On Wednesday, a person unknown posted a mysterious message “For Mein Fraulein” on the popular Craigslist web site, asking “her” to call, and including a telephone number. This message follows five other such messages that, when the telephone number is called, play back a recording of music, followed by groups of numbers, reminiscent of shortwave numbers stations used during the Cold War and even today by governments to communicate with intelligence agents in the field.
To date, no one has yet publicly stated they have cracked the messages, despite their being available for over two months.
The newest message appeared on Orlando (Fla.) Craigslist at 1:23 a.m. Wednesday in the missed connections section, and reads:
For Mein Fraulein
Mein Fraulein,
Missing you was a great disappointment, as I have come to treasure your company. Call me.
///407///956///4114///
The telephone number is owned by PAETEC Communications, a provider of business and wholesale VoIP and other services.
When called, the number yields the following message (MP3):
Group 116
01702 10790 12010 00106 90420
28031 08408 70690 76084 09700
90000 25079 02000 80280 95000
01502 70820 65000 01800 00290
26078 00407 90200 10006 00001
30150 88075 08400 90210 78018
02808 50720 79051 07800 60690
16001 01800 00480 38035 04000
00170 21079 00300 10280 90
From the patterns emerging, it would seem that these messages might originate from two separate people, who are using a similar encryption system to send messages to each other. It also seems that the frequency of messages is increasing, as the last two messages were posted less than a week apart.
And now it’s time for you amateur cryptanalysts to get to work. I’ll continue posting these messages for as long as they continue appearing, but really, I thought someone would have figured it out by now. There are distinct patterns in the messages that reveal a potentially weak encryption algorithm. Very weak, in fact.
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acoward
Jul 26, 2006
How do we know Homelandstupidity is not behind the messages. It is very suspicious you always seem to find them first…
Michael Hampton
Jul 26, 2006
Oh yes, very suspicious. For the record, I find them first because I’m monitoring Craigslist specifically for them.
Okay, I usually find them first. Last week I didn’t, because I was busy traveling.
As for the messages, when I have something to say, you’ll read it here in perfectly plain (and annoying to government bureaucrats) text.
Matt
Jul 26, 2006
lol the first thought that occurred to me when i saw this was “They’ve got to be behind this” … but you know, I bet it’s another one of those experiments to see how people will react when faced with a lack of information and something “suspicious” ..
Michael Hampton
Jul 26, 2006
Ha. I don’t have the skills to put together something like this anyway. As for an experiment, the only thing left to do is to get down to work breaking the messages…
NetWatcher
Jul 27, 2006
Has anyone done searches on any other classified sites? I found this one today: on Backpage.com
I’m wondering about a hoax, but this message predates this numbers station, and is located where this number station is.
Michael Hampton
Jul 27, 2006
NetWatcher, that’s what we in the business call a joke.
Anarchy
Jul 27, 2006
Michael,
How do you check Craigslist for them? Whats the easiest way to do it, least time consuming?
Thanks,
A.
Michael Hampton
Jul 27, 2006
Sorry, my intelligence sources and methods are classified.
Jul 28, 2006
Seventh phone numbers station: 414-386-1377 - Homeland Stupidity
Anarchy
Jul 28, 2006
So then we really DON’T know that it’s not “Homeland Stupidity” behind the messages then huh? I mean, why so secretive about how you monitor Craigslist? Why can’t the rest of us do the same and maybe help catch the messages?
Michael Hampton
Jul 28, 2006
Are you some kind of idiot? Nothing is stopping you from watching Craigslist. Several people around here do, in fact. Sometimes they find them before I do…
And if you keep trying to shoot the messenger, you really aren’t going to get anywhere.
Anonymous
Jul 29, 2006
Michael,
First off, no sir I’m not an idiot, and don’t appreciate the sarcasm. I just didn’t know if there was some easier way other than going into each city and checking the Missed Connections section manually. Sorry, I won’t ask any more. But using terms like “idiot” in a response, especially coming from you, really shows where the “stupidity” in “Homeland Stupidity” comes from.
Cordially,
A.
Michael Hampton
Jul 29, 2006
Yes, there’s an easier way. No, I won’t share it with you.
And you’re an idiot not because of that, but because you keep repeatedly accusing me of having something to do with the number stations themselves.
CodeAc
Jul 31, 2006
Play Nice Peoples
Anarchy
Jul 31, 2006
Michael,
I was just kididng with you man, someone else made the comment previously that they thought HomelandStupidity.us could be behind the messages since it finds them first. I was mearly referring to that comment, in a jesting manner, not meaning any true harm. Seriously Michael, lighten up will ya? My apologies up front if you took my comment seriously, as in an accusation of guilt, of being involved with creating the messages. Obviously my comment was taken seriously, which I did not intend to have happen.