Canadian coins reportedly bugged by spies
According to The Canadian Press, a recent report by the U.S. Defense Security Service (a branch of the DoD) revealed that at least three American contractors who visited Canada returned home with more than a souvenir toque and supply of Tim Horton's coffee, finding Canadian coins bugged with miniature transmitters when they unloaded their pockets. Apparently, the bugs were planted by international spies hoping to pick up information about military technology from the contractors at conventions, seminars, or exhibits in the country. While the exact type of transmitter hasn't been revealed, speculation seems to suggest an RFID chip, although as former RCMP officer and current security consultant told the CP, the whole scheme isn't exactly the most foolproof one. Not only would a reader of some sort have to be nearby to pick up the signals from the coins, there's also of course no guaranteeing how long the individual will actually hold onto the coin before that poutine craving forces them to spend it. [Thanks, Dave W]
Update: Alas, it appears that this bit of cross-border intrigue may have been too good to be true, with The Globe & Mail now reporting that the case of the bugged pocket change has been overblown, according to a US official familiar with the case. The official added that some "odd-looking" coins did trigger some suspicions when they were found, but ultimately posed no risk or danger.
Filed under: Misc. Gadgets
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Master @ Jan 10th 2007 3:24PM
LOL! They'd ended in the jackpot machine anyway :)
Clayj @ Jan 10th 2007 3:31PM
Paper money FTW!
Avi D @ Jan 10th 2007 3:37PM
Yeah...sure. Thanks for all the stupid (and usually partly untrue) Canadian stereotypes anyhow.
justin @ Jan 10th 2007 3:52PM
*cough* bullshit *cough*
Colin @ Jan 10th 2007 4:12PM
Poutine reference!
Explained here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poutine
And since we are referencing French Canada ... toque is tuque
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuque
glacia @ Jan 10th 2007 4:20PM
Tuque! When I first read that I pronounced it like 'toke' so I was a little curious what the three American contractors were toking. At any rate how is the Gene Poutine these days. We don't hear so much about him down here...
PistolPeet @ Jan 10th 2007 4:46PM
So many comments, without a single 'loonie' reference? You should all be ashamed.
Ian Mah @ Jan 10th 2007 4:48PM
A Canadian named Dave. Now that's really weird!
tiuk @ Jan 10th 2007 4:52PM
The $1 coins, Loonies, have a picture of a Loon on the back. The $2 coins, Toonies, have a polar bear.
Cabbage @ Jan 10th 2007 5:17PM
Hey, I know Dave from Canada. Leave it to Engadget to bring old friends back together..
shinta @ Jan 10th 2007 6:43PM
As someone who did pioneering research on the RFID chip 8 years ago, the idea of implanting an RFID chip inside a tight metal container being sent out to any number of random places within a 3.5 million square mile area is just absurd.
mitch @ Jan 10th 2007 8:41PM
Yeah, us Canadians are really out to get your secrets of military technology.
adaminc @ Jan 10th 2007 9:26PM
I always wondered why some of my loonies had blinking leds on them.
p.s.
mmmm poutine
adaminc @ Jan 10th 2007 9:26PM
I always wondered why some of my loonies had blinking leds on them.
p.s.
mmmm poutine
type670 @ Jan 10th 2007 9:53PM
that's "toque" you hosers!
maybe the "bugged" coins were the 25 cent pieces w/ the "Remembrance day" nee "Veterans Day" graphic insert?
Ollie @ Jan 11th 2007 9:03AM
Man, some of you Americans are missing out on the sweet sweet goodness of Timmy Ho's...Oh man. A double double? Mercy! Nothing like meeting Dave out for a coffee!
Simon @ Jan 11th 2007 9:14AM
Yeah, that's true USA-style ... shoot first ask questions later
Magallanes @ Jan 11th 2007 1:27PM
Anyways i did never trusted in they(Canadians)
;-)
Nick @ Jan 14th 2007 12:42AM
Wow, i can't belive someone actually made this up....what are they on some sort of cheap drug? There are no tracking devices in our money. They are just simple coins....This is complete bulshit...the canadian covernment isn't going to spend monmey on that, they have better things to waste our money on.