# Verizon sends out bogus Civil Emergency warning

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verizon-sends-out-bogus-civil-emergency-warning/605980>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [December 13, 2011, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verizon-sends-out-bogus-civil-emergency-warning/605980 "2011-12-13T02:53:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verizon-sends-out-bogus-civil-emergency-warning/605980/1 "2011-12-13T02:53:07Z")

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[Just a test, but Verizon’s ‘civil emergency’ text message spells fear, confusion around N.J.](http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/12/just_a_test_but_verizons_civil.html)

> [@](#):
>
> \*The unfamiliar noise from Jaclyn Boruch’s cell phone startled her. She reflexively grabbed it. What she saw next scared her.
> 
> In bold red letters were the words “CMAS Alert” followed by “Civil Emergency in this area until 1:24 PM EST Take Shelter Now U.S. Govern.”
> 
> The emergency alert message took up her entire screen. It locked her Android phone for several minutes.\*

The article says “thousands of people” got the message. That must have been pretty freaky if you were with a bunch of people getting the warning at the same time.

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**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verizon-sends-out-bogus-civil-emergency-warning/605980/2 "2011-12-13T03:15:23Z")

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Well, now they know it works in case the Martians really invade.

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**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verizon-sends-out-bogus-civil-emergency-warning/605980/3 "2011-12-13T03:49:34Z")

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I would probably immediately assume that I was about to get nuked.

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**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verizon-sends-out-bogus-civil-emergency-warning/605980/4 "2011-12-13T04:06:40Z")

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Now if there is a REAL emergency, everyone will ignore it. Way to go, Verizon.