--- title: "Governments paid millions for this fake bomb detector" description: "It was a miracle device. Thailand paid $33,000 dollars for a single unit of this \"bomb detector\". Learn more here." date: "2021-05-10" modified: "2023-05-11" authors: - name: "Blake Stilwell" job_title: "Editor-In-Chief, Air Force Veteran" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/blake/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/military-news/fake-bomb-detector-alpha-6/" categories: - "Military News" - "Technology" --- # Governments paid millions for this fake bomb detector ![fake bomb detector]() It was a miracle device. The makers of the Alpha 6 device claimed it could detect ivory, [explosives](), drugs, and more. The UK, Saudi Arabia, India, and Pakistan all fell for it. Egypt ordered a million dollars' worth. Thailand paid $33,000 dollars for a single unit of the "bomb detector". ![thai alpha 6]() *13 Thai state agencies bought the Alpha 6 fake bomb detector devices.* But it was really a [bunch of plastic parts filled with shredded paper](), assembled in the UK and made in China (who actually also bought a number of the devices). It was promised to governments in Iraq and Afghanistan, especially for its reported ability to detected bombs up to three miles away, but it was [about as effective as any divining rod.]() When the British government suspected the fraud, it banned the export of the Alpha 6. ![fake bomb detector]() *Seems legit.* The creators claimed that it used the body's static electricity to power an antenna, which would make the device point to the contraband material. A card or paper would be attached to the device, with an image of what it was to be looking for. A single Alpha 6 cost around seven dollars to make. The British couple producing them sold their "devices" for upwards of $105 million over more than 10 years. [They sold thousands of the Alpha 6s]() – no more than a plastic handle with an antenna. ![alpha 6 fake bomb detector]() *An Alpha 6, as shipped.* The whole situation would be funny if it weren't so tragic. The devices were sold to the Iraqi government during much of the Iraq War, and Iraqi troops – often defending allied troops – depended on the Alpha 6 to do its job. No one knows if the bogus detectors led to the death of any allied troops in Iraq or Afghanistan. When the British justice system caught up to the fraudsters, their assets were seized and they were given prison sentences of up to three years. ## Author Blake Stilwell is We Are The Mighty's Editor-in-Chief, covering military news, entertainment, and history, along with veteran education, employment and entrepreneurship. He is a former U.S. Air Force combat cameraman with degrees in Graphic Design, Television and Film, International Relations, Public Relations, Business Management and Middle Eastern Affairs. After leaving the military, he began working in film and television production in New York and Los Angeles, work that included ABC News, NBC Olympics, and HBO Sports. He then spent two years in Washington with White House Communications, before joining the Near East Foundation. At NEF he served as an International Development Fellow, then Communications Officer, and finally, Media Officer for the Middle East and Africa. Based in the Palestinian Territory, he coordinated strategic communications between eight country offices, international media, and government and NGO partners. He began a career focused on writing and editing in 2015 with We Are The Mighty. He left in 2019 for Military.com, but returned as Editor-in-Chief in 2025. Blake’s work has been seen on CBS News, Fox News, CBC, The Chicago Tribune, Task & Purpose, Military Times, Recoil, Skillset, American History, and was shockingly even used in a Supreme Court argument. He is an avid traveler and small business owner in Ohio, where he spends most of his energy fixing up a very old house. ### Author social links [Facebook]() [Twitter]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()