The Quadro Tracker, also known as the Positive Molecular Locator, was a fake "detection device" sold by Quadro Corp. of Harleyville, South Carolina between 1993 and 1996. Around 1,000 were sold to police departments and school districts around the United States on the basis that it could detect hidden drugs, explosives, weapons and lost golf balls. In 1996, the FBI declared it to be a fake and obtained a permanent injunction barring the device from being manufactured or sold. Three principals of Quadro Corp. were charged with mail fraud and conspiracy to commit mail fraud, but were acquitted in a trial held in January 1997.
Quadro Tracker
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quadro_Tracker
6 Comments
TachyonTele_Esq@piefed.social · 5 pts · 44d
Scamming the cops is pretty wild. I love it.
Bluescluestoothpaste@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 43d
It's fascinating, i think they get in less trouble because the cops and school principals didn't want to admit they got scammed
CombatWombat@feddit.online · 3 pts · 44d
Bananas that even when it was revealed to be completely empty inside, school officials still stood by its usefulness:
historicaldocuments@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 44d
There's a reason why all the "bureaucratic red tape" is there, normally anyway.
The only message you're sending is that you're willing to participate in a lie to save face (yes, I know this was years ago), and if a few kids' lives get harmed by it, no big deal, right? The scientific method will win out in the end, but you can make it way more expensive!
Bluescluestoothpaste@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 43d
So performative idk i honestly believe it's a mental disease, people in charge of the safety of schoolchildren think they can wave a magic wand and simply declare that they're doing their jobs well.
DeltaWingDragon@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 43d
This is like the Theranos blood test machine!