by ABC News is reporting the following:
Federal agents have launched an investigation into a surge in the purchase of large quantities of disposable cell phones by individuals from the Middle East and Pakistan, ABC News has learned.The phones — which do not require purchasers to sign a contract or have a credit card — have many legitimate uses, and are popular with people who have bad credit or for use as emergency phones tucked away in glove compartments or tackle boxes. But since they can be difficult or impossible to track, law enforcement officials say the phones are widely used by criminal gangs and terrorists.
“There’s very little audit trail assigned to this phone. One can walk in, purchase it in cash, you don’t have to put down a credit card, buy any amount of minutes to it, and you don’t, frankly, know who bought this,” said Jack Cloonan, a former FBI official who is now an ABC News consultant.
Law enforcement officials say the phones were used to detonate the bombs terrorists used in the Madrid train attacks in March 2004.
“The application of prepaid phones for nefarious reasons, is really widespread. For example, the terrorists in Madrid used prepaid phones to detonate the bombs in the subway trains that killed more than 200 people,” said Roger Entner, a communications consultant.
Now, should we be afraid of the quantity of these things? I mean, either there is a large number of people needing them, or they are just buying them in large quantities so they don’t have to go back for more. If there’s one thing we learned from the terrorist attacks on 9/11, the terrorists had a lot of money, paid cash, and didn’t mind doing things on the lavish side.
Still, to be safe, keep your eyes open!
Darn those cell phones!!
While I think that there needs to be a way that the cell phones can be traced, I am of the mind that I cannot live in fear of what may happen next. It is important to stay vigilant and watch what happens in the world around you, really can anyone afford to keep their head in the sand anymore?
What I wonder is– who’s the company(s) responsible for this? Are they aware that these phones could be used by those hostile to the U.S., or even crimminals within the states? If so, what type of tracing measures have they allowed, because there really should be one.
It only makes sense to have some type of way to trace these phones. Otherwise the company would be in a world of litigation hurt if their phones were used by a kidnapper, murderer, etc. That scenario alone should motivate these companies to better safeguard themselves from being sued should their product be used for illegal purposes.
LET ME GIVE
I do not know how long I’ll live
But while I live, Lord, let me give
Some comfort to someone in need
By smile or nod, kind word or deed.
And let me do what ever I can
To ease things for my fellow man.
I want naught but to do my part
To “lift” a tired or weary heart.
To change folks’ frowns to smiles again.
Then I will not have lived in vain
And I’ll not care how long I’ll live
If I can give … and give … and give.
Cell phones are only part of the equation. I have posted my ebook God’s Jihad–A Prophetic Chronology Updated 2006 on my blog (link)[free] as well as a Word on 1/23/06. The church has been requested to pray. We are not to live in fear but Trust in the Lord; be vigilant and do the work of the Lord.. Good to see you again.