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Speculation about Shortwave Spy Numbers Stations
What do we know about Spy Numbers Stations? While all of their mysteries have yet to be unravelled,
we do know quite a bit about the various stations heard, although there is much more to be discovered.
Who Runs Them?
So who's behind the various stations? We don't know who runs all of them, but several of the owners
have been discovered:
US Central Intelligence Agency
The CIA is believed to be behind the operation of a group of stations collectively referred to as
"The Counting Station", due to the station's habit of preceeding each transmissions with the digits
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,0 for about ten minutes. A female voice is always used. The announcer has been
nicknamed CynthIA by listeners. Some transmissions are known to originate from a group of sites in
rural Virgina, southwest of Washington DC, collectively referred to as The Warrenton Training Center.
Other transmitting locations both inside the US, and overseas, are no doubtedly used.
Both English and Spanish langauge transmissions have been heard. There used to be a German language
transmission, but this has not been heard for some time.
The Counting Station uses five digit numbers, with a pause between the third and fourth digits.
It is often referred to as having a 3/2 Digit format.
This station used to use a different format consisting of four digit numbers, and was then referred
to as a Four Digit Numbers Station.
British MI6
Israeli MOSSAD
Cuban Intelligence
Cuban Rebels
Czech Intelligence
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Last updated 14 September 1997
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csmolinski@erols.com Chris Smolinski