- Feb 16, 2002
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<!--StartFragment --> Believing an Urban Legend Led to Arrest
By Cathryn Conroy, CompuServe News Editor
Don't believe those tall tale urban legends that are so popular on the Internet. That's one piece of advice a 60-year-old Canadian woman probably wishes she had heeded. The urban legend she fell for led to her arrest. The woman, whom police in Surrey, Canada have not named, heard the one about "9111." The urban legend holds that if you dial 9111, you will be able to find out if your phone line is tapped. Well, guess what? It's not true. Dial 9111 and it connects with your local 911 emergency outlet. That is what happened to this Canadian woman.
Once she realized her error, she quickly hung up. Too late. Police showed up on her doorstep--standard operating procedure for all 911 hang-ups--only to discover her house was filled with marijuana plants. Constable Tim Shields told the Canadian Press that police found "a reasonably-sized marijuana growing operation."
In addition to the woman, three men, ages 61, 60, and 55, were arrested. The four were released from jail a few hours later on the promise they appear for their court date. Shields told the Canadian Press that it may be an urban legend, but dialing 9111 won't help you figure out if your phones are tapped and only ties up lines meant to help people with real emergencies.
By Cathryn Conroy, CompuServe News Editor
Don't believe those tall tale urban legends that are so popular on the Internet. That's one piece of advice a 60-year-old Canadian woman probably wishes she had heeded. The urban legend she fell for led to her arrest. The woman, whom police in Surrey, Canada have not named, heard the one about "9111." The urban legend holds that if you dial 9111, you will be able to find out if your phone line is tapped. Well, guess what? It's not true. Dial 9111 and it connects with your local 911 emergency outlet. That is what happened to this Canadian woman.
Once she realized her error, she quickly hung up. Too late. Police showed up on her doorstep--standard operating procedure for all 911 hang-ups--only to discover her house was filled with marijuana plants. Constable Tim Shields told the Canadian Press that police found "a reasonably-sized marijuana growing operation."
In addition to the woman, three men, ages 61, 60, and 55, were arrested. The four were released from jail a few hours later on the promise they appear for their court date. Shields told the Canadian Press that it may be an urban legend, but dialing 9111 won't help you figure out if your phones are tapped and only ties up lines meant to help people with real emergencies.
