Secret Numbers Stations: The Craigslist Mystery Unveiled

In May 2006, a peculiar personal ad appeared on Craigslist, hinting at a bizarre communication method reminiscent of Cold War espionage. This ad led to a series of mysterious phone numbers that sparked curiosity and intrigue among hackers and cryptography enthusiasts alike.

Key Takeaways

• A Craigslist ad in 2006 led to mysterious phone numbers.
• The calls revealed pre-recorded messages similar to number stations.
• The project was an experiment by a group of hackers.
• The messages used one-time pads for encryption.
• The phenomenon gained significant attention online.

The Craigslist Ad

Back in the days of the Cold War, spies had unique ways to communicate. They often hid messages in plain sight, using personal ads in newspapers. This practice resurfaced in 2006 when a Craigslist ad read:

“For mine frine mine frine, I haven’t heard from you in a while, won’t you call me 212-7967-35.”

Curious individuals who called the number were greeted with a pre-recorded message that echoed the format of traditional number stations. The message began with a musical preamble, followed by a series of numbers read in groups.

The Mysterious Message

The recording featured:

• A musical intro with the track “Little Black Heart” by A-ha.
• A group count of 415.
• 50 paired groups of five-digit numbers, each repeated twice.
• The message concluded with 00000000 and 86 read twice.

This structure mirrored the broadcasts of shortwave number stations, which were used by intelligence agencies to communicate with field agents.

The Buzz Grows

After the ad was pulled, the number continued to operate, attracting attention from the hacking community. Emanuel Goldstein, editor of 2600 magazine, mentioned the number on a radio show, leading to a flood of calls from curious listeners. The number was a VoIP setup from an unidentified provider, quickly depleting its prepaid balance due to the overwhelming interest.

The Experiment Unfolds

The initial mystery deepened as more Craigslist ads appeared, each with a different phone number and message structure. The second ad, released on May 29, 2006, followed a similar pattern but with a different group count of 617. The third ad, on June 10, introduced yet another number, continuing the trend.

Who Was Behind It?

The truth behind these ads was revealed to be an experiment by a group of hackers who attended a 2600 meeting in Los Angeles. They called their project Project Evil. The idea was to create a VoIP number station as a fun experiment to gauge the online cryptographic community’s response.

The Rise and Fall of Interest

As the project gained traction, it attracted attention from various online forums and blogs. However, as interest peaked, a copycat number station emerged, leading many to believe that the original messages were merely a stunt. This shift caused a decline in engagement with Project Evil’s number stations.

The Final Messages

In an attempt to revive interest, the group decided to release a series of new messages, each with a cohesive backstory involving a field agent and their controlling agency. The messages were designed to create suspense and intrigue, culminating in a presentation at the Defcon conference in August 2006.

Conclusion

The saga of Project Evil’s number stations is a fascinating blend of technology, creativity, and community engagement. It highlights how a simple Craigslist ad can spark a wave of curiosity and collaboration among enthusiasts. If you have recordings of the messages or insights into this intriguing experiment, the community would love to hear from you!