Well that was dodgy. Whitfords Volunteer Sea Rescue just telephoned me. They said that some one using my call sign just tried to log that they were leaving Hillarys with two people on board, but wouldn't say who they were, what vessel they were, or where they were going.
The operator thought it sounded odd, and looked up my details - noted I was a single person kayak and gave me a ring. 1.) What kind of dodgy life uses some one else's call sign? 2.) Why would you bother, as WVSR kindly accepts log ins even if you don't have a membership and will rescue you whether you're a member or not.
and 3.) If you don't tell them where you're going how the heck can they rescue you if you do fail to log out?
WVSR thought I should be aware someone is masquerading as me.
Weirdest identity theft ever.
Equivalent of wrong number?
ReplyDeleteNot really, Elaine Walker - then they would have, as procedure, identified their vessel and where they were going.
ReplyDeleteThat's just bizarre, and somewhat disturbing.
ReplyDeleteTres odd. Is it worth sending an e-mail to the water police saying this has happened just in case?
ReplyDeleteI'm wondering that myself.
ReplyDeletePerhaps it's as innocent as they're doing concern about privacy completely the wrong way or over the top. And on the other end of the scale they could be carrying cargo they don't want people to know about XD
ReplyDeleteHow do your call sign thingies work? Is it possible they just picked something random to use and it happened to be yours?
Well bek here in Australia, when you set out on your boat and you want to take precautions which of course you do as a responsible boater you call up the appropriate Sea Rescue by either phone or radio.
ReplyDeleteThey will want to know your call sign, if any.
They will be able to access your personal details - what your boat looks like and so forth if you have a call sign with them, they'll have 'em on record.
They'll want to know
How many people on board.
Name and description of vessel and its license if appropriate.
Where you're headed.
What time you intend to be back.
Your phone number.
Call sign if appropriate.
Sometimes how much fuel, depending.
Privacy just doesn't come into it, if you want to be retrievable, that's the procedure. If you're 5 minutes late and don't call in, and they can't contact you they will come after you to find you. They don't mess around. It's a very good system, it doesn't get any funding from the government and it's worth much more than the $50 a year I pay for it.
But you don't need to have a call sign or be a member, that's the thing - they'll do it for the public, but I think that a lot of people don't realise that.
They spend most of their time rescuing power boat skippers who have not estimated their fuel use properly..
ReplyDelete