Authorities Seek Public’s Help With Hoax Distress Calls That Came From Coastal Maine

One of the worst kinds of 'prank' someone can pull is a hoax call to first responders.

Police, fire department, U. S. Coast Guard, it doesn't matter who the call is to, it is an awful thing to do.  Not only do these hoax calls waste taxpayer money, they also divert first responders away from dealing with actual emergencies.

According to WMTW, there were two cases of fake distress calls in June 2024.

Now, it looks like it has happened again.

According to an article on the WABI website, authorities are looking for the public's help in identifying the person or people who were responsible for a string of hoax distress calls over the weekend.

The article explains that the first call came in just before noon on Friday.  The final call came in on Sunday morning.

In response to the hoax distress call, the Coast Guard sent three boats to the area and searched for several hours.  Additionally, several other local agencies aided in the search.

It is believed the calls came from the Southwest Harbor, Maine, area.

It is important to remember that, not only is calling in a fake distress call a waste of valuable resources, it is also a federal crime.  According to the U.S. Coast Guard news website, if convicted, a person could be sentenced to 10 years in prison and be hit with a $250,000 fine.  In addition, the person could end up having to pay back the cost of the search efforts.