If these pranksters were really in Bethesda, it wouldn't take much longer than 40 minutes or so to drive over to "real NSA", buy the mug, and then come back to their office.
The NSA exists beyond Ft Meade
> Dave told me he was with the NSA in Bethesda — the National Security Agency.
So did DAVE say he was with "National Security Agency", or did Dave only say "I'm with the NSA in Bethesda", and then the author misinterpreted the claim?
I 100% believe the mysterious man said "I'm Dave from the NSA in Bethesda". But what I DON'T believe, is that Dave is with the National Security Agency.
I believe "Dave" is from the Naval Support Activity in Bethesda. EDIT: Although the article seems to say that they were really interested in breaking his encryption. Which seems like a "real NSA" thing to do.
EDIT2: Regardless, it was an entertaining read.
It is odd that the writer refers to them specifically, they have no connection with the actual NSA of which I'm aware.
This wouldn't be the first time I heard of a US Military dude prank-call someone.
Well, now I'm neutral on the subject. There's details that make me disbelieve the story. But tracking down the author and finding the right phone number to call him seems like a feat that would require decent resources.
Basically: that's a level of effort that goes well above and beyond a typical prank call.
Yes. In 2015, two drugged-out tranny hookers in a stolen SUV went down the employee entrance road. They tried to crash through the gate. They didn't get very far.[1][2]
[1] https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/feds-say-nsa-gate... [2] https://abcnews.go.com/US/injured-nsa-headquarters-fort-mead...
A funny thing about people who live in Maryland: the NSA has a big sign that says "NSA" on the highway. We all know where it exists, and there are funny local stories about ignorant criminals taking the wrong road and ending up in the NSA checkpoint. Its a famous local landmark.
http://www.capitalgazette.com/news/ph-ac-cn-carjacking-suspe...
People tell me that you can even drive up and go to a public gift-shop they have out front, by the National Cryptologic Museum (which is run by the NSA). Its literally a public place and they let anyone in to see some cool stuff. https://www.nsa.gov/about/cryptologic-heritage/museum/
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The thing is: the guy seems to have been called by Naval Support Activity, Bethesda.
https://www.cnic.navy.mil/regions/ndw/installations/nsa_beth...
This is a "different" NSA, and not "THE NSA" that people talk about.
Whether or not its actually part of protocol: I dunno. But maybe "Naval Support Activity" dudes like to pretend they are "the NSA" as a prank. Or maybe they really are part of national security (I mean, the US Navy is still... technically national security, right?)
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In short: my expectation.
1. Naval Support Activity called this guy up to ask for a favor. They misrepresent themselves (but without lying: they are the "NSA" after all) to kinda encourage this guy to do something for them.
2. They feel bad about pranking the dude. So they drive to the Cryptographic Museum and buy him the first "real NSA"-branded gear that they find. Then they ship it to him.