Many employees have reported receiving phone calls, emails, and text messages regarding Blackberry’s AtHoc service. AtHoc, which CBP has been utilizing for at least a few years, is designed to help the agency account for employees’ safety and well-being during a significant event like a natural disaster or national emergency.
The recent messages have encouraged employees to download the AtHoc app, but due to the unsolicited nature, employees have questioned the legitimacy of the messages and the app; the messages are indeed being sent by Blackberry on behalf of CBP.
Employees are not required to download the app, it is strictly voluntary.