into a bucket. :-)

[Mist]

3. How many people carry around Eisenhower silver dollars? I have to say

that since the story originates with the US gov't, it's very likely bullshit.

[ileus]

13. the coin is only a ref pic....and I have an 1972 in my car now.

[No Exit]

5. Here's to physical, tangible money!

In my mind, the continued use physical, tangible money is a small blow against the ever-escalating movement IN FAVOR OF BANKERS towards lightning-quick electronic transactions. I prefer a slower pace. The use of coins is a remnant of the days when currency was actually backed by real metal. That was far better than these days of fiat currency.

In buying gold, I wonder if you would accept an electronic entry in an electronic ledger, in lieu of the actual gold coins?

[NorthernSpy]

8. the Canadian one-dollar and two-dollar coins...

... are as commonly used as singles are here. The two-dollar coin is sort of thick, and has a nice little section in the middle that you can pop out with a screwdriver (if you enjoy defacing currency).

[Art_from_Ark]

16. But since they are common coins of the realm

and change hands countless times, they wouldn't be too valuable as tracking devices.

[BushOut06]

4. Quick! Seal off the Canadian border, and send a couple of carrier groups!

It's official. The * administration has finally lost their fucking minds, now they're warning of Canadian threats!

[mainegreen]

6. Seems like a stupid spy toy to me. What w/happen if they spent the coins?

"Hmmm, strange, he's been at the quiki mart for over three hours now!"

:rofl:

[NorthernSpy]

7. lol! I'm guessing that if this story is for real...

... the Canadian government is not responsible for the spy coins.

[Art_from_Ark]

17. They sound like something from a Johnson Smith catalog

[Tesha]

12. "We found him! He's in that condom machine in the restroom!" (NT)

[sofa king]

14. That's the point of the Ike dollar.

They're more like collectible charms than they are legal tender, usually worth more in sentimental value than a mere dollar. So if you give one to someone, it's more likely that person is going to walk around with it than spend it.

Edit: or, for that matter, the $2 "Toonie," which may be the coin used.

Edit 2: I'm no Canadian, but seeing as the United States has developed a bad habit of invading countries that have large oil deposits, I might be a little bit concerned about being waylaid into becoming the 51st State. So yes, Canada has one helluva good reason for wanting to keep an eye on certain "contractors," who may or may not be in the employ of the Vice President's own version of the Todt Organization.

[TZ]

9. those dangerous Maple leafs

Well you know those subversives to the north never supported the war and actually believe in things like equal rights for gays so they are a threat to us...:rofl:

[superconnected]

10. So this is what bush is doing with the millions in publicity funds

he admits to taking from our taxes as one of his operating expenses.

[Tellurian]

11. Really!!!! I'm strip searching my Canadian Bacon

in the cheese drawer of my refrigerator.

The US warns, check the pockets for spyware.

[snot]

15. Can't blame anyone for eyeing our contractors, since

they do so much of our dirty work.

[Sin]

18. So Essentially.

These things are Virtually undetectable So if a some one wanted to smuggle a small amount of explosive on to a commercial flight he could stuff it inside one of these coins place on a window when at altitude apply electrical spark and cause a violent decompression.
at least they don't hand out security loop holes to possible bad people any more.