Coast Guard seeks public assistance with hoax caller near Wilmington

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The Coast Guard Investigative Service and Sector North Carolina are seeking the public’s assistance with locating the person responsible for making multiple false distress calls that are originating from the Wilmington area.

The series of falsified distress calls began on Dec. 21, 2024. At least seven hoax calls have been transmitted over VHF channel 16.

The calls are believed to have originated from the Leland and Brunswick areas in North Carolina and consist of individuals calling out for help with various locations and descriptions of their vessel or nature of distress.

If you have information regarding the above incidents, or recognize the voice in the audio clip, please visit the CGIS tips website.

VHF Channel 16 is for hailing and distress only. Knowingly transmitting false distress calls is a federal crime under 18 U.S. Code § 1038 and can lead to criminal and civil penalties if found guilty. The misuse can be punishable by up to 10 years in prison and up to a quarter million dollars in fines, plus the cost of the search.