Beware: Connecticut Emergency Network

[pro106import]

Anyone ever hear of Connecticut Emergency Network? I think it is a made up agency. I received a Paypal invoice from them saying I owe them money for a subscription. I think they got my name and email from QRZ because they mention Ham radio in the body of the email. Just to make everyone aware of this. I sent a spoof report to Paypal and they responded back to me within 30 min. saying yes, it is fake. Here is part of the email:

You've received an invoice
Hello XXX
Connecticut Emergency Network sent you an invoice for $106.34 USD.
Note from Connecticut Emergency Network

CEN would like to thank you for your membership. Many HAM members are
using our frequencies. We will allow repeater linking if you have the
equipment. Without you, nothing we do would be possible. If there is
anything we may do to assist you, please be sure to reach out. Our goal
is safety and many find using our radio ID's safer as those listening
cannot obtain personal information, such as your home address. We keep
files that are not connected to the internet in the event you ever need
to use the emergency button feature. This MDC feature is not only
recommended but seriously advised. Once payment is received, you will
receive full information via email. Please be sure to read through it as
it contains everything you need and provides ways for your ideas to come
to life with us! Thank you again!
View and Pay Invoice

 

[bkantor]

Looks like they have a Facebook page (doesn't mean they are legitimate!)
https://www.facebook.com/ct.emergency.network/about/?tab=overview

 

[pro106import]

Looks like they have a Facebook page (doesn't mean they are legitimate!)
https://www.facebook.com/ct.emergency.network/about/?tab=overview

Yes I saw that too when I did a Google search. But it was just opened up within the past week. Another red flag.
Here is the address they have on Google maps , LOL
an empty lot
https://www.google.com/maps/place//...ata=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s8NW1WH_1lPw7g2ZOwXstLA!2e0

 

[mikewazowski]

Looks legit. They've recently licenced a bunch of frequencies with the FCC.

However, judging by the description of the group, they seem quite whackerish.

"RADIOS WILL BE USED FOR AUTHORIZED PERSON TO RELAY INFORMATION TO OUR DISPATCHERS. WE ARE A TEAM THAT PROVIDES IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND SAFETY TO OUR COMMUNITY WORKING WITH CIVILAINS, EMS, LAW ENFORCEMENTS AND MUNICIPALITIES."

I'm guessing they sent an invoice to every ham listed in the area with the intention of soliciting members. Pretty shady business practice.

Alan R Halat is the licencee. He had a previous licence for the same sort of activity cancelled in 2015. ALAN HALAT/APB BROADCASTING

You should send an invoice back to him for wasting your time.

 

[pro106import]

Looks legit. They've recently licenced a bunch of frequencies with the FCC.

However, judging by the description of the group, they seem quite whackerish.

"RADIOS WILL BE USED FOR AUTHORIZED PERSON TO RELAY INFORMATION TO OUR DISPATCHERS. WE ARE A TEAM THAT PROVIDES IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND SAFETY TO OUR COMMUNITY WORKING WITH CIVILAINS, EMS, LAW ENFORCEMENTS AND MUNICIPALITIES."

I'm guessing they sent an invoice to every ham listed in the area with the intention of soliciting members. Pretty shady business practice.

Alan R Halat is the licencee. He had a previous licence for the same sort of activity cancelled in 2015. ALAN HALAT/APB BROADCASTING

You should send an invoice back to him for wasting your time.

Very interesting. This person went through a lot of trouble to try to get money from people. I was just hoping to prevent someone else that gets this request for money from falling for it (Who would? You never know)
Here is the response I got from Paypal very quickly:

Hello Bob,

Thanks for forwarding that suspicious-looking email. You're right - it
was a phishing attempt, and we're working on stopping the fraud. By
reporting the problem, you've made a difference!

Identity thieves try to trick you into revealing your password or other
personal information through phishing emails and fake websites. To learn
more about online safety, click "Security Center" on any PayPal webpage.


Every email counts. When you forward suspicious-looking emails to
spoof@paypal.com, you help keep yourself and others safe from identity
theft.

Your account security is very important to us, so we appreciate your
extra effort.

