Spies sometimes use fake names. These fake names might be code names, so that nobody will know their real name. Other times real names are used, but not by the right people. For example, in 1949, a spy from the Soviet Union used a name that had been forgotten in the United States. The real family, from Idaho, had left the U.S. and moved close to Russia. Over time people in the United States forgot about this family and who they were. In 1949, the Soviets decided to use the family name for one of their spies in the United States!

Sometimes spies pretend to be law abiding workers -- these people however hold a certain job to help them steal information. In the 1970s, the FBI investigated a case that involved a spy who pretended to be both a student and a businessman in order to get secrets from the military. At first, he said he was a student studying about a United States fighter jet and wanted information for a big report. Later, he said he wanted to open a business and invited an American, who had access to secrets, to join. In the Duquesne spy ring, a case that involved over 30 people during World War II, spies took advantage of their jobs to get information. One person opened a restaurant and used his position to get information from his customers. Another person worked on an airline so that he could report allied ships that were crossing the Atlantic Ocean. Others in the ring worked as delivery people so that they could deliver secret messages alongside normal messages.

Hiding Places

Many times a spy will put secret information in a package and leave it so other people can pick it up. A package may be very big, wrapped in a plastic bag, or very small and hidden where you would never think to look!

In one case, a fake brick was made to hide rolls of film containing secrets. In the 1950s, a spy for the Soviet Union used a hole in cement steps in a park in New York City to drop messages. In the hole the spy placed a bolt that was hollowed out. Inside the bolt was a typed message about a meeting time and place.

Also in the 1950s, fake cuff-links and coins were used to hide secret messages. In one case, a secret message was hidden in a fake United States 5 cent nickel. Other things found to contain hidden messages include hollow pencils, screws, batteries, and a shaving brush. Some of these items would be magnetized so they would stay on metal!

Secret Meeting Times and Places

When spies want to set up meetings, or want to pass information to their connections, like updates or packages, they sometimes use secret methods. This may include hidden meanings in everyday things like newspapers, dates, clothing, or conversation. Sometimes meeting times can be hidden in reading materials. In one case, an advertisement for a car was run in a city newspaper during a specific week which looked like this: "Dodge Diplomat, 1971, needs engine work, $1000." If the spy saw this add he knew that his overseas contacts wanted to talk with him.

In a very recent case, a suspected spy used tricks in a mailing address. If the word "Chicago" was used in a return address this meant that information would be exchanged the next Monday.

In another example, a more complicated system was used. A suspected spy who had been working in the FBI told his foreign contacts that he would add 6 and that they should subtract 6 from the meeting month and day given. For example, an advertisement placed by one person listed the date "1/12/1987," but the other person knew that the date was actually 7/6/1987. Tricky, but the FBI figured it out!

How do spies recognize the people they are supposed to meet? Once a spy and his or her contacts know where to meet, they need to be able to recognize each other.

Sometimes spies know who to give information to because of clothing. In the "Hollow Nickel" case, the spy wore a blue and red striped shirt and smoked a pipe so that his Soviet connections would recognize him.

Another time a "walk and talk" was important. In the 1970s, two spies met each other using a tricky walk, a saying, and something special to share to recognize each other. At a theater entrance, one person was supposed to walk up the right side of the entrance from 7:00 p.m. to 7:07 pm and 7:30 p.m. to 7:35 p.m. The contacts then knew that this was the person to meet. To be sure, one person asked "Are you interested in buying an antique 1930 Ford" and the other was supposed to respond, "Yes, I am. After all I was born in 1930." To be extra careful, both people gave each other a half of a dollar bill that belonged together.

Spies sometimes use secret signals. The FBI has investigated cases where different colored thumbtacks, chalk, and tape were used to send messages. In a recent case, a suspected spy wanted to communicate with the people he was spying for, in this case the Russians. The spy told the Russians he left them a package by leaving a white piece of tape on a sign in a park. When the package was picked up the tape would be removed.

The same suspected spy also used thumbtacks. A white thumbtack would be placed on the north side of a pole at the height of 3 1/2 feet when a package was ready to be picked up. However, a yellow thumbtack meant there was trouble!

If it is difficult to take papers or other information from an office, spies sometimes use special gadgets. Small copy machines have been used to copy secret papers. In one case a small camera was used that could take 70 pictures!