If you recognize the voice on the link, you might get a reward from the
USCG:


Office of Public Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard Thirteenth District


Press Release Date: Nov. 29, 2005
Contact: PA3 Adam Eggers
(206) 220-7237

REWARD OFFERED AS COAST GUARD SEARCHES FOR HOAX CALLER

Audio clip of hoax call availible

SEATTLE - The Coast Guard is trying to identify an individual
responsible for four hoax calls originating in Brookings Harbor, Ore.,
which have expended several thousand dollars during more than 20 hours
of searching by Coast Guard and local responders.

The first hoax call was received by the Coast Guard in early October
from an individual claiming to be on a disabled recreational vessel.
Sector Humboldt Bay, Calif., issued a mayday to all vessels in the
area. Two 47-foot motor lifeboats and a mobile shore unit from Coast
Guard Station Chetco River, Ore., and an HH-65 Dolphin helicopter from
Coast Guard Air Station North Bend, Ore., were launched to assist.
After three hours of searching, the individual then radioed, "It was
a prank, it was all a prank." The search was suspended after nine
hours. The call was traced toward Brookings Harbor.

In mid October, the Coast Guard received a radio transmission from an
unidentified vessel saying "Coast Guard, Coast Guard". Sector
Humboldt Bay issued a call for help on behalf of the vessel. Once
again the radio transmission was traced to an area in the boat basin in
Brookings Harbor.

The third distress call was received at the end of October from a
person on a fishing vessel claiming to be disabled with a burned
crewmember. A 47-foot motor lifeboat and a mobile land unit were
launched. The individual radioed for help again but changed the
original name of the vessel. The search was suspended after five
hours. The Curry County Sheriff was notified and asked to assist with
the search for the individual.

Station Chetco River later received a call from an individual claiming
to be aboard a vessel in distress. A 47-foot motor lifeboat, 25-foot
response boat and two mobile land units were launched to assist. The
transmission was once again traced to Brookings Harbor and determined
to be a hoax. An urgent marine information broadcast was issued by
Sector North Bend, Ore., asking for anyone to identify the source of
the call. The case was closed after six hours.

The Curry County Sheriff and Brookings Police have been assisting the
Coast Guard with the investigation.

Media interested in conducting interviews about these hoax cases should
contact Master Chief Dunn at (541) 469-2242.

The Coast Guard would like to remind individuals that false distress
calls place unnecessary risk on would-be rescuers and interfere with
legitimate search and rescue cases. False calls also cost taxpayers
hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. It costs approximately
$1,200 per hour to operate a Coast Guard 47-foot motor lifeboat, while
a helicopter or larger cutter may cost from $9,000 to $12,000 an hour.

The Coast Guard would like anyone with information on these hoax calls
to contact Station Chetco River at (541) 756-9268, Lt. Dinsmore of the
Curry County Sheriff at (541) 247-3242 or Lt. Bishop of the Brookings
Police at (541) 469-3118 or Crime Stoppers. Crime Stoppers is offering
a reward of up to $1,000 to be paid for information leading to an
arrest. All calls can be anonymous. Crime Stoppers can be contacted
at1-888-974-0000 or 541-412-0989.

To listen to an audio clip of one of the hoax calls, click on the
following link: http://www.piersystem.com/clients/uscg-13/48112.mp3



###

The U.S. Coast Guard is a military, maritime, multi-mission service
within the
Department of Homeland Security dedicated to protecting the safety and
security of America.

Yeah, the CG must answer all calls, but this crap of the "boy crying
wolf" can not only be frustrating, but is a downright crime.

I hope they catch the clown[s] too!