Thanks,

PayPal

 

[NC1]

Here is the address they have on Google maps , LOL an empty lot
https://www.google.com/maps/place//...ata=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s8NW1WH_1lPw7g2ZOwXstLA!2e0

The tent is their World Headquarters? At least they are keeping their overhead costs to a minimum.

Check out the names who "liked" posts on their Facebook page too. I'll have to log in to see who they are.

Wait for the MLM Membership opportunity to show up, LOL

 

[NC1]

His FCC info is here:
License Search Error

Looks like it is just GMRS. I guess he is selling "memberships".

As for the "membership" you would be purchasing, I found the actual location of the repeater site - note the antenna in front of the upper left window. I'll bet the repeater is two Baofengs back to back, LOL

His World Headquarters is the tent on the left of the pic. Good grief!

 

[madrabbitt]

We need your help, please donate now.

How about no.

 

[NC1]

We need your help, please donate now.

How about no.

LOL..... and who is this WE that he referred to? Him and his bank account?

 

[N4GIX]

What a whacker! His FCC license is: WQVZ516
So, it is a GMRS license, and presumably he has some sort of repeater cobbled together. That antenna at the upper window may only be for a local "control station" but I too suspect it is for his repeater.

At that height and the surrounding terrain he must have almost a 8 mile radius of coverage. Hm, he seems to be in a valley running north/south, so predicted coverage is really poor. Note the blockage to the east because he's got a hill behind his antenna.

Actually, here is a propagation map based on a unity gain antenna @20', 20 watts ERP from that location. The light gray is HT coverage, the light blue is mobile coverage, and the light red is very marginal:

 

[pro106import]

I think I'll take a ride by to see him later. Maybe he could give me a tour before I hand over my hard earned funds.

 

[KK4JUG]

Sounds like an EMA or police wannabee.

While I'm here, I'm soliciting money for a good cause. 'Cause I'm broke.

 

[russellmaher]

Oh, please do!

Take some pictures of his operation and share them with the rest of us.

We might all love to contribute to this guys "rainy day fund".

 

[NC1]

And then there is this:

ULS License - Industrial/Business Pool, Conventional License - WQVZ516 - CONNECTICUT EMERGENCY NETWORK

(if the link has an error, clicking it will bring you there anyway)

 

[madrabbitt]

LOL..... and who is this WE that he referred to? Him and his bank account?

his need to buy more toys that he probably doesnt *need* would be my guess.

 

[russellmaher]

Windsor Locks

And then there is this:

ULS License - Industrial/Business Pool, Conventional License - WQVZ516 - CONNECTICUT EMERGENCY NETWORK

(if the link has an error, clicking it will bring you there anyway)

When I return to work next week (from my vacation) I'll have to look for Control Point 9 on the ULS License which is:
9 SCHOEPHOESTER RD, HARTFORD, WINDSOR LOCKS, CT

This is the road that goes past the terminal at Bradley Int'l. Airport, which is where I work, and I will see if there are new buildings or towers in the area.

 

[Thunderknight]

And then there is this:

ULS License - Industrial/Business Pool, Conventional License - WQVZ516 - CONNECTICUT EMERGENCY NETWORK

Yikes, there are 21 applications on that license since June 2015, most are administrative updates.
It was initially filed under "APB BROADCASTING", then "DOJ MEDIA", now "CONNECTICUT EMERGENCY NETWORK"

 

[NC1]

Yikes, there are 21 applications on that license since June 2015, most are administrative updates.
It was initially filed under "APB BROADCASTING", then "DOJ MEDIA", now "CONNECTICUT EMERGENCY NETWORK"

Probably no business license filed for any of them.
Then again maybe there is, this guy seems to love filing paperwork and paying fees.

Maybe that is why he is selling memberships - to pay for more paperwork he wants to file?
I wonder if any of those sites are operable (with real equipment), or even exist as a legitimate control point for his "Network".

The whole thing seems weird, especially when it started with the bogus invoice.

 

[KC4RAF]

Wow, it looks like a guy named George

has moved from Florida to Connecticut!

 

[NC1]

has moved from Florida to Connecticut!

George? Who is that?